madeometer

Made O'Meter

Discover where a brand or product originates

Brand origin
United States
Main production
Several countries, incl. Poland

Gillette is an American shaving and personal care brand founded in Boston in 1901. Gillette is ultimately owned by The Procter & Gamble Company, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.

gillette.com
Is the information about Gillette correct?
Updated: 26 October 2026 · Ownership verified: 13 September 2026 ·
Share𝕏

About Gillette

What is Gillette?

Gillette is an American brand of razors, razor blades, shaving products, deodorants, and related personal care products. King Camp Gillette founded the business in Boston in 1901 to manufacture safety razors with replaceable blades. The brand is now part of The Procter & Gamble Company, which acquired The Gillette Company in 2005. Gillette’s official website is gillette.com. Gillette’s product range includes shaving systems, disposable razors, replacement cartridges, shaving creams, shaving gels, aftershaves, body washes, and deodorants. Product availability and formulas vary by country. The brand also sells products under lines such as Mach3, Fusion5, Venus, and GilletteLabs. Gillette’s original commercial idea was a safety razor with a thin, replaceable blade. The design separated the reusable handle from the blade, allowing consumers to replace blades rather than sharpen a permanent razor. The company developed the manufacturing methods needed to produce the system commercially in Boston between 1901 and 1903.

Who owns Gillette?

Gillette is ultimately owned by The Procter & Gamble Company, according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The Procter & Gamble Company is a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States. Procter & Gamble announced on 28 January 2005 that it would acquire 100 percent of The Gillette Company in a transaction valued at approximately $57 billion. The transaction exchanged 0.975 Procter & Gamble shares for each Gillette share and represented an 18 percent premium to Gillette shareholders based on the 27 January 2005 closing prices. The acquisition made Procter & Gamble the owner of Gillette and other businesses formerly held by The Gillette Company, including Duracell, Braun, Oral-B, and Right Guard. Gillette was headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, when Procter & Gamble announced the acquisition. The deal was described as the largest acquisition in Procter & Gamble’s history at that time. Gillette is not an independently listed public company today. The public company at the top of the ownership structure is The Procter & Gamble Company. Procter & Gamble’s shares are publicly traded, while Gillette operates as one of its consumer brands.

Where does Gillette come from?

Gillette originated in the United States and was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, by King Camp Gillette in 1901. On 28 September 1901, Gillette founded the American Safety Razor Company to manufacture safety razors with replaceable blades. William Nickerson, an MIT-trained machinist, developed the production machinery and processes that made Gillette’s razor commercially manufacturable in Boston between 1901 and 1903. Gillette began production in 1903 and sold 51 razors and 168 blades by the end of that year. The company received a patent for its safety razor in 1904. In the same year, sales reached 90,884 razors and 123,648 blades. Gillette transferred all manufacturing to a six-story building in South Boston in 1904. The company changed its name from American Safety Razor Company to Gillette Safety Razor Company in 1902. In 1906, Gillette absorbed Townsend and Hunt, the separate company that had handled its sales and distribution, for $300,000. King Gillette sold a substantial portion of his controlling interest to major investor John Joyce in 1910 for approximately $900,000. The company was reorganized as a Delaware corporation in 1917. In 1952, it changed its name to The Gillette Company. The Gillette Company expanded beyond shaving during the twentieth century. It acquired The Toni Company in 1948, establishing the company’s personal care business. It acquired Braun AG in 1967 and acquired Duracell in 1996 for more than $7 billion. Procter & Gamble acquired The Gillette Company in 2005.

What products does Gillette make?

