Lifebuoy Through The Years
Discover how Lifebuoy soap has served the public since 1894.
When Lifebuoy soap launched in 1894, it was with a mission to ‘make cleanliness commonplace’.
This was important because in Victorian England infectious diseases were the number one cause of death. Lifebuoy came to the rescue with an effective antibacterial soap which was affordable and widely available.
Over the years we have always been there when we’re needed the most. From helping to keep soldiers clean in both World Wars, to more recently running the world’s biggest handwashing programme reaching over 1 billion people since 2010!
Today, Lifebuoy is the world’s number one, best-selling germ protection soap, and we’re thrilled to be back in the UK. Accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health, we’re here doing what we do best, encouraging us all to make regular handwashing with soap and sanitising a lasting habit.
Lifebuoy Total 10 Bar Soap
The foams and creams from the Lifebuoy Bar soap leave you clean and refreshed while its sophisticated formulations help to nourish your skin.
Pioneer of Health (1796-1896)
1796
Edward Jenner, The Pioneer of Vaccinations
Edward Jenner, a doctor from England, tested his theory that a cow milkman with mild cowpox would never get smallpox by infusing pus from a cowpox ulcer into a young child. The young man was later shown to be immune and this was recorded as the first ever vaccination.
1799
Humphry Davy invents laughing gas to relieve pain
Humphry Davy realized the analgesic (painkilling) properties of nitrous oxide when he inhaled it while he had a toothache. He called it "laughing gas."
1847
Ignaz Semmelweis realized the importance of washing hands
Semmelweis is aware that medical students often attend autopsies where the deadly virus is before it enters her delivery room. After introducing the standard of hand washing the mortality fell from 10% to 1%.
1890
Emil von Behring invented an anti-poison which he used to develop the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines
Bacteriologist von Behring showed that making animals immune to tetanus could be done by injecting them with blood serum from another infected animal. With this knowledge he then created a vaccine against diphtheria.
1894
William Hesketh Lever launches Lifebuoy in England as the Royal Anti-Germ Soap
Lifebuoy discovered that carbonic acid was the perfect formula for soaps that can combat germs at an affordable price for everyone.
Lifebuoy Lever's Health Soap
During World War 1 Lifebuoy encouraged non-combatants to send Lifebuoy soap to soldiers to help maintain health, hygiene and good service.
Time For War (1897-1949)
1897
Felix Hoffman invented the Aspirin
At that time Hoffmann was researching something to relieve his father's arthritis. He studied research by French chemist Charles Gergardt and later created what we now know as aspirin.
1914
Lifebuoy soap is delivered to the army during World War I
During World War I the company that produced lifebuoy soap invited those who weren't fighting on the front to send Lifebuoy soap to soldiers to keep them healthy, hygienic and able to give their best when fighting. Through this role in maintaining the health of the soldiers, Lifebuoy is part of the struggle for national heroes.
1921
Mother as a Health Doctor
The US campaign features a new character for Lifebuoy, Mother as Doctor of Health. This has attracted the interest of women to become Lifebuoy role models who care about the care, health and happiness of their children's future. The idea of mothers as the protectors of family health continues to be a lasting theme for Lifebuoy.
1930
Campaign against body odor is launched
People became more and more interested in products to increase self-confidence so Lifebuoy developed a campaign that focused not only on fighting germs and maintaining cleanliness, but on preventing 'body odor' - first in English came the term "BO" (Body Odor).
The 1930s
Teaches the Lifebuoy Way
Lifebuoy started an interesting educational program in schools showing children the importance of washing their hands at several important times, including before eating.
1939
Lifebuoy provides emergency bathing facilities in Britain during World War II
When World War II broke out, Lifebuoy sent vans bearing the Lifebuoy brand to some of the worst-hit areas of Britain, equipped with hot water showers, towels and soap for residents who no longer had access to basic amenities, such as a place to shower.
1945
The first vaccine for influenza is discovered
After decades of research, the first flu vaccine was tested in the US Army mass immunization. The vaccine proved successful. Army personnel are largely immune to the flu virus compared to Navy personnel who are not vaccinated frequently enough with flu infections.
Lifebuoy red bath soap
The Red Lifebuoy (85) soap, which we sell, has gone through many variations since it was first introduced in 1933.
Age of Discovery (1950-1999)
1950s
Looks good - smells good
In the late 1950's, a new scent of soap had entered the market, targeting consumers who wanted to get rid of their body odor. To attract female consumers, who do not like the smell of Lifebuoy carbolic acid, Lifebuoy introduced a new ingredient, Puralin, and changed the soap to a softer, more feminine color.
1960
Found a treatment to prevent millions of deaths from diarrhea
A bio-chemist, Kellogg Crane, discovered how salt and sugar were absorbed by the body which led to the development of oral rehydration therapy (ORT). ORT reverses the loss of water and salt caused by diarrhea and has saved millions of lives since its discovery.
1961
MRSA is discovered in England
The first MRSAs discovered were 'superbugs' - which have developed resistance to antibiotics making it very difficult to treat. Many antibiotics have been tried against MRSA in several trials, but hand washing is still the essence of prevention.
1966
Hand sanitizer invented
Training nurse named Hernandez found gel-based alcohol was a quick cleanser to kill germs and bacteria. Originally created for use in hospitals, now it can be used everywhere.
1966
Lifebuoy plus mint
Lifebuoy Mint Refresher was introduced to help brands modernize and explore new products with fresh and cool flavors.
1979
WHO says smallpox must be eradicated
The first evidence of smallpox came from the mummified body of Rameses V. The disease has killed more than 300 million people in the last century, but with vaccination campaigns carried out throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it was finally able to eradicate the disease.
Lifebuoy Total 10 Bar Soap
Lifebuoy Total 10 bar soap contains Lifebuoy's patented ingredient, ActivSilver Formula. The foams and creams from the Lifebuoy Bar soap leave you clean and refreshed while its sophisticated formulations help to nourish your skin.
Celebration for good health (2000-Present)
2000
Development Goals in the Millennium era
In 2000, 189 countries pledged to work to reduce poverty and improve the lives of millions of people by 2015. Lifebuoy's 'Clean Hands' campaign has contributed to its goal of reducing the number of deaths of children under the age of five by two-thirds and also preventing disease.
2005
Lifebuoy awarded the 'Citizen Brand' award
In 2005 Lifebuoy was awarded an award called 'Citizen Brand' in Indonesia in recognition of all Lifebuoy's contributions to health education that has been carried out over the years, including public health projects in collaboration with UNICEF and the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI).
2007
Lifebuoy begins carrying out real-life clinical trials
Lifebuoy is working with 2000 families in Mumbai to conduct Unilever's largest real-life clinical trial to improve family hygiene and health. They were given Lifebuoy soap and also given education on the 'Lifebuoy Way' of hygiene and hand washing. At the end of clinical trials, the number of children suffering from diarrhea was reduced by 25%.
2008
1st World Handwashing Day was held in more than 75 countries and 23 Lifebuoy markets
Lifebuoy is one of the forces that strongly support the world's first Hand Washing Day, working with its partners to educate and inspire children to make hand hygiene habits.
2012
India celebrates one Polio free year
More than one million volunteers assisted in a mass vaccination campaign and reduced the number of polio cases from 741 in 2009 to early 2011. It is a remarkable achievement that India has been removed from the list of polio endemic countries.
