Trojan

Trojan is a United States-origin sexual-health brand whose principal products are condoms and sexual lubricants. The brand was established by Merle Leland Youngs, who began manufacturing condoms in 1916 through Fay and Youngs after moving to New York City. Fay and Youngs was renamed Youngs Rubber Corporation in 1919, and the Trojan name was introduced with the image of a Trojan helmet, a visual identity that helped distinguish the products in a category that was then subject to significant social and advertising restrictions. The brand emerged during a period when condoms were commonly made from animal intestines or early rubber materials. In the 1880s, Julius Schmid had become a leading manufacturer using animal intestines, but Trojan later moved toward latex production. By 1930, latex was being used for Trojan condoms. The shift reduced material costs, improved protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, and extended shelf life from roughly three months for earlier rubber products to approximately five years. Trojan began advertising in 1927 through an advertisement placed in a pharmacists’ trade magazine, an important early step in developing professional and retail distribution. Trojan’s portfolio has expanded beyond basic condoms into multiple condom formats, textures, sizes, sensations and lubricated variants, as well as sexual lubricants and sexual-wellness products. The reference material indicates that the brand produced approximately 30 condom varieties by 2009. Some Trojan products have been manufactured in the United States. A major manufacturing site in South Chesterfield, Virginia, was originally built in 1988 by Safetex to produce Saxon condoms. Carter-Wallace acquired and modernized the facility in 1995 after seeking additional manufacturing capacity, expanding it to more than three times its original size. Trojan later became part of Church & Dwight, the consumer-products company that also owns brands in household, personal-care and health-related categories. Trojan has historically combined product marketing with public-facing sexual-health education and research. From 2006, it sponsored the Sexual Health Report Card, an annual assessment of sexual-health resources at colleges and universities in the United States. The project evaluated subjects including contraceptive availability, HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing, peer education, sexual-assault resources and the usability of health-center websites. The 2016 edition examined 141 schools and generated controversy, particularly where campus policies and religious teachings affected views about contraception and sexual-health services. The brand has also used unconventional campaigns to make condom use and sexual wellness more visible. Its 2003 United Kingdom launch included the humorous Trojan Games concept, a fictional international sporting event built around sexual-performance themes. In 2012, Trojan Vibrations distributed 7,000 free vibrators in New York City and Washington, D.C. A 2018 campaign called Big Sexy World introduced a Trojan Man mascot and drew criticism from some audiences who considered the advertising overly inappropriate. In 2020, Trojan sponsored The Pleasure Is Ours, a podcast hosted by Cody Ko and produced by iHeartRadio, with episodes addressing misconceptions about sex, adulthood, work, entertainment and social media. Trojan remains primarily associated with the American condom market and is one of the most recognizable brands in the category. A cited 2006 estimate reported that Trojan accounted for 70.5 percent of condoms purchased in United States drugstores. The brand’s present identity combines mass retail distribution, product variety, sexual-wellness positioning and marketing intended to normalize conversations about contraception and intimacy. Exact current market share, executive leadership and brand-specific financial results are not established in the supplied reference material.

Trojan’s history began with Merle Leland Youngs, who moved to New York City and started producing condoms in 1916 through Fay and Youngs. The company adopted the name Youngs Rubber Corporation in 1919. The Trojan brand was introduced with a Trojan helmet emblem, establishing a recognizable identity for a product category that was not yet marketed as openly as it is today. Early condom production used materials including animal intestines and rubber. Julius Schmid was an important pre-existing manufacturer of animal-intestine condoms from the 1880s. Trojan’s business developed as manufacturing technology changed. The company began advertising in 1927, initially using a pharmacists’ trade publication to reach professional and retail intermediaries. By 1930, Trojan was using latex, which was less expensive than earlier rubber materials while maintaining protective functionality. Latex also substantially lengthened product shelf life, from approximately three months to about five years. Over time, Trojan developed a broad range of condom types, including variations in lubrication, texture, size and sensation. The supplied reference material records about 30 varieties by 2009. The company also expanded into sexual lubricants and other sexual-wellness products. Manufacturing has included production in the United States. The South Chesterfield, Virginia, facility was built in 1988 by Safetex for Saxon condom production. Carter-Wallace, which then owned Trojan, purchased and modernized the facility in 1995 after Safetex announced its closure, enlarging the plant to more than three times its previous size. Trojan later became part of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. The parent company’s ownership placed Trojan within a broader consumer-products portfolio. Trojan continued to operate as a distinct consumer brand focused on condoms, lubricants and sexual wellness rather than being converted into a generic Church & Dwight product line. Brand development has included research and educational activity. Beginning in 2006, Trojan sponsored the Sexual Health Report Card, which ranked sexual-health resources at colleges and universities across the United States. The assessment considered contraceptive and condom availability, HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing, peer groups, sexual-assault services and website usability. The 2016 report covered 141 schools and prompted controversy at some institutions, including debate over contraception and Roman Catholic teachings on natural family planning. Trojan has frequently used provocative or humorous marketing. The 2003 United Kingdom launch used the fictional Trojan Games, presented as an international sporting event modeled loosely on the Olympics but centered on sexual performance. In 2012, Trojan Vibrations distributed 7,000 free vibrators in New York City and Washington, D.C. The 2018 Big Sexy World campaign introduced the Trojan Man mascot and attracted criticism over the perceived inappropriateness of the ads. In 2020, the brand sponsored The Pleasure Is Ours podcast, hosted by Cody Ko and produced by iHeartRadio, extending its communication into conversations about sexual assumptions and broader coming-of-age issues. Trojan’s modern significance rests on its scale, longevity and high recognition in the American condom market. A cited 2006 estimate attributed 70.5 percent of condoms purchased in U.S. drugstores to Trojan. Current brand-specific revenue, market share, leadership and international operating details are not specified in the supplied sources.

