COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325620

Toilet Preparations Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

58companies1752–1991founding years58still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedCaswell-Massey Co. Ltd.
1752
FoundedWilkinson Sword Ltd.
1772
FoundedHenkel KGaA
1876
FoundedPZ Cussons plc
1879
FoundedJohnson & Johnson
1887
FoundedThe Procter & Gamble Company
1890
FoundedLion Corporation
1891
FoundedPfizer Inc.
1900
FoundedThe Gillette Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedOrion Oyj
1917
FoundedUnilever
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedCarma Laboratories, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedChristian Dior S.A.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedThe Stephan Company
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRanbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedFarmacias Ahumada S.A.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCCA Industries, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedJohn Frieda Professional Hair Care Inc.
1989
EnvironmentThe Exxon Valdez spill reshapes energy and shipping rules.
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
EnvironmentThe Deepwater Horizon spill triggers sweeping energy rules.
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Caswell-Massey Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1752
Originally an apothecary shop, Caswell-Massey Co.
Caswell-Massey Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1752
Originally an apothecary shop, Caswell-Massey Co.
Wilkinson Sword Ltd. →
Active · founded 1772 · United Kingdom
Wilkinson Sword Ltd., formerly known as Schick-Wilkinson Sword in the United States, is the world's second-largest…
Wilkinson Sword Ltd. →
Active · founded 1772 · United Kingdom
Wilkinson Sword Ltd., formerly known as Schick-Wilkinson Sword in the United States, is the world's second-largest…
Colgate-Palmolive Company →
Active · founded 1806
Colgate-Palmolive Company's growth from a small candle and soap manufacturer to one of the most powerful consumer…
Colgate-Palmolive Company →
Active · founded 1806
Colgate-Palmolive Company's growth from a small candle and soap manufacturer to one of the most powerful consumer…
Henkel KGaA →
Active · founded 1876 · Germany
Based in Germany, Henkel KGaA is one of the world's largest chemical companies.
Henkel KGaA →
Active · founded 1876 · Germany
Based in Germany, Henkel KGaA is one of the world's largest chemical companies.
PZ Cussons plc →
Active · founded 1879 · United Kingdom
PZ Cussons plc is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a variety of products, especially soaps and other personal…
PZ Cussons plc →
Active · founded 1879 · United Kingdom
PZ Cussons plc is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a variety of products, especially soaps and other personal…
Wella AG →
Active · founded 1880 · Germany
Wella AG operates as one of the world's top cosmetic suppliers with brands found in over 150 countries.
Wella AG →
Active · founded 1880 · Germany
Wella AG operates as one of the world's top cosmetic suppliers with brands found in over 150 countries.
Johnson & Johnson →
Active · founded 1887
One of America's most admired companies, Johnson & Johnson (J & J) is one of the largest healthcare firms in the world…
Johnson & Johnson →
Active · founded 1887
One of America's most admired companies, Johnson & Johnson (J & J) is one of the largest healthcare firms in the world…
The Procter & Gamble Company →
Active · founded 1890
c.
The Procter & Gamble Company →
Active · founded 1890
c.
The Procter & Gamble Company →
Active · founded 1890
c.
The Procter & Gamble Company →
Active · founded 1890
c.
Lion Corporation →
Active · founded 1891 · Japan
Lion Corporation is Japan's biggest seller of toothpastes and a major producer of other toiletries and consumer items…
Lion Corporation →
Active · founded 1891 · Japan
Lion Corporation is Japan's biggest seller of toothpastes and a major producer of other toiletries and consumer items…
Firmenich International S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · Switzerland
A major development for the group's Flavors division came in 2001, when the company began development on a new,…
Firmenich International S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · Switzerland
A major development for the group's Flavors division came in 2001, when the company began development on a new,…
Pfizer Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1870s:Dr.
Pfizer Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1870s:Dr.
The Gillette Company →
Active · founded 1901
The Gillette Company is the world leader in the men's grooming product category as well as in certain women's grooming…
The Gillette Company →
Active · founded 1901
The Gillette Company is the world leader in the men's grooming product category as well as in certain women's grooming…
Puig Beauty and Fashion Group S.L. →
Active · founded 1914 · Spain
Puig Beauty and Fashion Group S.L.
Puig Beauty and Fashion Group S.L. →
Active · founded 1914 · Spain
Puig Beauty and Fashion Group S.L.
Orion Oyj →
Active · founded 1917 · Finland
Orion Oyj is one Finland's leading pharmaceutical companies, marketing some 250 products in Finland and claiming about…
Orion Oyj →
Active · founded 1917 · Finland
Orion Oyj is one Finland's leading pharmaceutical companies, marketing some 250 products in Finland and claiming about…
Chanel SA →
Active · founded 1924 · France
Chanel SA is one of the legendary names in perfumes.
Chanel SA →
Active · founded 1924 · France
Chanel SA is one of the legendary names in perfumes.
Unilever →
Active · founded 1929 · The Netherlands
If the adage 'two heads are better than one' applies to business, then certainly Unilever is a prime example.
Unilever →
Active · founded 1929 · The Netherlands
If the adage 'two heads are better than one' applies to business, then certainly Unilever is a prime example.
Carma Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1940s:Fuel and ingredient shortages the hinder production of Carmex during World War II.
Carma Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1940s:Fuel and ingredient shortages the hinder production of Carmex during World War II.
Sara Lee Corporation →
Active · founded 1939
Sara Lee Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of brand-name consumer packaged goods within three…
Sara Lee Corporation →
Active · founded 1939
Sara Lee Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of brand-name consumer packaged goods within three…
Christian Dior S.A. →
Active · founded 1946 · France
Christian Dior S.A.
Christian Dior S.A. →
Active · founded 1946 · France
Christian Dior S.A.
The Stephan Company →
Active · founded 1952
The Stephan Company, operating out of Fort Lauerdale, Florida, is a small manufacturer and distributor of haircare and…
The Stephan Company →
Active · founded 1952
The Stephan Company, operating out of Fort Lauerdale, Florida, is a small manufacturer and distributor of haircare and…
Alticor Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Alticor Inc.
Alticor Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Alticor Inc.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · India
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · India
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
Tom's of Maine, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Tom's of Maine, Inc.
Tom's of Maine, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Tom's of Maine, Inc.
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
CCA Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
CCA Industries, Inc.
CCA Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
CCA Industries, Inc.
Inter Parfums Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Inter Parfums, Inc., formerly known as Jean Philippe Fragrances, is a New York City-based manufacturer and distributor…
Inter Parfums Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Inter Parfums, Inc., formerly known as Jean Philippe Fragrances, is a New York City-based manufacturer and distributor…
John Frieda Professional Hair Care Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
John Frieda Professional Hair Care Inc.
John Frieda Professional Hair Care Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
John Frieda Professional Hair Care Inc.
Burt's Bees, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Burt's Bees, Inc., sells environmentally friendly skin care products in the United States, Canada, and Japan.
Burt's Bees, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Burt's Bees, Inc., sells environmentally friendly skin care products in the United States, Canada, and Japan.
Build It Today

Starting a toilet preparations manufacturing company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.