History of Vicks VapoRub

It's the familiar royal blue jar found in many medicine cabinets. It has a scent that is recognized around the world. Vicks VapoRub is a standard in many homes to cure stuffy noses and congested chests.

The Inventor

Lunsford Richardson was born in Selma, North Carolina, in 1885. He dreamed of creating a company that would help the South after seeing its economy destroyed by the Civil War.

The Inspiration

Richardson created home remedies in his drugstore, including headache powders and liniments. While treating his children for a cold with the traditional chest poultice and lamp vaporizer, he began to imagine better treatments.

The Name

It is generally accepted that Richardson created Vick's Croup and Pneumonia Salve in Greensboro. But Selma's historical information lists the town as its birthplace. The mixture of menthol, camphor and oil of eucalyptus was named Vicks to honor Richardson's brother-in-law, and because it was an easy name to remember.

Flu Epidemic of 1918

In 1917, Richardson sent out 5 million samples across the nation. It was a successful campaign. In 1918, during the Spanish Influenza epidemic, millions of people turned to Vicks VapoRub for help.

Vicks VapoRub Today

Today, Vicks VapoRub is made by Proctor & Gamble. It is no longer made in Greensboro, North Carolina.

References

• North Carolina Museum of History
• Greensboro News and Record
• Smith Richardson Foundation

Resources

• Vicks