He was attempting to manufacture quinine from aniline, an inexpensive and readily available coal tar waste product.

Utilising the cheap and plentiful coal tar that was an almost unlimited byproduct of London's gas street lighting, the dye works began producing the world's first synthetically dyed material in 1857.

She smelled of talcum powder and Coal Tar Soap, Jimmy thought, just like his Aunty Freda.