Originally founded by William Colgate in 1806 and now a flagship brand of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, Colgate is a global leader in oral hygiene, recognized as the only brand in the world purchased by more than half of all households. While the company began by selling starch, soap, and candles in New York City, it pivoted to its most famous product in 1873 with the introduction of aromatic toothpaste sold in jars, followed by the revolutionary collapsible tube in 1896. Today, the brand dominates the market with a massive portfolio ranging from its classic Total and Optic White lines to specialized toothbrushes and mouthwashes, all supported by the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative which provides oral health education to children globally. By maintaining a reputation for clinical reliability and continuous innovation in whitening and enamel protection, Colgate has transitioned from a 19th-century small business into a multibillion-dollar household staple essential to daily dental care across over 200 countries.