Vicks History - Century of Powerful Care and Relief

Vicks VapoRub was inspired and created by our founder’s love and concern for his sick son. Over 125 years later, our family of brands create products with each person of your family in mind.

OUR

 

STORY

Vicks has always been a family of brands for your entire family. Originally named “Vicks Family Remedies” our most sought after product was Croup & Pneumonia Salve. Later named VapoRub, it was created by Lunsford Richardson out of love and concern for his sick son.

Young Smith Richardson had a severe case of croup. Lunsford combined unique ingredients into a salve that when heated by the body would release soothing vapors.

The boy soon recovered.

1894 - First Vicks Print Advertisement

Illustration from an 1894 print advertisement

Vicks expanded the new product to help other families provide relief for their loved ones. Years later, the very boy who inspired the salve would change its name to Vicks VapoRub and sell it in the familiar blue jar.

How to Apply Vicks VapoRub

Instructional video for applying VapoRub 1957

Vicks continues to be inspired to create products that allow families and friends to care for one another. Our family of brands create products with each person of your family in mind.

Vicks VapoRub - Trusted Remedy for 125 Years

VICKS FAMILY OF BRANDS IS

THERE FOR YOUR FAMILY

OUR LEGACY OVER

125 YEARS

Vicks has a century long history of innovating for all types of ‘sick days’

1894 - Vicks Croup & Pneumonia Salve

1894

130 YEARS AGO

Vicks Croup & Pneumonia Salve was first sold and sought for its unique vapors.

1898 - Vicks started as the Vicks Family Remedies Company

1898

126 YEARS AGO

Vicks started as the Vicks Family Remedies Company.

1911 - Vicks VapoRub was Named

1911

113 YEARS AGO

VapoRub is named by the very boy who inspired its creation.

1925 - The Blix and Blee storybook

1925

99 YEARS AGO

The Blix and Blee storybook helps moms care of their sick children.

1931 - Vicks Cough Drops Introduced

1931

93 YEARS AGO

Vicks pioneers portable care with Vicks Cough Drops.

1941 - Vicks VapoInhalers Introduced

1941

83 YEARS AGO

VapoInhaler brings the soothing vapors of Vicks in your pocket.

1951 - Vicks Cough Syrup preferred over other nationally advertised syrups

1951

73 YEARS AGO

Vicks Cough Syrup is sold and preferred over other nationally advertised syrups.

1958 - Vicks Formula 44 Introduced

1958

66 YEARS AGO

Formula 44 is introduced.

1959 - Vicks Introduced Sinex Nasal Spray

1959

65 YEARS AGO

Sinex Nasal Spray introduced and delivers fast relief.

1960 - Vicks’ Red Triangle Logo Introduced

1960

64 YEARS AGO

Vicks’ red triangle logo would be a symbol of our care and commitment into the 1990s.

1966 - NyQuil - First multi-symptom cold medicine was named

1966

58 YEARS AGO

NyQuil, the 1st multi-symptom liquid was named for its “nighttime tranquility.”

1976 - Vicks DayCare was introduced

1976

48 YEARS AGO

DayCare is created and relieves more symptoms than competition without drowsiness.

1979 - First Nighttime Sniffing, sneezing, coughing medicine was used

1979

45 YEARS AGO

“The nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head…medicine” was first used.

1988 - Vicks introduced Children’s NyQuil

1988

36 YEARS AGO

Children’s NyQuil is introduced to relieve symptoms that keep sick kids awake at night.

1991 - DayQuil Liquicaps - First OTC Liquid Cold Medicine

1991

33 YEARS AGO

DayQuil renamed with LiquiCaps, the first OTC liquid colds medicine in a swallowable capsule.

1993 - Vicks Familiar Triangle Logo

1993

31 YEARS AGO

Vicks familiar triangle logo is updated, but doesn’t last long.

1994 - New Vicks Logo introduced

1994

30 YEARS AGO

The current Vicks logo is introduced. Interestingly, it’s the same shape as the 1930’s cough drops.

2004 - Vicks BabyRub introduced for Babies

2004

20 YEARS AGO

BabyRub is made for babies’ to pair with a mother’s loving touch.

2012 - ZZZQuil Nighttime Sleep Aid

2012

12 YEARS AGO

ZzzQuil provides its first night sleep, and becomes the best-selling non-habit forming sleep-aid.

2013 - DayQuil and NyQuil Severe are introduced

2013

11 YEARS AGO

For your toughest colds, DayQuil and NyQuil Severe are introduced.

2018 - Vicks VapoCOOL Introduced

2018

6 YEARS AGO

Vaporize your cold with VapoCOOL as it relieves your worst symptoms.

2019 - Vicks Vapo Family

2019

5 YEARS AGO

We celebrate 125 years of Vicks with the introduction of the Vapo-family.

MORE

HISTORY

vicks image

Heritage of Care & Trust

Vicks has helped relieve cold and cough symptoms for over 125 years. It started in 1894, when a young pharmacist named Lunsford Richardson opened a store in Greensboro, NC to address the needs of his community.…

Keep reading

Right Arrow
Vicks - Pioneering Solutions for Over a Century

Pioneering Solutions for Over a Century

Vicks has an unparalleled track record of providing innovative products and solutions to families for over 125 years.

In 1894 VapoRub’s unique ability to provide...

Keep reading

Right Arrow
Vicks - Relief you Feel

Relief You Feel

Smith Richardson, the boy who inspired VapoRub’s creation in 1894, understood better than most that Vicks products needed to provide relief you can feel. Recognizing that his father’s Croup & Pneumonia Salve contained...

Keep reading

Right Arrow
Vicks NyQuil Creation Story

Power You Trust

When someone you love is sick, you want powerful symptom relief that you can trust. Getting you back to feeling healthy and back on your feet is our top priority at Vicks. In the 1950s, our first cough syrups pioneered...

Keep reading

Right Arrow