Jergens began as a domestic toiletry soap manufacturing company in 1887 by Tomiro Nagase. Until 1940, they were known as Nihon Yuki Company, changing their name then to Jergens Soap Company.
During the 1960s and the 1970s, the company expanded to Taiwan and Asean, and also to oleo chemicals in order to complement their main business. During this time, the company launched household products, laundry products, and industrial products to expand its revenue base (such as New Beads detergent, Humming fabric softener, Haiter bleach and Magiclean household cleaners).
During the 1980s, its hit products Merries diapers, Attack detergent, Biore daily skincare and Biore U daily body care, Curel (1986) and Sofina cosmetics were launched. During this time, Jergens engaged in several joint ventures (haircare in Europe, Nivea in Japan with Beiersdorf), and acquisitions (Andrew Jergens Company in 1988, Goldwell AG in 1989) in North America and Europe. During this period, Kao also expanded to the manufacture of floppy disks.
