Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees is an American personal-care and beauty brand whose identity grew from small-scale beekeeping and candle making into a broad portfolio of lip care, skin care, body care, hair care, baby products, cosmetics, and other health and beauty items. The business was founded in Maine in 1984 by beekeeper Burt Shavitz and entrepreneur Roxanne Quimby. Its earliest products were hand-crafted beeswax candles made from surplus wax, followed by honey, furniture polish, edible spreads, soaps, fragrances, and other goods associated with beeswax and natural materials. The company developed its distinctive brand character during the 1980s and 1990s by presenting itself as an earth-conscious, natural personal-care business with a handmade origin story. A large candle order from a New York boutique in 1989 helped trigger a substantial increase in production. Burt's Bees then moved progressively toward personal care, helped by formulations and recipes inspired by historical beekeeping literature. It incorporated in 1991 and eventually made lip balm its signature product. The Beeswax Lip Balm became the central symbol of the brand and a major driver of distribution through natural-food stores, pharmacies, mass retailers, and later e-commerce. Operations moved from Maine to North Carolina in the 1990s. The company established manufacturing in Creedmoor and later relocated its headquarters to Durham, in the Research Triangle region. During this period it expanded from a regional craft business into a nationally distributed brand, adding more than one hundred products and reaching thousands of retail locations. Product development broadened into travel-size skin care, hair care, bath products, body lotions, toothpaste, shampoo, and the Baby Bee range. The company retained a natural and environmentally responsible positioning while introducing more mechanized production to meet demand. Ownership changed significantly in the 2000s. AEA Investors acquired an 80 percent interest in 2004, while Quimby retained a minority stake and a board position. The Clorox Company acquired Burt's Bees in 2007. Under Clorox ownership, the brand continued to operate as a distinct consumer brand and expanded its international distribution, marketing, product range, and retail presence. Clorox increased promotional support for the business, particularly in lip care, while reported price increases contributed to sales growth during the early 2010s. Burt's Bees later moved beyond its traditional natural skin-care and lip-care base. In 2017 it introduced a full color-cosmetics range that included foundation, mascara, eye shadow, and blush. The brand has also continued to develop baby, hair, body, and facial-care products. Sustainability remains part of its public positioning: in 2022 Burt's Bees announced a multiyear partnership with rePurpose Global intended to support recycling infrastructure and reduce plastic waste entering the ocean. In 2024 it introduced limited-edition ranch-themed lip balm flavors with Hidden Valley Ranch, adapting a social-media joke into a promotional product launch. Today Burt's Bees is an active Clorox-owned brand with distribution beyond the United States. Its competitive identity combines recognizable founder heritage, beeswax and botanical associations, accessible premium pricing, and claims centered on natural ingredients and responsible packaging or sourcing. The brand's strongest consumer association remains its beeswax lip balm, but its business scope encompasses a much wider personal-care portfolio.

