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Success Story: Just imagine, a small bottle that can ward off infection as soon as it is applied to a wound, gives freshness when bathing and can become a shield for the house in an epidemic like Corona. This bottle is not a magical thing, but the companion who rules every Indian house from the first aid box to the kitchen shelf. But did you know that there is a story hidden behind this bottle which has saved millions of lives since 1840? It started with the hard work of a poor flour miller.
When a child gets hurt at home or you cut your hand while working in the kitchen, the first thing you do is look for a medicine that will stop the wound from bleeding and also provide you relief. Yes, we are talking about Dettol which is used in every household.
You must have seen Dettol bottle in every house. This is not just an antiseptic, but a story of trust. This more than 100 years old company was started in 1840 from a small town in England. Isaac Racket ran a flour mill. In this his profit was less and difficulties were more, but he did not give up. Saw that people do not pay attention to cleanliness.
He thought of making something that would make cleaning easier. After this he formed Racket and Sons Company. He started selling starch, indigo and cleaners. Their quality was amazing. By 1880 the name reached every household. People started considering it as a part of home health.
Dr. William Reynolds joined in 1929. At that time diseases were considered internal. But Reynolds said that women are getting puerperal sepsis due to external infection, especially after childbirth, which has caused millions of deaths. There were disinfectants in the market but their smell was strong, there was fear of skin irritation and cancer risk. Reynolds took the mission – to create a powerful and safe antiseptic. After months of research and hundreds of tests, Dettol was finally prepared.
In 1933, the trial took place at Queen Charlotte Hospital in London. Sepsis reduced by 50 percent in 2 years. First it was made on prescription in the pharmacy and then for the common people. In 1930-40, it reached Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. It came to India in 1936. Here there was trust in neem and turmeric. Dettol was called English medicine. Doctors were less used in the village but the company ran a campaign and gave samples to the doctors.
1939 During World War II, soldiers died of infections and then Dettol became frontline heroes. The British Government also kept it in the essential supplies. After the war ended, it was given the name Household in Europe. This company also won the trust of the Indian people. The first factory was opened in 1945 and by 1980, 6.5 crore people used it.
In 1999, Racket merged with Benckiser. Dettol soap, handwash, cleaner were also launched in 90. In Covid the demand reached sky high. Salutes Campaign. It was used in everything from delivery boy to nurse’s equipment. By showing the emotional bond between mothers and children during AIDS, Dettol made cleanliness a part of daily life. For the full year of 2024, Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC has reported total net revenue of 14,169 million pounds (about $18.2 billion).
Even today Dettol is used in every Indian home. The biggest step of the company has been to promote hygiene awareness in rural India by partnering with PM Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
