o.b. Tampons

o.b. was originally founded in Germany by a gynaecologist, Judith Esser-Mittag, and an engineer, Carl Hahn, in 1950. The brand name stands for 'ohne Binde,' which translates to 'without napkins,' reflecting its revolutionary role in popularizing non-applicator tampons. It quickly became the market leader in Europe due to its compact design and focus on comfort.

Historically, the brand was a cornerstone of the Johnson & Johnson personal care portfolio for decades. However, in 2013, the North American rights to the brand were sold to Edgewell Personal Care. In 2024 and beyond, the brand remains split geographically: Edgewell Personal Care manages the brand primarily in the Americas, while the Johnson & Johnson spinoff, Kenvue, oversees the brand in European and other international markets. Manufacturing remains heavily concentrated in Wuppertal, Germany, which serves as a global production hub.