Combe
Privately-held personal care company founded in 1949, operating four niche-leading brands — Just For Men, Vagisil, Seabond, and Astroglide — across 60+ countries with vertically integrated U.S. manufacturing and FDA-regulated OTC product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersWhite Plains, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Combe does
Combe is a privately-held personal care products company founded in 1949 by Ivan Combe and headquartered in White Plains, New York. The company manufactures and markets consumer health and personal care products through four owned brands: Just For Men (men's hair color), Vagisil (women's vaginal health), Seabond (denture adhesives), and Astroglide (sexual wellness lubricants). Combe runs a vertically integrated operating model with two U.S. manufacturing plants and on-site laboratories producing FDA-regulated over-the-counter drug products alongside cosmetics and personal lubricants.
The company's business model is brand-driven consumer packaged goods, monetized through mass-market retail distribution, drug-chain placement, international distributor networks, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Each brand occupies a leading or co-leading position in its respective niche — Just For Men leads the men's hair color category, Astroglide is the #2 U.S. personal lubricant, and Vagisil is the established incumbent in women's intimate care. Products are sold in over 60 countries with localized operating presence in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Australia, India, and Thailand, providing geographic and category diversification.
Combe remains under family ownership and leadership, with Keech Combe Shetty as Executive Chair and Akshay Shetty as CEO, supported by a CPG-experienced operating team. The company has executed selective inorganic growth, most notably acquiring Astroglide from BioFilm in 2023 to extend into sexual wellness. With approximately 500 employees, Combe operates as a mid-sized, multi-category niche CPG platform with vertically integrated U.S. production, multi-jurisdiction regulatory compliance, and a multi-channel commercial footprint spanning retail, international distribution, and D2C e-commerce.
Combe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Combe
- Legal name
- Combe Incorporated
- Website
- https://combe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Privately-held personal care company founded in 1949, operating four niche-leading brands — Just For Men, Vagisil, Seabond, and Astroglide — across 60+ countries with vertically integrated U.S. manufacturing and FDA-regulated OTC product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Combe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Personal Care Products
- NAICS
- Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments) (CRADANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hand & Body Care (Lotions, Creams, Body Oils) (CRADANAC)
Keywords
Where Combe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- White Plains
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Combe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Combe generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of personal care products including hair color (Just For Men), vaginal health (Vagisil), denture care (Seabond), and sexual wellness (Astroglide). Products are sold through retail partners and e-commerce channels.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Combe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Combe manufactures and markets a portfolio of consumer personal care brands sold in over 60 countries. Its product lines include Just For Men hair color, Vagisil women's intimate health products, Seabond denture adhesive seals, and Astroglide personal lubricants. The company owns two US manufacturing plants and in-house R&D labs, and distributes products through major retail partners, brand websites, and international distributors.
Product overview
Combe is a personal care products company operating as a portfolio of consumer brands. The company manufactures and markets personal care, beauty, and healthcare products through four main brands: Just For Men (men's hair color), Vagisil (women's vaginal health), Seabond (denture adhesive), and Astroglide (sexual wellness lubricants). The company also previously created disruptive brands including Clearasil and Odor-Eaters. Combe owns state-of-the-art laboratories, a salon for consumer testing, and two manufacturing plants in the United States, with R&I, Regulatory, Quality and Safety teams ensuring FDA compliance and clinically proven products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Just For Men: World's #1 Men's Hair Color brand offering gray care and grooming solutions, available in over 60 countries. Includes Just For Men Control GX, voted 2018 Product of the Year winner in Men's Hair Care category.
- Vagisil
- Seabond
- Astroglide
Products and services
- Just For Men Men's hair color brand offering gray care and grooming solutions, including the Control GX product line. The world's #1 Men's Hair Color brand, with over 100 million men in over 60 countries having used the brand. Control GX was voted the 2018 Product of the Year winner in the Men's Hair Care category.
- Vagisil Women's vaginal health brand offering a complete portfolio of solutions for vaginal health issues, including anti-itch creme, moisturizers, and lubricants. A trusted brand worldwide, with a mission to create an open platform for discussing vaginal, sexual, and reproductive health topics.