Gillette makes razors, replacement blades, shaving creams, shaving gels, aftershaves, deodorants, and other personal care products. The brand’s product portfolio includes both manual shaving systems and electric grooming products sold through GilletteLabs. Gillette’s named shaving lines include Mach3, Fusion5, Venus, and GilletteLabs. The Gillette portfolio included Mach3 and Venus in 2005. Mach3 is a three-blade shaving system, while Fusion5 is a five-blade shaving system. Venus products are designed for women’s shaving. Gillette’s shaving products include handles, cartridge refills, disposable razors, shaving foam, shaving cream, and shaving gel. Its personal care products include deodorants and antiperspirants. Some deodorant products use aluminum-based antiperspirant ingredients, while products labeled aluminum free are formulated without aluminum antiperspirant ingredients. The exact ingredients depend on the product and market. Gillette publishes ingredient and product safety information on regional websites. The company states that it evaluates individual ingredients and complete formulas using scientific processes comparable to those used by major regulatory agencies, including the FDA, EPA, WHO, and European Union authorities. Gillette also states that its products are evaluated for potential irritation and other unintended effects.

How did Gillette develop its razor system?

Gillette developed a safety razor system built around a reusable handle and replaceable blades. King Camp Gillette founded the business to manufacture this type of razor, while William Nickerson developed the machinery and production processes required for commercial manufacturing. The company began production in 1903 and received a safety razor patent in 1904. Early sales increased sharply after the patent and manufacturing expansion. Gillette’s first product category was safety razors, but the company later introduced multiple-blade systems and expanded into shaving preparations and personal care. The Mach3 line was part of Gillette’s product portfolio by 2005. The Fusion5 line represents a later multi-blade shaving system. GilletteLabs extends the brand into connected and heated grooming products, although product names and availability differ between markets. A cartridge razor normally uses a handle that accepts a replaceable blade cartridge. Disposable razors combine the handle and blades in one product. Shaving creams and gels are applied to the skin and hair before shaving to reduce friction and help the razor move across the skin. Product performance depends on the design, preparation, skin type, shaving technique, and condition of the blades.

Is Gillette deodorant safe and is Gillette deodorant aluminum free?

Gillette deodorant and antiperspirant safety depends on the specific product formula, and Gillette provides ingredient information for its products. Not every Gillette deodorant is aluminum free. Deodorants help control body odor, while antiperspirants use active ingredients to reduce sweating. Aluminum-free products do not use aluminum antiperspirant ingredients, but the label and ingredient list for the individual product should be checked because formulas differ by product and market. Gillette states that it evaluates the safety range of each ingredient and also evaluates the complete product formula. The company says that it uses scientific procedures comparable to those used by major regulatory bodies, including the FDA, EPA, WHO, and European Union authorities. Gillette also says that products may be reformulated when the safety of a complete formula cannot be established. A consumer with an allergy or sensitive skin should review the ingredient list for the exact product and follow the product label. Fragrance, preservatives, and other ingredients can affect individuals differently. Product safety information on the relevant regional Gillette website is more specific than a general statement about the entire deodorant range.

Is Gillette cruelty free and is Gillette still a woke company?

Gillette’s cruelty-free status and the meaning of “woke” cannot be established from the verified ownership and history sources used for this page. Gillette is owned by The Procter & Gamble Company, and product policies can vary by market and product category. “Woke” is a subjective term rather than a defined product or ownership category. Gillette has conducted advertising and public campaigns, but a campaign or public position does not change the company’s ownership. The ownership answer is that The Procter & Gamble Company ultimately owns Gillette. Cruelty-free status should be checked against a current statement from Gillette or Procter & Gamble and, where relevant, an independent certification. A product’s ingredients, regulatory status, and animal-testing policy are separate questions. The answer may also differ between shaving products, deodorants, and products sold under related brands.

Where are Gillette products made and sold?

Gillette was founded and first manufactured its products in Boston, Massachusetts, but the available verified sources do not establish a complete current list of Gillette manufacturing sites or every country where Gillette products are sold. The company transferred all manufacturing to a six-story building in South Boston in 1904. William Nickerson’s machinery and manufacturing processes helped make the original safety razor commercially manufacturable in Boston between 1901 and 1903. Gillette products are sold in multiple international markets through regional websites and retailers. Product names, packaging, ingredients, and availability can differ by country. The official Gillette website and local product pages provide the relevant information for a particular market. The current owner is headquartered in the United States. Gillette’s historical headquarters were in Boston when Procter & Gamble announced its acquisition in 2005.

