Oscar Troplowitz

  Oscar Troplowitz (born January 18 1863, Gleiwitz, Upper Silesia - d. April 27 1918, Hamburg) was a German pharmacist and entrepreneur who purchased Beiersdorf AG, which was then a laboratory and chemist's shop in Hamburg from Paul Carl Beiersdorf in 1890. Troplowitz soon expanded the company into selling brand-name merchandise as well.

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Sensitivity Test

How to quickly check pipettes?

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

Under Troplowitz's ownership, the company developed several of its own products, including Nivea, Leukoplast, Labello, and an adhesive tape that would later be called "Tesa Film". As did Paul Beiersdorf, Troplowitz maintained a close business relationship with dermatologist Paul Gerson Unna. It was Unna's recommendation that Troplowitz hire Isaak Lifschütz, a chemist who discovered the emulsifying agent Eucerite, which is the main ingredient in Nivea.

Troplowitz also made several reforms regarding worker benefits at Beiersdorf, such as paid vacations, maternity leave, and a 48-hour work week.