Is Rexona deodorant the same as Degree?

Yes. Degree is the name Unilever uses for the Rexona deodorant brand family in the United States and Canada. The products can differ by market in formula, fragrance, packaging and available variants.

Is Rexona owned by Unilever?

Yes. Rexona is ultimately owned by Unilever PLC, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Rexona entered Unilever through the Lever Brothers business after Lever Brothers acquired the brand in the 1930s.

Who owns Dove and Rexona?

Unilever PLC ultimately owns both Dove and Rexona. Dove and Rexona are separate Unilever brands, not the same brand.

Is Rexona soap an Indian brand?

No. Rexona originated in Australia in 1908. The Sheldon Drug Company made the original Rexona products, including soap and ointment, before Rexona became internationally associated with deodorants and antiperspirants.

Where is Rexona made?

Rexona is an international Unilever brand, and the available product range and manufacturing arrangements can vary by country. Rexona's public brand history identifies Australia as the place of origin, but it does not establish one single manufacturing location for all Rexona products worldwide.

Is Rexona a FIFA sponsor?

Rexona has used sports marketing and sports figures in its advertising, including the Rexona Sport variant launched in 1974. The supplied historical sources do not establish a current FIFA sponsorship, so a FIFA sponsorship should not be assumed from Rexona's sports positioning.

Is Rexona deodorant good?

Rexona deodorant products are designed to provide personal-care deodorant or antiperspirant protection, but whether a product suits an individual depends on factors such as formula, fragrance, skin sensitivity and the specific variant. Rexona offers multiple products and regional formulas rather than one universal deodorant.

Who owns Rexona?

Rexona

Ultimate ownerUnited KingdomUnilever PLC

Made O'Meter is free and ad-free, built to keep ownership like this transparent.

Brand origin: Australia
Main production: Several countries, incl. Brazil

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About Rexona

What is Rexona?

Rexona is a personal-care brand founded in Australia in 1908. Rexona is best known for deodorants and antiperspirants, and Unilever describes Rexona as one of its biggest brands. Rexona had annual turnover of more than €2 billion in 2022. Rexona products are sold under different names in some markets. The names include Sure in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Degree in the United States and Canada, Rexena in Japan and South Korea, and Shield in South Africa. Rexona is also associated with Unilever personal-care brands such as Dove and Axe, but Rexona, Dove and Axe are separate brands within Unilever's portfolio.

Who owns Rexona?

Rexona is ultimately owned by Unilever PLC, according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Unilever PLC is a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Rexona entered the Unilever organization through the Lever Brothers business. Lever Brothers acquired Rexona in the 1930s as part of an effort to expand the brand beyond Australia. Lever Brothers merged with Dutch Margarine Unie in 1930 to form Unilever. Historical records also state that J. Kitchen and Sons Pty. Ltd. purchased the Rexona Company from the Sheldon Drug Company in 1929. A separate historical account dates the sale to 1929 or 1930 and records conflicting evidence about whether J. Kitchen and Sons or Lever Brothers was the direct purchaser. In 1956, J. Kitchen and Sons and Lever Brothers became part of Unilever Australia Pty Ltd. The businesses formed Lever & Kitchen Pty Ltd in 1962, with Rexona among the companies and brands under the combined business. Lever & Kitchen and Rexona merged in 1989 to form L&K:Rexona. Lever Brothers New Zealand and L&K:Rexona merged in 1993 to form Lever Rexona. Lever Rexona merged with Unilever Foods in 2000 to form Unilever Australasia.

Where does Rexona come from?

Rexona originated in Australia in 1908. Alice Sheffer created the Rexona brand, and she was the wife of S.F. Sheffer, founder of the Sheldon Drug Company. The Sheldon Drug Company made the first Rexona products. The original range included ointment, soap, shaving soap and shaving cream. The original Rexona range became an immediate success. The products were being sold in New Zealand and South Africa before 1910. The Rexona Company was later purchased from the Sheldon Drug Company by J. Kitchen and Sons Pty. Ltd. in 1929. Lever Brothers acquired Rexona in the 1930s and pursued international expansion for the brand. Rexona's first deodorant was introduced in the 1960s, initially in Finland. Rexona was launched as a deodorant brand in Australia in 1968, according to a 1995 Australian Financial Review account.

What products does Rexona make?

Rexona makes deodorants and antiperspirants for personal care. The original Rexona product range included ointment, soap, shaving soap and shaving cream. Rexona later developed deodorant products, with the first deodorant introduced in the 1960s. Rexona's product naming varies by country. Unilever markets the same global brand family as Rexona in many markets, Degree in the United States and Canada, Sure in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Rexena in Japan and South Korea, and Shield in South Africa. These names do not mean that Degree, Sure, Rexena and Shield are owned by separate parent companies. They are regional names used within Unilever's deodorant and antiperspirant business. Rexona also has product variants aimed at different uses, including Rexona Sport and Rexona Clinical. Rexona Sport was launched in 1974. The available product range and formulas can differ by country.

