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.
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.
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
131 YEARS AGO
Vicks Croup & Pneumonia Salve was first sold and sought for its unique vapors.
1898
127 YEARS AGO
Vicks started as the Vicks Family Remedies Company.
1911
114 YEARS AGO
VapoRub is named by the very boy who inspired its creation.
1925
100 YEARS AGO
The Blix and Blee storybook helps moms care of their sick children.
1931
94 YEARS AGO
Vicks pioneers portable care with Vicks Cough Drops.
1941
84 YEARS AGO
VapoInhaler brings the soothing vapors of Vicks in your pocket.
1951
74 YEARS AGO
Vicks Cough Syrup is sold and preferred over other nationally advertised syrups.
1958
67 YEARS AGO
Formula 44 is introduced.
1959
66 YEARS AGO
Sinex Nasal Spray introduced and delivers fast relief.
1960
65 YEARS AGO
Vicks’ red triangle logo would be a symbol of our care and commitment into the 1990s.
1966
59 YEARS AGO
NyQuil, the 1st multi-symptom liquid was named for its “nighttime tranquility.”
1976
49 YEARS AGO
DayCare is created and relieves more symptoms than competition without drowsiness.
1979
46 YEARS AGO
“The nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head…medicine” was first used.
1988
37 YEARS AGO
Children’s NyQuil is introduced to relieve symptoms that keep sick kids awake at night.
1991
34 YEARS AGO
DayQuil renamed with LiquiCaps, the first OTC liquid colds medicine in a swallowable capsule.
1993
32 YEARS AGO
Vicks familiar triangle logo is updated, but doesn’t last long.
1994
31 YEARS AGO
The current Vicks logo is introduced. Interestingly, it’s the same shape as the 1930’s cough drops.
2004
21 YEARS AGO
BabyRub is made for babies’ to pair with a mother’s loving touch.
2012
13 YEARS AGO
ZzzQuil provides its first night sleep, and becomes the best-selling non-habit forming sleep-aid.
2013
12 YEARS AGO
For your toughest colds, DayQuil and NyQuil Severe are introduced.
2018
7 YEARS AGO
Vaporize your cold with VapoCOOL as it relieves your worst symptoms.
2019
6 YEARS AGO
We celebrate 125 years of Vicks with the introduction of the Vapo-family.
MORE
HISTORY
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.…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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