- Seabond Denture adhesive seals providing strong, all-day hold for denture wearers, offering a more pleasant user experience compared to traditional pasty denture pastes.
- Astroglide Sexual health and wellness personal lubricant brand, America's #2 lubricant brand, recommended by doctors. Originally developed by rocket scientist Dr. Daniel X. Wray for high heat and friction applications in the Space Shuttle program, and now adapted as a bio-compatible personal lubricant.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 million men have used Just For Men products
Companies that use Combe
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Combe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Combe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- American BandstandminorIvan Combe partnered with Dick Clarke by sponsoring the launch of American Bandstand to showcase Clearasil to American teenagers every weekend on TV
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Combe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Reckitt Benckiser: Global consumer health and hygiene leader owning K-Y (competes with Astroglide), Durex, Mucinex, and Lysol. Broad incumbent in personal care/sexual wellness with much greater scale than Combe.
- Beiersdorf: German personal care company behind Nivea, Eucerin, and Coppertone. Combe's SVP Sales Kyle Stenzel previously led US sales at Beiersdorf, reflecting deep operating familiarity. Broad incumbent in personal care.
- Haleon: Consumer healthcare spin-off of GSK (Sensodyne, Voltaren, Centrum, Advil). Broad incumbent in consumer health and personal care with international distribution capabilities overlapping Combe's footprint.
- Avon Products: Iconic personal care and beauty brand with strong women's intimate care legacy and global direct-selling distribution. Comparable given overlapping women-focused intimate care positioning and Combe's SVP General Counsel Anthony Santini previously served as Avon's first Chief Patent Counsel and North America General Counsel.
- Henkel: Global CPG with personal care (Schwarzkopf, Dial) and adhesives. Comparable as a diversified personal care brand operator; far larger scale than Combe.
Direct peers
- Edgewell Personal Care: Owner of Schick, Banana Boat, Playtex, and feminine care brands. Comparable as a focused mid-cap personal care brand operator competing for similar shelf space and consumer occasions.
- Church & Dwight: Diversified consumer packaged goods company with a portfolio of personal care, household, and sexual wellness brands (Trojan, Batiste, OxiClean). Most comparable US-listed mid-cap CPG to Combe's brand-portfolio model.
- Prestige Consumer Healthcare: Owns Monistat (directly competitive with Vagisil in women's intimate health), plus other OTC personal care brands. Highly comparable brand-portfolio CPG with similar category dynamics.
- LifeStyles Healthcare: Sexual wellness company producing condoms and personal lubricants (LifeStyles, Skyn). Directly comparable to Combe's Astroglide franchise in sexual wellness category dynamics and channels.
Emerging players
- Veru Inc. Healthcare company with sexual health and intimacy products (including the FC2 female condom and ENTADFI). Emerging player overlapping with Combe's Vagisil and Astroglide franchises in intimate/sexual wellness.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Combe social profiles
Digital presenceCombe compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Combe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Combe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Combe subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries14 records
Combe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Combe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Combe
What does Combe do?
Combe manufactures and markets a portfolio of consumer personal care brands sold in over 60 countries. Its product lines include Just For Men hair color, Vagisil women's intimate health products, Seabond denture adhesive seals, and Astroglide personal lubricants. The company owns two US manufacturing plants and in-house R&D labs, and distributes products through major retail partners, brand websites, and international distributors.
Is Combe a public or private company?
Combe is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Combe founded?
Combe was founded in 1949. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Combe based?
Combe is headquartered in White Plains, United States, in the North America region.
How does Combe make money?
One revenue line is on record: consumer Packaged Goods Sales.
Who are Combe's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Reckitt Benckiser, Beiersdorf, Haleon, Avon Products and Henkel. Direct peers are Edgewell Personal Care, Church & Dwight, Prestige Consumer Healthcare and LifeStyles Healthcare. Veru Inc. is listed as an emerging player.
Does Combe have an API?
No public API is recorded for Combe.
What industry is Combe in?
Combe's product category is Personal Care Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADANAE, Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments), with a secondary code of CRADANAC, Hand & Body Care (Lotions, Creams, Body Oils). Its NAICS code is 32561 and its SIC code is 2844.