# What does the "e" mean on my shaving cream tube? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-e-mean-on-my-shaving-cream-tube/677831 "2014-01-03T22:08:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-e-mean-on-my-shaving-cream-tube/677831/1 "2014-01-03T22:08:40Z")
I use various shaving creams that come in a tube and several of them have an “e” on the line of text that shows the weight/volume of the contents. Usually looks like 5.6 oz. e 158.8g It’s a stylized font and usually looks the same, like it is some standard. Here are some examples [http://www.smallflower.com/taylor-of-old-bond-street/avocado-shaving-cream-5.3oz-shaving-cream-10065529?utm\_medium=shoppingengine&utm\_source=googlebase&cvsfa=3065&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3130303635353239&gclid=COn0teCB47sCFUcaOgodrX0Abg](http://www.smallflower.com/taylor-of-old-bond-street/avocado-shaving-cream-5.3oz-shaving-cream-10065529?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=3065&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3130303635353239&gclid=COn0teCB47sCFUcaOgodrX0Abg) [http://malegrooming.com.au/mens-shaving-products/shaving-skin-care/shaving-cream-men/jermyn-st-collection-shaving-cream-tube.html](http://malegrooming.com.au/mens-shaving-products/shaving-skin-care/shaving-cream-men/jermyn-st-collection-shaving-cream-tube.html) > **[Geo. F. Trumper Eucris Shaving Cream (Size Options)](https://shopmasc.com/en-us/products/geo-f-trumper-eucris-shaving-cream-75g)** > > This glycerin based soft shaving cream generates a thick, creamy protective lather, provides an exceptionally close shave, and leaves skin soft and smooth. Only a very small amount is needed for great results. In a convenient 75g tube, ideal for... ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-e-mean-on-my-shaving-cream-tube/677831/2 "2014-01-03T22:18:28Z")
It represents an estimated measure of weight or volume, as required by European labeling regulations. [Estimated sign - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_sign) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-e-mean-on-my-shaving-cream-tube/677831/3 "2014-01-03T22:19:10Z")
It means ‘estimated’ - that is, they calibrate the machine to fill to a certain level, then let it run, assuming that it’s doing a good job, perhaps further confirmed by random sampling, but not weighing each and every filled package. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated\_sign](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_sign) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-e-mean-on-my-shaving-cream-tube/677831/4 "2014-01-03T22:24:48Z")
> **[Stylized "e" for metric measurements?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302262)** > > Almost every product found in a US grocery store is labeled with both imperial and metric units of measurement. Some products are marked with a stylized lowercase “e” before the metric measurements, like: 12 fl oz e 355 ml The “e” is always the... Previous thread.