Purell Hand Sanitizer

Purell is perhaps the most iconic brand of hand sanitizer in the world. Originally developed in 1988 by GOJO Industries, the product was initially created to meet the needs of those working in the healthcare and foodservice industries. It was later released to the consumer market in 1997, where it became a household name for portable hygiene.

The brand has remained deeply rooted in its American heritage, with the majority of its manufacturing taking place in the United States, specifically in Ohio, where its parent company is headquartered. Throughout its history, Purell has undergone several ownership transitions, including a period where the professional and consumer distribution rights were managed separately by companies like Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Today, the brand is once again unified under the private ownership of the family that founded it, emphasizing long-term stability and specialized focus on skin health and surface hygiene.

Purell remains a leader in the antiseptic market, favored for its formulations that balance germ-killing efficacy with skin compatibility. The brand continues to innovate within the hygiene space, expanding from simple gel sanitizers to soaps, wipes, and surface disinfectants used globally.