Alfred Woelbing was a buyer at a Chicago department store back in 1937, but he didn’t much like working in the big city. So he began his own business, making silver polish in the basement of his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It paid the bills, for the time being.

Always curious, always inventive, Alfred then decided to create a home remedy for a pesky condition that he’d often suffered: cold sores. After much experimentation over a hot plate, Alfred created Carmex, and then proceeded to sell it to pharmacies by going door to door. If they weren’t interested in purchasing his product, he gave them a dozen jars for free—along with a post card for a re-order. He figured that if he could sell one jar at every drug store in Milwaukee and Chicago, he and his wife could make a decent living.

It wasn’t long before Alfred’s home-based business was booming. Apart from a wartime hiatus in production due to lanolin rationing, Alfred’s company—now known as Carma Labs—grew steadily. For 35 years, Alfred made sales calls in Wisconsin, Illinois and parts of Indiana. He remained president of the company until his death in May, 2001.

Now Carma Labs is managed by Alfred’s grandsons Paul Woelbing (President) and Eric Woelbing (CEO). This new generation of Woelbings has overseen several major innovations, including the introduction of new lip balm flavors; a lip balm line for women, Carmex Moisture Plus™ ultra hydrating lip balm; and a line of Carmex skin care products.

Alfred Woelbing lost his job as a buyer for a Milwaukee department store and began producing Lyptone, a lip protection product. Alfred next created a silver polish, Shynebright, which he sold to stores in Milwaukee and Chicago.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid – lots of chapped lips ensued.

In 1937 the Lyptone formula was sold to a New Jersey company for $2,500. Alfred described the amount as “a lot of money in those days.”

Nylon was invented by DuPont™ Labs. The first can of beer was manufactured.

In 1937 Alfred Woelbing incorporated Carma Laboratories. A bottle of Pepsi® and a Hershey® bar cost 5 cents each.

Alfred sold Carmex® lip balm from the trunk of his car. Popularity grew through word-of-mouth.

WWII limited production possibilities for Carmex lip balm due to a ban on the natural ingredient lanolin. Uncle Sam needed all the lanolin for the Army—to grease equipment and prevent rust.

After the war, Alfred and his wife produced Carmex lip balm from their home using a kettle and a hot plate, pouring the mixture by hand into glass jars.

In 1946 a scientist stumbled upon the idea for the microwave when he walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

Baby Boom! The world's population hit 2.3 billion, the number of chapped lips increased (not to mention chapped bottoms).

Carmex® lip balm grew in popularity, and production demands quickly became too much for the Woelbing home. Positive “word-of-mouth” led to healthy growth of the Carmex lip balm brand.

The first McDonald's restaurant opened in 1954.

In 1957 Carmex production moved from the Woelbing home to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb west of Milwaukee.

USSR launced Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. Alfred continued pouring Carmex lip balm, by hand, into the traditional glass jars.

The Halogen lamp was invented in 1960.

Valium was invented in 1961. High-strung people around the world were finally able to relax a little.

1965 welcomed the creation of Astroturf®. Athletes now had to worry about the horrible turf-toe malady.

In 1969, Woodstock attracted over 300,000 people.

In 1970, Nolan Bushnell introduced Pong® and his new company, Atari Video Games.

Alfred now in his 70s, discontinued making sales calls, which had mostly been in Wisconsin, Illinois and parts of Indiana.

In 1973, Alfred's son Don joined the business and introduced assembly lines.

BIC® invented the disposable lighter in 1973. Gene splicing was invented.

In 1976, having outgrown the facility in Wauwatosa, Carma Labs built a new facility in Franklin, Wisconsin--another Milwaukee suburb. The factory is still located there today.

The U.S. celebrated its bicentennial. A gallon of gas cost only 59 cents.

A First Class postage stamp was only 13 cents. The ink jet printer was invented.

Cell phones and roller blades were invented.

The first Cabbage Patch Kid was sold in 1983, creating a craze across the country.

In 1985, Microsoft invented Windows, and Bill Gates began to build his empire. It will be a full ten years before Carma Labs installs its first computer.

In 1986, a First Class U.S. postage stamp was 22 cents. A gallon of gas was 95 cents. A gallon of milk was $2.28.

In 1988, Carmex lip balm became available in squeezable tubes, making the product’s first significant packaging change.

The disposable camera was invented by Fuji. Also in 1988, Prozac was invented at the Eli Lilly Company.

The World Wide Web began to grow in popularity. In 1993, Carma Labs’ share of the U.S. lip balm market grew to an estimated 9%.

In 1995, Carma Labs installed computers in its offices to keep up with growing demand.

In 1999, Viagra was invented and a rise in Carmex lip balm users followed.

Carmex lip balm was now available in several countries.

In 1998, pharmacists ranked Carmex the #1 recommended lip balm in a national survey of over-the-counter lip balms, giving Carma Laboratories an Achievement Award from Pharmacy Times magazine, beginning a ten-year consecutive winning streak.

The Click Stick applicator with SPF 15 was introduced to the public in 1999.

Alfred died in 2001 at age 100. Up until the age of 96, Alfred worked 8-hours a day, driving over 40 miles to get to work. Even after he stopped his daily routine, his presence was still felt. His son and grandsons continue the Carmex lip balm tradition today.

In 2002, Mint joined Original as a Carmex lip balm product with an SPF 30. Carmex lip balm became available in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Europe and Asia.

Carmex lip balm began its inaugural advertising campaign. “It Sooooothes…”, “It Heals” and “It Tingles” billboards appeared in New York City subways and the Chicago train stations in January.

Internet voters during 2006 picked strawberry and cherry as the newest Carmex lip balm flavor additions. Cherry and Strawberry sticks are introduced. In 2007 Carmex introduced the cherry jar and cherry tube.

Carmex introduced Moisture Plus™ ultra hydrating lip balm in a sleek silver, slant-tipped applicator. Strawberry tube introduced.

In 2009, Chairman Don Woelbing passed away. Carma Laboratories continues to be a family-owned and operated company led by grandsons Paul and Eric, the third generation of the Woelbing family.

Carma Laboratories introduces the first Carmex products outside of the lip balm category: Carmex Healing Cream and Carmex Healing Lotion. Carmex Moisture Plus ultra hydrating lip balm expands to include sheer tints, pink and peach.