William Colgate started a small soap and candle business in New York City in 1806, which eventually grew into a global company over 200 years.

In 1812, Colgate entered a partnership with Francis Smith, leading to the formation of Smith and Colgate. This partnership was significant in the early history of the company.

The initial Colgate advertisement made its debut in a New York newspaper in 1817.

In 1820, Colgate founded a starch factory in Jersey City, New Jersey, expanding its operations.

After the death of founder William Colgate, the company underwent reorganization and was renamed as Colgate & Company, with Samuel Colgate, the founder's son, taking over the management.

B.J. Johnson established a soap factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which eventually evolved into the Palmolive Company.

Colgate introduced perfumed soap and perfumes/essence to their product line.

In 1872, the Peet brothers began selling the first milled perfumed soap, known as Cashmere Bouquet, which was the first luxury toilet soap.

In 1873, Colgate began selling aromatic toothpaste in jars.

In 1878, Gerhard Heinrich Mennen, a German immigrant, founded Mennen, known for products like talcum powder and men's antiperspirants, before being acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 1992.

In 1890, Madison University in New York State was renamed Colgate University to honor the Colgate family for their long-standing financial support and involvement.

Martin Ittner joined Colgate-Palmolive as its chief chemist in 1896 and established one of the earliest corporate laboratories, pioneering new methods in applied chemistry.

In 1898, B.J. Johnson Soap Co. introduced Palmolive Soap, which has now become a globally recognized brand sold in over 88 countries with 54 different variants.

In 1900, Colgate received top honors for its fine soaps and perfumes at the World’s Fair in Paris, showcasing the company's excellence and quality products on an international platform.

In 1902, Stylish Palmolive advertising started, focusing on ingredient purity and product benefits.

In 1906, Colgate & Company marked its 100th anniversary with a celebration. The company boasted a product line of over 800 different products.

To celebrate the incorporation, the first Colgate Clock was placed atop the Colgate Factory in 1908. It was the world's largest clock at that time, featuring a diameter of 38 feet and shaped in an octagon to symbolize Colgate's soap.

In 1911, Colgate distributed two million tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to schools and hygienists as a demonstration of proper tooth brushing techniques.

In 1912, William Mennen produced America's first shaving cream in a tube, which was more convenient and commercially successful than traditional shaving soaps.

In 1914, Colgate established its first international subsidiary in Canada, marking the beginning of its global expansion.

In 1916, the Johnson company changed its name to Palmolive, reflecting the popularity of its brand. This rebranding was a strategic move that contributed to the company's growth.

In 1917, the B. J. Johnson Company renamed itself to Palmolive due to the popularity of the soap they produced from the formula developed by Burdett J. Johnson.

By 1920, Colgate had started establishing operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, further solidifying its presence on a global scale.

In 1924, the second Colgate Clock was installed. The minute hand was placed on top of a truck and featured in a parade in front of City Hall. This clock is now located in Colgate Park.

In 1926, the soap manufacturers Palmolive and Peet merged to create the Palmolive-Peet Company, a significant development in the soap industry.

On July 1, 1928, the merger of Palmolive-Peet Co. and Colgate Co. was finalized, forming the Colgate Palmolive Peet Company, which became one of the largest soap and perfumery companies in the US.

On March 13th, 1930, Colgate was officially listed on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time.

In 1933, the Colgate family regained control of Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, with Bayard Colgate becoming the president. This event marked a significant shift in the company's leadership.

In 1939, Colgate merged with Palmolive-Peet to form the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company.

In 1947, Fab detergent and Ajax cleanser were introduced by Colgate-Palmolive. These products added to the company's portfolio and contributed to its presence in the household cleaning segment.

In 1953, the company officially changed its name to Colgate-Palmolive Company.

In 1955, Colgate-Palmolive lost its number-one ranking in the toothpaste market to Procter & Gamble Co. when Crest, the first toothpaste with fluoride, was introduced.

In 1956, Colgate established its corporate headquarters at 300 Park Avenue in New York City.

In 1962, Colgate inaugurated a research center in Piscataway, New Jersey.

In 1966, Palmolive introduced its dishwashing liquid, which is now available in more than 35 countries.

In 1968, Colgate introduced toothpaste containing sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), expanding its oral care product range. This marked a significant advancement in dental hygiene.