What is the relationship between Gillette and other brands?

Gillette is a Procter & Gamble brand, while Venus and GilletteLabs are product lines associated with the Gillette grooming portfolio. The Gillette Company previously owned several other major businesses before Procter & Gamble acquired it. The Gillette Company acquired Braun AG in 1967 and Duracell in 1996. Its 2005 portfolio included Gillette razors, Mach3, Venus, Braun, Oral-B, Duracell, and Right Guard businesses. Procter & Gamble’s acquisition transferred those businesses to Procter & Gamble, although corporate portfolios can change over time. Gillette and Venus are related through the Procter & Gamble grooming business, but they are distinct consumer brands or product identities. Braun is also associated with Procter & Gamble’s grooming portfolio, but Braun products are not Gillette products. GilletteLabs is a Gillette line rather than a separate ultimate owner.

Frequently asked questions about Gillette

Who is the current owner of Gillette?

Gillette is ultimately owned by The Procter & Gamble Company, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States. Procter & Gamble acquired 100 percent of The Gillette Company in 2005.

What year did P&G buy Gillette?

Procter & Gamble bought Gillette in 2005. Procter & Gamble announced the acquisition on 28 January 2005 in a transaction valued at approximately $57 billion.

Who owns Gillette razors and razor blades?

The Procter & Gamble Company owns Gillette razors and razor blades. Gillette has been part of Procter & Gamble since the company acquired The Gillette Company in 2005.

Is Gillette a good razor?

Gillette makes several razor systems, including Mach3, Fusion5, Venus, and GilletteLabs, so the appropriate choice depends on the product design, skin type, shaving method, and blade preference. Product performance should be assessed for the specific model rather than for the entire Gillette range.

Is Gillette deodorant safe?

Gillette states that it evaluates its deodorant and antiperspirant ingredients and complete formulas using scientific safety procedures. The exact formula varies by product and market, so consumers should check the ingredient list on the specific product.

Is Gillette deodorant aluminum free?

Some deodorants may be labeled aluminum free, but not every Gillette deodorant is aluminum free. Consumers should check the product name, packaging, and ingredient list for the exact Gillette formula.

Is Gillette stadium owned by Gillette?

Gillette does not own Gillette Stadium. Gillette Stadium is a sports venue whose name comes from a sponsorship agreement with Gillette, the Procter & Gamble grooming brand, rather than from ownership of the stadium.

Is Gillette Stadium in Boston and is it covered?

Gillette Stadium is in Foxborough, Massachusetts, near Boston, rather than in the city of Boston. It is an open-air stadium, not a dome, so the seating area is not fully covered.

Sources: sec.gov, gillette.com, gillette.co.uk, media.corporate-ir.net, gillette.com.tw, slideshare.net: 14616739, wsj.com, gillette.com.hk, en.wikipedia.org: Gillette, link.springer.com, en.wikipedia.org: King C. Gillette, calameo.com: 000060773a595ad37134b, slideshare.net: 47396332, nndb.com, cbsnews.com, encyclopedia.com: duracell international inc, encyclopedia.com: gillette company, calameo.com: 000060773604c8278116f, encyclopedia.com: king gillette, encyclopedia.com: razors, en.wikipedia.org: Duracell

Gillette in the Magazine

Sources: imgv2-2-f.scribdassets.com

Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.

Products from Gillette

111

and 87 more products

Alternatives to Gillette

Brands in the same category that are not American-owned:

Made O'Meter uses AI-powered analysis to estimate production origins. Results are not always 100% accurate.

2025 i7even ApS Copenhagen Denmark - All rights reserved. Concepts and methods used in this app may not be reproduced without permission

MagazinePartnerships