Listerine Total Care Bright White mouthwash

Listerine is one of the world's most recognized oral care brands, with a history dating back to 1879 when it was developed by Dr. Joseph Lawrence and Jordan Wheat Lambert in St. Louis, Missouri. Named after the pioneer of antiseptic surgery, Sir Joseph Lister, the brand was originally owned by the Lambert Pharmacal Company (later Warner-Lambert). After a series of major industrial acquisitions, the brand was owned for many years by Johnson & Johnson.

In recent years, the brand underwent a significant ownership shift. In May 2023, Johnson & Johnson spun off its consumer health division into a standalone, publicly traded company named Kenvue. As of 2026, Kenvue is the ultimate owner of Listerine, following its complete separation from Johnson & Johnson. However, news reports indicate that Kimberly-Clark, a major American consumer goods corporation, entered into an agreement to acquire Kenvue in late 2025, a deal expected to be central to the brand's corporate structure from 2026 onwards. In the Australian market, Listerine products like the Total Care Bright White variant are typically manufactured in Thailand and distributed locally by the regional subsidiary, which transitioned from Johnson & Johnson Pacific to Kenvue Pacific.