In 1970, Irish Spring launches in Germany as Irische Frühling and in Europe as Nordic Spring. It is a significant expansion for the brand, which later expands to North America in 1972.

In 1972, Colgate acquires Hoyt Laboratories, which later transforms into Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. This acquisition marks a strategic move in expanding Colgate's product portfolio.

In 1976, Colgate-Palmolive acquired Hill’s Pet Nutrition, leading to its current status as a global leader in pet nutrition and veterinary recommendations.

In 1985, Elizabeth Barbour, a hand model with the Ford Agency in New York City, was hired by the Colgate-Palmolive Company to update the iconic hand image on the Palmolive dishwashing soap label.

In 1987, Colgate acquired the Softsoap liquid soap business from the Minnetonka Corporation, leading to its current position as the global leader in liquid hand soap.

In 1989, Colgate achieved a significant milestone as its annual company sales surpassed the $5 billion mark, showcasing its growth and success in the market.

Colgate introduced fluoride toothpaste with MFP, marking a significant advancement in oral care products.

Colgate® Bright Smiles, Bright Futures™ program celebrates reaching 1 Billion children since its inception in 1991, promoting oral health education worldwide.

In 1992, Colgate acquired the Mennen Company, leading to the expansion of Mennen products to over 52 countries. Additionally, Colgate Total toothpaste was introduced.

In 1995, Colgate introduced Colgate Total toothpaste, which became a significant addition to their product line.

In 1996, Colgate expanded its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures oral health education program to 50 countries, benefiting over 50 million children every year.

Colgate Total toothpaste is launched in the U.S. market and gains popularity as the market leader due to its 12-hour protection and ability to combat a wide range of oral health issues.

In 1999, Colgate-Palmolive established a moratorium on animal testing for its adult personal-care products after facing criticism and boycotts by animal-rights groups.

Colgate successfully acquires the GABA oral care business in Europe, strengthening its presence in the European pharmacy channel and enhancing its relationship with the dental community.

In 2005, Phoenix Brands acquired the detergent brands from Colgate in the United States. These brands were later sold to Fab & Kind Company after Phoenix Brands filed for bankruptcy in May 2016.

In 2006, Colgate entered the fast-growing Naturals segment by acquiring Tom's of Maine, a prominent leader in that market in the United States.

P&G continued sponsoring several soap operas until its last show, As the World Turns, was canceled in September 2010.

In 2011, Colgate expanded its presence in Europe by acquiring the Sanex personal care brand.

On October 25, 2012, Colgate-Palmolive announced a plan to cut 2,310 workers, or 6% of its workforce, by the end of 2016 to enhance operational efficiency.

In 2013, Hill's, a brand under Colgate-Palmolive, entered the Naturals segment by launching Hill's Ideal Balance™.

In 2014, Colgate-Palmolive shut down its plant in Morristown, New Jersey, which was previously the headquarters of the Mennen company. Operations were moved to Hodges, South Carolina; Morristown, Tennessee; and Cambridge, Ohio.

In May 2015, Colgate-Palmolive sold its Australian laundry detergents and pre-wash brands to Henkel for US$245 million (€220 million). This divestment was part of Colgate-Palmolive's strategic business decisions.

The blog post discusses the history of the Colgate Palmolive Company.

In 2018, Colgate collaborated with the Mexican Dental Association Foundation to advocate for a new law mandating oral hygiene practices for every child attending public primary schools in Mexico City.

Colgate launched Colgate TotalSF, a next-generation toothpaste with a patented advanced stannous fluoride formula, offering multiple benefits.

Colgate TotalSF is a brand of oral care products by Colgate, known for its century-long legacy.

In 2021, Colgate-Palmolive ranked 15th on the list of Most Trusted Brands by Morning Consult.

In June 2023, Planet Tracker criticized Colgate-Palmolive for falling short of its Science-based Targets emissions, lacking a clear strategy to reduce emissions, and failing to address key areas of greenhouse gas emissions.

As of August 2023, the members of the board of directors of Colgate-Palmolive include Noel Wallace, John P. Bilbrey, Lisa M. Edwards, C. Martin Harris, Martina Hund-Mejean, Kimberly A. Nelson, Lorrie M. Norrington, Steve Cahillane, John T. Cahill, and Stephen Sadove.