Our Story
Barbasol, America’s #1 brand of shaving cream, has been trusted by generations of consumers for over 100 years to deliver a close, comfortable shave.
Both Barbasol and sister brand Pure Silk shave creams are proudly made locally in Ashland, Ohio.
Offering a comprehensive lineup of shaving cream and razors at retailers nationwide, Barbasol and Pure Silk brands provide exceptional quality at an honest value. Both brands are owned by Perio, Inc., a family-owned company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
Our Mission
Perio's (parent company of Barbasol) main objective in doing business is customer satisfaction. This focus on customer service, combined with a sincere commitment to the values of quality and trust, create a second objective of company value.
Perio wants all stakeholders to sense an intrinsic value within the Company based upon this commitment to service, along with our resolve to sell and produce only the highest quality products, and the development of trust through a willingness to refuse short-term opportunities which threaten our integrity and long-term success.
Additionally, Employee fulfillment is critical both to the Company's success and to each individual's personal success. Perio wants to provide all Employees with a job and a company of which they can be most proud.
In conclusion, Perio expects to receive a healthy profit as long as it adheres to these major objectives. We believe that we are merely temporary stewards and that the resources of the Company belong to God. As such, our main vision is to support charitable organizations and specifically, those focused upon children.
Historical Timeline
1919
Frank Shields, a former MIT professor developed the first shaving cream. The innovative product offered men an alternative to using a brush to work soap into lather. The shaving cream formula was designed to provide a comfortable shave for men with tough beards and sensitive skin, like himself. When it was first produced, Barbasol was filled and packaged entirely by hand in Indianapolis, IN.
1920's
Product endorsements from famous male celebrities of the 1920-1930s, including athletes, actors and musicians ran in a series of ads in the Saturday Evening Post. The ads featured personal quotes from the men, explaining why they enjoyed shaving with Barbasol.
1930’s
Barbasol was widely advertised on the radio by popular radio personalities. By 1936, the company employed nearly 400 people and was also manufacturing razor blades. The Great Depression had little or no impact on the Barbasol brand.
1940’s
Barbasol Shaving Cream became standard issue for soldiers during World War II. As a show of patriotism, the company also sold large tubes of shaving cream in PX stores for no profit.
1950’s
Over the years, Barbasol has been sold in a variety of packaging types and sizes. The Giant Jar was originally sold for 75¢. The introduction of aerosol cans in the 1950s prompted a change in the Barbasol formula from a thick cream into a soft, fluffy foam similar to what is currently seen on shelves. The iconic barbershop pole design on the first aerosol cans remains a signature trademark for the brand.
1960’s
In 1962, the Barbasol brand was purchased by Pfizer, a large pharmaceutical company. The company introduced a series of TV ads.
1970’s
The brand redesigned its packaging, combining the iconic barbershop pole design with an updated Barbasol logo. The products grew to 7 flavors - adding Sensitive Skin, Extra Protection, Cool Menthol, and Lemon Lime.
1980’s
Barbasol received significant television advertising support to increase brand awareness after research showed that 25% of consumers were not familiar with the brand.
In 1988, Barbasol introduced shaving gels in four flavors: Original, Sensitive Skin, Skin Conditioner and Lemon Lime.
1990’s
Cans of Barbasol Shaving Cream were prominently featured in popular movies such as The Fugitive and Jurassic Park.
During the late 1990s, Barbasol sponsored Akins Motorsports drivers Glenn Allen Jr. and Elton Sawyer in the NASCAR Busch Series. Outside of this sponsorship, the brand was largely unadvertised and market share slowly dwindled.
2001
Perio, Inc. purchased Barbasol in 2001 and quickly re-energized the brand by expanding product lines, developing new products and renewing brand awareness through advertising. Barbasol became the most advertised shave prep with television and radio advertising supporting the new tagline "Close Shave America." In addition to reconnecting with men of all ages, the brand grew fourfold.
2010
Barbasol continued its long-standing commitment to American manufacturing by opening a new manufacturing facility in Ashland, OH.
2012
Barbasol signed a major 5-year agreement to become the official jersey partner of the Columbus Crew, beginning in 2012. Ohio based Columbus Crew won its first MLS Cup championship in 2008. The Barbasol (branded) jerseys were even voted as historical fan favorites!
2013
Barbasol revealed a new look for an American Classic. The combination of the classic name, prominent "Made in USA" badge and distinctive barber pole stripes creates a powerful retail billboard that is contemporary, yet familiar.
2015
The first annual Barbasol Championship, played opposite The Open, was held on the Grand National course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Opelika, Alabama. The Barbasol Championship is moving to Kentucky in 2018, marking the first PGA Tour event in the Bluegrass State since 1959.
Barbasol partnered with Universal Pictures Jurassic World to develop a promotion focused on the brand’s cameo in the 1993 original Jurassic Park film. The partnership included the release of limited-edition Barbasol/Jurassic World collector cans, a national television campaign and consumer sweepstakes.
2017
Barbasol proudly launched a line of premium disposable razors in multiple blade counts providing consumers exceptional quality and honest value in the razor category.
2018
At the start of the 2018 Season, Barbasol signed a sponsorship agreement with Major League Baseball® that extends across ballparks, media and retail.
Barbasol & Pure Silk Shave Clubs were also launched this same year. This new subscription service delivered fresh razors and refill blades right to your doorstep.
2018
The Jurassic journey continues with Barbasol and Universal Pictures co-promotion on the latest Jurassic franchise movie release, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
2019
Barbasol celebrated its 100th Year Anniversary as a highly trusted American tradition in shaving. To commemorate this event, Barbasol released a special 100th anniversary edition can and other limited-edition anniversary promotional items.
2020
Barbasol 1919 Shaving Cream delivers a premium shave with a modern take on the classic non-aerosol shaving cream. 1919 sets the stage for Barbasol’s next 100 years of great shaves.
2022
Barbasol 1919 After Shave Balm was introduced to add the perfect soothing finish to your shave as a compliment to the Barbasol 1919 Classic Shaving Cream.
2022
Barbasol continues to partner with Universal Pictures on the Jurassic World: Dominion movie that featured (spoiler alert) ... the long-lost Barbasol cryo can. Limited-edition Barbasol shaving cream cans featuring Jurassic World: Dominion dino characters were released into the wild to celebrate this film.
2023
The first non-aerosol shave cream from Pure Silk was introduced, delivering a citrus burst of freshness, adorned with sensual florals and a soft warm fragrance that's infused into an ultra-slick formula for a shave experience like no other! This new shave cream is fortified with beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe to soothe and protect your skin from irritation.
2025
America's red, white & blue come together with Barbasol limited-edition collector cans inspired by Marvel Studios' Captain America: Brave New World,