• 2009

  Portfolio reaches approximately 30 condom varieties

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Reference material describes Trojan as producing about 30 condom varieties.

• 2006

  Sexual Health Report Card begins

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Trojan starts its annual assessment of sexual-health services at U.S. colleges and universities.

• 1995

  Carter-Wallace expands the South Chesterfield facility

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Carter-Wallace purchases and modernizes the Virginia manufacturing facility for Trojan production.

• 1930

  Transition to latex

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Trojan adopts latex-based materials, improving shelf life and reducing material costs compared with earlier rubber production.

• 1927

  First cited Trojan advertising

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Trojan advertises in a trade magazine aimed at pharmacists.

• 1919

  Fay and Youngs becomes Youngs Rubber Corporation

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The company operating the brand adopts the Youngs Rubber Corporation name.

• 1916

  Trojan condoms begin production

  [1]Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Merle Leland Youngs begins manufacturing condoms through Fay and Youngs.

A mainstream sexual-health and sexual-wellness brand emphasizing protection, product variety, intimacy and approachable education.

• Condoms · 1916

  Trojan condoms

  The core Trojan product line includes condoms designed for contraception and reduction of sexually transmitted infection risk. The range has included standard, lubricated, textured, size-specific and sensation-oriented formats. Trojan’s move to latex production by 1930 enabled longer shelf life and lower material costs than earlier rubber products. The brand has historically offered a large assortment rather than relying on one single universal condom design.

• Sexual lubricants

  Trojan lubricants

  Trojan lubricants extend the brand beyond barrier protection into sexual-wellness products intended to support intimacy and sexual activity. The supplied material identifies lubricants as a principal part of the brand portfolio, but does not provide a complete current product list, formulation details or launch chronology.

• Sexual-wellness products

  Trojan Vibrations

  Trojan Vibrations is the brand’s sexual-wellness extension associated with vibrators and related products. It received notable attention through a 2012 promotion that distributed 7,000 free vibrators in New York City and Washington, D.C. The supplied references do not establish the complete current assortment or individual product launch dates.

• 2020The Pleasure Is Ours

  United States

  Trojan sponsored a podcast hosted by Cody Ko and produced by iHeartRadio. Episodes used guests and discussion to examine misconceptions about sex, relationships, work, entertainment and social media.

  Outcome. Extended Trojan’s communications into podcast-based sexual and coming-of-age discussions.

  Source
• 2018Big Sexy World

  United States

  The campaign introduced the Trojan Man mascot and used a more overtly sexual advertising style to promote the brand.

  Outcome. The campaign attracted criticism from people who considered the advertisements too inappropriate.

  Source
• 2012Trojan Vibrations giveaway

  United States

  Trojan Vibrations distributed 7,000 free vibrators in New York City and Washington, D.C., using product sampling to promote the sexual-wellness line.

  Outcome. The promotion generated public attention; no financial outcome is supplied.

  Source
• 2003Trojan Games

  United Kingdom

  Trojan created a fictional official-looking international sporting event to introduce its condoms in the United Kingdom. The sexual-performance theme used humor and online video to attract attention; by November 2006, the campaign videos were reported to have received 300 million views.

  Outcome. High reported online video attention, although the supplied material does not provide sales results.

  Source

• 1995

  Expand U.S. manufacturing capacityStrategy

  Background

  Safetex announced the closure of its South Chesterfield, Virginia, factory, while Carter-Wallace was seeking a manufacturing site for Trojan.

  Action taken

  Carter-Wallace purchased and modernized the facility, expanding it to more than three times its previous size.

  Aftermath

  The site became an important U.S. manufacturing location for Trojan products.

  Source

• 1930

  Adopt latex-based condom productionStrategy

  Background

  Earlier condom manufacturing relied on rubber and other materials with higher costs or shorter shelf lives.

  Action taken

  Trojan shifted to latex-based materials, improving shelf life to approximately five years while reducing material costs.

  Aftermath

  Latex became an important foundation for the brand’s subsequent condom portfolio.

  Source

• 2020-05-01

  Trojan wins AskMen Readers' Choice award[2]Trojan获得AskMen读者选择奖askmen.com

  Trojan condoms won the top spot in AskMen's 2020 Readers' Choice Condom Survey and were named the readers' choice winner.

1. 1Trojan (brand)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Trojan获得AskMen读者选择奖askmen.com