In 1894 VapoRub’s unique ability to provide cough relief with an externally applied salve allowed parents to take care of their children who typically refused to take nasty-tasting medicines. In 1925 Vicks published a storybook featuring two elves named Blix and Blee. Intended for mothers to read to children in bed with a cold, the storybook told the tale of how Blix and Blee would rush to a child’s bedside to deliver a soothing jar of VapoRub.
OUR STORY
Pioneering Solutions for Over a Century
Vicks has an unparalleled track record of providing innovative products and solutions to families for over 125 years.
Get that cold in control
1930s Cough Drops
The 1930’s saw Vicks introduce the Vicks Plan for better control of colds, which included advice and products to prevent colds, and included the introduction of medicated Vicks Cough Drops to provide some of the earliest on-the-go relief. In 1941 came the Vicks Inhaler, which delivered famous and soothing Vicks vapors.
In the 1950’s, Vicks increased research and development capabilities. From this effort came our first cough syrups, one of the first of their kind to provide effective cough relief without narcotics. Sinex nasal spray was also introduced in 1959 and provided nasal congestion relief in seconds.
The First Multi-Symptom Relief
NyQuil, 1966
Then came NyQuil in 1966. As the first multi-symptom cough and cold syrup, NyQuil not only cleared up stuffy noses, it also cleared out medicine cabinets from multiple single-symptom products. It was the “one thing to take for your cold.” NyQuil was the first to focus on the importance of the healing power of sleep when sick.
“NyQuil’s litany, ’The nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so you can rest medicine,” was first coined in 1979.’”
In the bustling 1990s Vicks added to the “Quils” family with DayQuil, providing relief to help you power through your day. Although first introduced in 1976 as DayCare, the powerful daytime non-drowsy liquid was renamed DayQuil in early 1990s. NyQuil and DayQuil were then available in new LiquiCaps, easy-to-swallow soft gels that delivered the powerful relief you expect from Vicks.
Family of Brands for your whole family
Vicks Family 2020
As Vicks embarked on its second century, we were again inspired by the smallest of family members. Vicks BabyRub was introduced in 2004 with fragrances of eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender. When combined with a loving touch, BabyRub calms and relaxes babies. Beginning in 2018 NyQuil and Dayquil Severe+ VapoCOOL vaporized your cold, day or night, with the soothing rush of Vicks Vapors.
As the world’s #1 selling OTC cough and cold brand,* Vicks continues to provide superior products and innovations to treat your family’s colds and coughs.
*Nicholas Hall's global OTC sales database, DB6.
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