The Mentholatum Company Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mentholatum Company, widely known for its namesake product, Mentholatum® Ointment – the soothing aromatic ointment in the iconic green jar – today announced its 125^th anniversary. 

The Mentholatum Company was founded in 1889 in Wichita, Kansas by Mr. Albert Alexander Hyde, who, together with his pharmacist, successfully developed Mentholatum® Ointment, a unique aromatic topical rub formulated with Menthol and Camphor as active ingredients.  It instantly became an indispensable part of the medicine cabinet with a high reputation in the U.S.  Interestingly, Mr. Hyde supported church missionaries working overseas and generously donated Mentholatum® Ointment to this cause. This is how the product gained worldwide acceptance, particularly in East Asia and Latin America.

Since 1889, The Mentholatum Company has grown and prospered from a small purveyor of soaps and toiletries into an international company, marketing quality proprietary non-prescription pharmaceuticals and skincare products around the world.  While family owned for 99 years, the company was acquired by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the #2 consumer health company in Japan to whom the company had licensed the brand until then, and which is a world leader in manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, skin care and health care products.  Today, the company manufactures and markets a portfolio of non-prescription drugs and skincare products across 12 major international markets and with distribution in more than 110 countries. 

The company's corporate philosophy is to work wholeheartedly to support society to help create a better world which includes supporting the local community.  To commemorate the 125^th anniversary, The Mentholatum Company has provided generous donations to The Western New York Food Bank, Buffalo Niagara River Keepers, The Roycroft Campus and Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy.

The Mentholatum Company is dedicated to providing effective solutions to consumers' personal needs through developing high quality products and much has changed since the first green jar came to market.  "Developing new and unique quality products that address consumers' evolving needs is very important to us," says Jean Legros, VP Sales and Marketing US in Orchard Park, NY.

Some of the key product initiatives this season include Softlips® Cube, a revolutionary 5-in-1 lip balm combining function and style in a sleek, glass-like cube design.  Building upon one of the first lip balm brands created specifically for women in 1992, "this dome shaped lip balm, which is easy to find in the purse, meets the need of women wanting multi-purpose benefits while giving them a little luxury.  All key retailers nationally have accepted it" says Legros.   Mentholatum also launched this year new lavender scented Mentholatum® Nighttime Vaporizing Rub, a chest rub to pleasantly soothe and effectively relieve coughs.  This new vaporizing rub is made with naturally soothing lavender and provides maximum strength cough relief which lasts up to 8 hours. Other innovations include Rohto® Cool Max maximum-strength redness relief eye drops, and Hada Labo Tokyo™, a new line of anti-aging skincare solutions that are incredibly lightweight, yet deeply hydrating – and the #1 skincare line in Japan.

After 125 years of growth and transformation, The Mentholatum Company is poised to expand its domestic and international footprint, with exceptional products and dependable quality.

About The Mentholatum Company

The Mentholatum Company is a health and wellness company located in Orchard Park, NY, dedicated to providing effective solutions to consumers' personal needs.  Brands include Oxy® acne medication, Hada Labo Tokyo™ anti-aging skin care, pHisoderm® gentle cleansers, Softlips® lip balm, Natural Ice® lip protectant, Rohto® Cooling Eye Drops, WellPatch® pain relieving patches, Deep Heating® Rub, Fletcher's® Laxative, Red Cross® Toothache Medication, and Mentholatum® Ointment.

For the latest information, news and consumer offers, please visit:

Mentholatum.com; Mentholatumointment.com; softlips.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140924/148227

SOURCE The Mentholatum Company