Our Story
For over 50 years, Calgon has been dedicated to creating uniquely exhilarating bath and body experiences that stimulate the senses, restore the spirit and take you on a special, fragrant journey to the place you want to be.
Calgon has always been about taking you away on your journey. But, along the way, it has taken quite a journey itself. To find out more about it, check out the timeline and trivia below.
Our History
Let the following timeline and trivia quiz take you away on a little journey through our history—in both business and pop culture.
| 1933 | Calgon, Inc. puts Calgon water softener on the market in 1933. The water softener combines with calcium to reduce unwanted salts in water. It's name comes from CALcium GONe. Hence, Calgon. |
| 1946 | Calgon launches its first fragrant bath product. |
| 1960s | Calgon begins advertising its bath oil beads as an essential indulgent, luxurious experience. Here are some classic commercials from that period: |
| 1970- 1980s |
“Calgon Take Me Away” iconic TV and print advertising begins. Here are two of these iconic and beloved commercials: |
| 1989 | Reckitt Benckiser acquires Calgon and changes the “Calgon, take me away” tagline. (To find out what it was changed to, check out the trivia section.) |
| 1995 | Calgon is acquired by Coty Inc. “Take Me Away” advertising resumes. |
| 1995 | Calgon launches body wash—the first significant expansion from bath products into bath and body products. |
| 1997 | Calgon becomes the #1 brand in the specialty bath category and launches bubble baths, shower gels and body lotions. |
| 1998 | Brand launches takemeaway.com website. |
| 2000- 2002 |
New advertising focuses on skin benefits. Calgon launches Silky Skin Shave Mousses and a new line of products targeting girls age 7-13 (For the name of this tween line of products, check out the trivia section.) |
| 2003 | Calgon adds new collections including Blossoms, Brazilian Beauty, Mmmmm and Get Juic’d. |
| 2007 | Ascendia Brands buys Calgon. |
| 2009 | Ilex acquires Calgon. |
| 2010 | The fresh new Calgon and the all-new takemeaway.com website are launched! |