Skip to Content

Our History

Birth of a little hero

Dishwashing had always been an exhausting chore. Extensive pre-soaking and cleaning of dishes was part of the daily routine. In 1951 the former Henkel subsidiary Böhme Fettchemie developed a small miracle for German housewives: the first Pur, originally in powder form. Its amazing cleaning power and skin-friendly formula made dishwashing effortlessly easy. Uniform wetting of dishes with a thin film of water allowed for clear drying. Doing away with wiping dishes dry meant not only reduced workload, but was also much more hygienic.

Rescue of swans

In 1957, after an environmental disaster over 800 of the Queen’s swans were contaminated from an oil spill. They were in grave danger. However, Henkel helped with its expertise in this unique British-German washing operation. For the very first time a dishwashing liquid was an important part of the rescue and release of animals affected by oil pollution. Pril was able to remove even the most persistent and dangerous remains of the spil

Pril – in liquid form

After having been sold for almost a decade, dishwashing powders were increasingly replaced by liquids. Pril was again a pioneer in this field. The liquid form of the product immediately became a huge success and is the product we are familiar with today. Most importantly, the dosage was simplified, enabling customers to use exactly the right amount of dishwashing liquid – another revolutionary step to improving sustainability.

Pril Handmild

In 1965 the revolutionary Pril Handmild (“skin-friendly”) was introduced – the first dishwashing detergent liquid especially developed for dry and sensitive hands. Before that, many customers had to wear gloves in order to do their dishes. This became no longer necessary.

Pril Rosé

In 1967, the Pril Rosé variant came onto the market: the first dishwashing detergent in the form of milky emulsion with a creamy character. The dishwashing liquid for particularly delicate hands was distinguished by its moisturizing and hand-nurturing effect but also contained a germicidal effect.

Pril Flowers

In 1972 the Happy Kitchen campaign was created, which to this day has had a long- lasting effect on a whole generation. Capturing the spirit of the time, colourful flowers were given as stickers on the back of Pril bottles. The Pril flowers were stuck everywhere: kitchen or bathroom tiles and doorframes were decorated with these fun giveaways. A entire generation has grown up with these Pril flowers, associating them with happy memories of their childhood.

Willst du viel, spül mit Pril

In 1972 the Happy Kitchen campaign was created, which to this day has had a long- lasting effect on a whole generation. Capturing the spirit of the time, colourful flowers were given as stickers on the back of Pril bottles. The Pril flowers were stuck everywhere: kitchen or bathroom tiles and doorframes were decorated with these fun giveaways. A entire generation has grown up with these Pril flowers, associating them with happy memories of their childhood.

In 1984 the claim “Willst du viel, spül mit Pril” (If you expect a lot, do your dishes with Pril) was formed. Pril not only offers excellent cleaning results, but brings fun to the sink. To this day this claim has had a long-lasting effect on a whole generation.

Pril Kraft Gel

In 2014 Pril Kraft Gel was the first dishwashing liquid to offer powerful cleaning of not only grease but also starchy residues – making dishwashing easier than ever before. The new formula contained enzymes that cut through starch molecules, dissolving stubborn, baked-on residue from pasta, potatoes, rice and other starch-based food.

Pril Kraft Gel Ultra Plus

In 2014, Pril launched Pril Kraft Gel Ultra Plus (Pril Gold) – the best formulation from Pril to date. This golden wonder helps consumers with their stubborn dirt and burnt-on grease, which in the past required long pre-soaking times, but not anymore. With its pre-soaking technology and twice as concentrated liquid*, Pril Kraft Gel Ultra Plus removes the toughest grime without time-consuming pre-soaking, making it the golden standard for your dishwashing needs.