Combe Incorporated
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Personal care |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founder | Ivan Combe |
| Headquarters | White Plains, New York , United States |
Area served | 64 countries on six continents |
| Products | Just for Men, Sea-Bond, Vagisil, Grecian Formula, Brylcreem, Aqua Velva, Cepacol, Astroglide, BioFilm |
Combe Incorporated, an American personal care enterprise, was established in 1949 by Ivan Combe and is based in White Plains, New York. Its product distribution spans 64 nations across six continents. The company prioritizes individual brand development rather than emphasizing the corporate identity, managing well-known names such as Just for Men, Sea-Bond, Vagisil, and Grecian Formula.
In 1950, Combe introduced the Clearasil brand but divested it in 1961 to Richardson-Merrell. The company's portfolio broadened in 2002 through the acquisition of J.B. Williams, which brought prominent brands like Brylcreem, Aqua Velva, and Cepacol under its umbrella. Later, in 2011, Combe sold its cough and skin care product lines to Reckitt Benckiser and transferred its foot care segment, including Odor-Eaters, to Blistex.
Responding to regulatory demands, by mid-2018 Combe reformulated Grecian Formula and other hair dye products by substituting lead acetate with bismuth citrate. In December 2020, the company strategically invested in Virtue Labs, a biotech hair care firm known for its patented bioidentical keratin protein. Most recently, in May 2023, Combe expanded into the personal lubricant sector by acquiring Astroglide and BioFilm from the Wray Family.
Important milestones
- 1949: Company founded by Ivan Combe.
- 1951: Launch of Clearasil.
- 1952: Relocation of headquarters to White Plains, New York.
- 1961: Sale of Clearasil to Richardson-Merrell.
- 1974: Opening of first manufacturing facility; debut of Vagisil.
- 1987: Introduction of Just for Men.
- 2000: Passing of founder Ivan Combe.
- 2002: J.B. Williams acquisition completed.
- 2011: Divestiture of cold remedy/skin care and foot care operations.
- 2018: Hair dye formulas revised to eliminate lead acetate.
- 2020: Capital investment in Virtue Labs.
- 2023: Purchase of BioFilm and Astroglide brands.