Around 3,000 B.C, King Minos of Crete may have just used a goat's bladder to protect his wife from his… you know… semen. Fast forward to 1839 where Charles Goodyear pioneered rubber vulcanization during the Industrial Revolution in America.
In 1855, the first rubber condoms were made. Then, by the 1860s, rubber condoms were being mass produced – protecting people partaking in some 19th century sex. Now this is where we step in with Durex’s history of condoms.
BRIEF HISTORY
OF CONDOMS
DUREX HAS WRITTEN A LOT OF HISTORY OVER THE LAST 90 YEARS.
1915
LA Jackson establishes London Rubber Company and sells imported barber condoms and accessories.
1929
The London Rubber Company (LRC) has the Durex brand registered.
1950s
Durex launches its first
moistened condom.
1953
Durex is the first brand to develop and use electronic testing.
1960s
Durex launches the first
anatomically shaped condom.
1970s
Durex is the first condom brand in the world to advertise in many countries.
1990s
Durex is the first condom brand to adopt a Global "quality seal" as standard.
1995
Durex launches a range of colorful and flavored condoms.
1996
Durex is the first condom brand to set up a website. We now have 42 different websites for the countries in which we are represented.
1997
Durex launches latex-free condoms. A new, non-allergenic material is used for the new product: the synthetic polyurethane developed by Durex is softer and more elastic than natural rubber latex.
1998
Durex is the first condom brand to conduct and publish a worldwide sexual wellbeing survey.
2001
Durex introduces Pleasuremax. This makes Durex the first condom brand to market a condom that is both ribbed and dotted to help stimulate both partners.
2003
Durex launches an exciting range of Play Lubricants.
2005
Durex Network launches the Face of Global Sex reports, which explore aspects of sexual behavior and are created for the information of academics and policy makers.
2008
To promote safe sex among young people, Durex encourages young people between the ages of 16 and 24 to create a unique poster on sexual health.
2009
Durex turns 80!
2010
Durex supports the initiative "Condomize!" of the United Nations Population Fund at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna through a donation of 220,000 condoms.
2010
Durex is bought by Reckitt.
2010
Durex introduces Performax Mutual Climax, a condom designed with a special lubricant on the inside to help him last longer, and ribs and dots on the outside designed to heighten her pleasure and offer extra stimulation.
2019
Durex turns 90!
2020
Durex launched its very own party favour: the Game Night Card Game.
2022
Durex launched its first XL condoms (Sensi-Thin XL & Invisible XL) and introduced the ‘Nothing Feels Better’ brand platform.
2023
Durex added Close Fit to the Sensi-Thin condom range – making Durex history as the first full range of condom sizes in Canada.