Is Rexona the same as Degree?

Rexona and Degree are regional names for the same Unilever deodorant brand family. Unilever markets Rexona as Degree in the United States and Canada. This means Rexona is not owned by Degree. Unilever is the ultimate owner of both the Rexona name in its markets and the Degree name in the United States and Canada. Packaging, product names, fragrances, formulas and available variants can differ between countries. The regional name alone does not establish that every product has an identical formula.

Is Rexona the same as Sure?

Rexona and Sure are regional names used by Unilever for the same deodorant brand family. Unilever markets Rexona under the name Sure in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Rexona is not owned by Sure. Both names belong to Unilever's personal-care portfolio, although individual products and formulas can differ between markets.

How did Rexona become a major deodorant brand?

Rexona became a major deodorant brand through product expansion, sports positioning and international advertising. Rexona launched the Rexona Sport variant in 1974 and began using the slogan “Rexona won't let you down.” Rexona's Australian deodorant-market share rose from 7% in 1974 to 14% in 1975 and 22% in 1977, when Rexona became the top-selling deodorant in Australia. Rexona was the top-selling deodorant in Australia by 1977 to 1978, according to an Australian Financial Review report. The sports positioning and “It won't let you down” advertising theme had been exported to 22 countries by 1991. Between 1974 and 1995, the advertising campaign used 42 television commercials featuring 18 sports stars and six other prominent figures. Rexona held 26% of Australia's deodorant market in 1995, compared with 7% in 1974. Rexona's sales grew by 2% to 3% in 1995, when the Australian deodorant market was valued at A$160 million.

Where is Rexona sold and under what names?

Rexona products are sold internationally under several names. Unilever identifies Rexona as the name used in many markets, while the brand is called Sure in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Degree in the United States and Canada, Rexena in Japan and South Korea, and Shield in South Africa. A 2006 business case described Rexona as a Unilever brand sold in 90 markets and holding 14.5% of the global deodorant market. The same case valued Rexona at INR55 billion, or US$1.36 billion, in 2006. In India, Rexona was valued at 1.78 billion Indian rupees in 2006 and had an annual growth rate of 28% within Hindustan Unilever's portfolio. These figures describe the brand's position in 2006 and should not be treated as current market measurements.

Is Rexona an Indian or American brand?

Rexona is an Australian brand, not an Indian or American brand. Alice Sheffer created Rexona in Australia in 1908. Rexona products are sold in India and the United States, but distribution in a country does not change the brand's country of origin. In the United States and Canada, Unilever uses the name Degree for the corresponding brand family. Rexona therefore may appear under a different name in North America while remaining Australian in origin and owned by Unilever.

Frequently asked questions about Rexona

Is Rexona deodorant the same as Degree?: Yes. Degree is the name Unilever uses for the Rexona deodorant brand family in the United States and Canada. The products can differ by market in formula, fragrance, packaging and available variants.
Is Rexona owned by Unilever?: Yes. Rexona is ultimately owned by Unilever PLC, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Rexona entered Unilever through the Lever Brothers business after Lever Brothers acquired the brand in the 1930s.
Who owns Dove and Rexona?: Unilever PLC ultimately owns both Dove and Rexona. Dove and Rexona are separate Unilever brands, not the same brand.
Is Rexona soap an Indian brand?: No. Rexona originated in Australia in 1908. The Sheldon Drug Company made the original Rexona products, including soap and ointment, before Rexona became internationally associated with deodorants and antiperspirants.
Where is Rexona made?: Rexona is an international Unilever brand, and the available product range and manufacturing arrangements can vary by country. Rexona's public brand history identifies Australia as the place of origin, but it does not establish one single manufacturing location for all Rexona products worldwide.
Is Rexona a FIFA sponsor?: Rexona has used sports marketing and sports figures in its advertising, including the Rexona Sport variant launched in 1974. The supplied historical sources do not establish a current FIFA sponsorship, so a FIFA sponsorship should not be assumed from Rexona's sports positioning.
Is Rexona deodorant good?: Rexona deodorant products are designed to provide personal-care deodorant or antiperspirant protection, but whether a product suits an individual depends on factors such as formula, fragrance, skin sensitivity and the specific variant. Rexona offers multiple products and regional formulas rather than one universal deodorant.

Sources: rexona.com: about us.html, unilever.com, rexona.com: about us.html, rexona.com: over ons.html, unilever.de, en.wikipedia.org, rexona.com: tentang kami, rexona.com: o nas.html, ozvta.com, austehc.unimelb.edu.au, brandslex.de, unilever.co.za, collections.museumsvictoria.com.au, id.wikipedia.org, eoas.info, afr.com: sweet smell of success for unilevers celebs 19950306 kawro, pt.wikipedia.org, afr.com: rexona formula wont let it down 19911129 k9xbj, thecasecentre.org

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