Colgate-Palmolive Company NYSE: CL is a multinational corporation in the business of the provision of products such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of veterinary products.

History
In 1806 William Colgate opened up a soapmaking concern in New York called Colgate & Company. It was not until the 1830s that the company began selling individual bars in uniform weights. In 1872 Colgate introduced Cashmere Bouquet, a perfumed soap. In 1908 they sold their first tube of toothpaste.

In the Western United States, the B.J. Johnson Company was making a soap entirely of palm and olive oil. The soap was popular enough to rename their company after it - Palmolive.

A Kansas based soap manufacturer known as the Peet Brothers merged with Palmolive to become Palmolive-Peet. In 1928, Palmolive-Peet joined the Colgate Company to create the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company. In 1953 "Peet" was dropped from the title, leaving only "Colgate-Palmolive Company".

In the beginning of television, Colgate-Palmolive wished to compete with Procter & Gamble as a sponsor of soap operas. Although the company sponsored many shows in part, they were most famous for being the full sponsor of the serial The Doctors.

Brands
Colgate
Speed Stick
Softsoap
Afta
Irish Spring
Palmolive
Crystal White Octagon
Dermassage
Ajax
Murphy Oil Soap
Fabuloso
Fab
Dynamo
Suavitel
Science Diet

Diversity
Colgate-Palmolive was named one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers in 2004 by Working Mothers magazine.