Combe Incorporated, based in

White Plains, New York (Always Faithful) , image_seal = WhitePlainsSeal.png , seal_link = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = U.S. state, State , su ...

, is an American personal-care company founded in 1949 by

Ivan Combe Ivan DeBlois Combe (April 21, 1911 – January 11, 2000) was the American inventor of personal-care products, most notably Clearasil and Odor Eaters. In 1949 he established his eponymous company Combe Incorporated in White Plains, New York. Earl ...

. Combe products are sold in 64 countries on six continents.

primarily promoted the brand names instead of the company name. Combe owns the brands Just for Men, Sea-Bond,

Vagisil Vagisil is an American brand of over-the-counter cream used to treat external vaginal itching and irritation. It is produced by Combe Incorporated, a company based in White Plains, New York and was introduced in 1974. The active ingredients are Be ...

, and Grecian Formula. Combe was the originator of the

Clearasil Clearasil is a brand of skin care and acne medication, whose products contain chiefly benzoyl peroxide, sulfur and resorcinol, triclosan, or salicylic acid as active ingredients. Clearasil has a wide range of products both for rapid and sometimes ...

brand in 1950 but sold the rights to it in 1961 to

Richardson-Merrell Marion Merrell Dow and its predecessor Marion Laboratories was a U.S. pharmaceutical company based in Kansas City, Missouri from 1950 until 1996. The company specialized in bringing to market drugs that had been discovered but unmarketed by other ...

. In October 2002, Combe acquired J.B. Williams, thereby adding such longtime names as

Brylcreem __NOTOC__ Brylcreem () is a British brand of hair styling products for men. The first Brylcreem product was a hair cream created in 1928 by County Chemicals at the Chemico Works in Bradford Street, Birmingham, England, and is the flagship produ ...

Aqua Velva Aqua Velva is an American brand of grooming products targeted at men. Its best known product is the Ice Blue aftershave introduced in 1917 by the JB Williams Company. History Aqua Velva was first trademarked in 1917 by the JB Williams Company ...

and Cepacol to its brand stable. In January 2011, Combe sold its cough remedy and skin care business to

Reckitt Benckiser Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, trading as Reckitt, is a British multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, England. It is a producer of health, hygiene and nutrition products. The company was formed in March 1999 by the merg ...

, and its foot care business (including

Odor-Eaters Odor-Eaters is an American brand of foot-care products designed to reduce foot odor. The line started with insoles that are made of latex and contain activated carbon, which neutralizes odors. , the brand is owned by Blistex Inc. History Odor-Eat ...

) to

Blistex Blistex, Incorporate is an American consumer products company headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Founded in 1947 in the business of developing and marketing lip care products, its offerings have grown to include other brands including Odor- ...

.Blistex Acquires U.S. and Global ODOR-EATERS Brand
prnewswire.com, Januar 3, 2011: "Blistex Inc. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the ODOR-EATERS® line of foot care products from Combe Incorporated."

Key dates

* 1949: Ivan Combe founds a company. * 1951: Combe introduces

. * 1952: The company's offices move from Manhattan to White Plains, New York. * 1961: Clearasil is sold to Richardson-Merrell. * 1974: Combe's first manufacturing plant opens in Illinois. * 1974: Combe launches

. * 1987: Just for Men is introduced. * 2000: Ivan Combe dies.Ravo, Nick
"Ivan D. Combe, 88, Marketer Of Clearasil and Just for Men"
''The New York Times'', January 17, 2000 * 2002: J.B. Williams is acquired. * 2011: Sale of cold remedy/skin care business to

, and sale of foot care business to

References

External links

Company web site
American companies established in 1949 Pharmaceutical companies established in 1949 Personal care companies Pharmaceutical companies of the United States Companies based in White Plains, New York Health care companies based in New York (state) Privately held companies based in New York (state) 1949 establishments in New York (state) {{med-company-stub