Vicks History

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The Vicks® story isn't brief, but it is interesting. Below is a decade-by-decade timeline that shows how Vicks has grown for more than 100 years.

Click on any of the decades below to take a look at past Vicks ads, watch vintage TV spots, learn interesting Vicks facts, and see just how far the legacy has grown. .

Historical Vicks ads are for entertainment purposes only. Historical product claims may no longer be valid. For information on current Vicks products and usage, go to the Products section. Use all products as currently directed.

Vicks: A Century of Soothing, Comforting Care

1890s	1900s	1910s	1920s	1930s	1940s
1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s

Vicks in the 1960s

1950s 1970s

Enlarge	Vicks^® Formula 44^® Cough Discs with Silentium are test marketed from 1964–1965. The dissolving cough remedy offers users the on-the-go convenience of a cough tablet with the strength of Vicks Formula 44 Cough Syrup. The product rolls out nationally in 1971. Promoted as "serious medicine," Vicks Cough Silencers are introduced in 1965. A key ingredient, Dextromethorphan, positions the drops as strong, serious medication at a premium price of 25¢.

Enlarge	Based on findings from the Vicks^® Research and Development team, NyQuil^® is first test marketed in the U.S. in 1966. Although there are alternative theories, legend has it that the name was derived from the term "nighttime tranquility." The product's liquid form is revolutionary for the category. Previously, tablets were the preferred form of cold treatments while liquid medications were used only for coughs.