Burt's Bees began in Maine in 1984 when Roxanne Quimby used leftover beeswax from Burt Shavitz's beekeeping operation to make candles. The founders initially worked from an inexpensive abandoned schoolhouse and sold candles and honey at local craft fairs. The enterprise gradually added beeswax-based household products, food items, and personal-care goods. A major candle order from the Zona boutique in New York in 1989 required a rapid increase in production and helped move the company beyond its local craft-business roots. Quimby's interest in historical beekeeping recipes contributed to the company's transition toward soaps, fragrances, skin-care preparations, and other personal-care products. Burt's Bees incorporated in 1991. During the 1990s, lip balm became its most important product, while the company continued to promote a handmade, natural, and environmentally oriented identity. The business moved its base to North Carolina in 1994 and established manufacturing in a former garment factory in Creedmoor the following year. Although production became more mechanized, the company continued to use its small-batch and earth-friendly heritage in its branding. A retail store opened in Chapel Hill, and distribution expanded into Japan and national American retailers. By 1998 the company offered more than one hundred products and was present in thousands of locations. Its assortment included soaps, candles, perfumes, travel-size skin care, hair products, body lotions, and bath items. An e-commerce website launched in 1999, supporting broader nationwide distribution. That year Quimby acquired Shavitz's remaining one-third interest in exchange for a house in Maine, ending his ownership role in the business. The early 2000s brought further category expansion. Burt's Bees launched toothpaste and shampoo and introduced the Baby Bee line for infant and family care. Quimby also directed company profits toward conservation, including the preservation of substantial Maine forestland and cooperation with The Nature Conservancy. In 2004 AEA Investors purchased an 80 percent interest for a reported $173 million, while Quimby kept 20 percent and a board seat. Shavitz later received compensation connected with the transaction. Clorox acquired Burt's Bees in 2007 for a reported $925 million. The acquisition gave Clorox a prominent natural personal-care platform and gave Burt's Bees access to greater marketing, distribution, and operational resources. John Replogle served as chief executive from 2006 until 2011, when he left for Seventh Generation. Nick Vlahos, a Clorox veteran, became vice president and general manager in 2011 and departed Clorox in 2017. During the early 2010s, Clorox increased advertising and sales promotion for Burt's Bees, especially its lip-care products. The brand continued to broaden its consumer proposition under Clorox. In 2017 it entered a more complete cosmetics offering with complexion, eye, and cheek products. Its lip balm became a highly recognizable mass-market item, with reports in 2018 emphasizing its exceptionally high purchase frequency. Burt Shavitz died in 2015, but his name and beekeeping association remain central to the brand's identity. In 2014 the documentary film Burt's Buzz examined the history and relationship between the founders. More recently, Burt's Bees has combined product expansion with sustainability and attention-generating collaborations. In 2022 it partnered with rePurpose Global to support recycling infrastructure addressing ocean-bound plastic waste. In 2024 it collaborated with Hidden Valley Ranch on novelty lip balm flavors derived from an April Fool's social-media concept. The brand remains an active global personal-care business owned by The Clorox Company, with lip care at its center and adjacent activities across facial care, body care, hair care, baby care, and cosmetics.

1. 2024A Hidden Valley Ranch collaboration launched

   The companies released limited-edition novelty lip balm flavors based on ranch-themed social content.

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2. 2022A plastic-waste partnership was announced

   Burt's Bees partnered with rePurpose Global on recycling infrastructure.

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3. 2017The brand entered full color cosmetics

   Burt's Bees launched foundation, mascara, eye shadow, blush, and related makeup products.

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4. 2007Clorox acquired Burt's Bees

   The Clorox Company acquired the brand and its operating business.

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5. 2004AEA Investors acquired a majority stake

   AEA Investors acquired 80 percent of the company, while Roxanne Quimby retained a minority interest.

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6. 2003Baby Bee was introduced

   The Baby Bee range extended the brand into infant and family personal care.

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7. 2002Toothpaste and shampoo were launched

   Burt's Bees expanded into oral care and hair care.

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8. 1994Operations moved to North Carolina

   The company relocated its base from Maine to North Carolina as it scaled its personal-care operations.

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9. 1991The company incorporated

   The incorporated business offered candles, soaps, perfumes, and other natural products.

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10. 1989A major candle order accelerated production

    An order from New York boutique Zona prompted the company to add employees and expand manufacturing.

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11. 1984Burt's Bees was founded in Maine

    Roxanne Quimby and Burt Shavitz began the business with hand-crafted beeswax candles and related products.

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Natural and environmentally conscious personal care at accessible prices, built around beeswax heritage, botanical ingredients, and an approachable alternative to conventional beauty products.

• Beeswax Lip BalmLip care

  The brand's signature product and most important consumer association. The balm uses beeswax heritage as a central part of its identity and helped Burt's Bees move from a regional natural-products business into mass retail. The range has supported numerous flavor and format extensions over time.

• Baby BeeBaby care2003

  A family of infant and baby personal-care products introduced in the early 2000s. The line extends Burt's Bees' natural-positioning principles into products such as cleansing, moisturizing, and bath care for babies and families.

• Facial skin careSkin care

  The facial-care portfolio includes cleansers, moisturizers, treatments, and related products. It represents the brand's expansion beyond lip care into everyday facial routines while retaining botanical, natural-ingredient, and accessible-price associations.

• Hair and body carePersonal care

  Burt's Bees developed shampoos, body lotions, bath products, soaps, and other cleansing and moisturizing items during its diversification in the 1990s and 2000s. These categories broaden the brand's role from a lip-care specialist to a wider personal-care provider.

• Color cosmeticsMakeup2017

  Introduced as a full cosmetics range in 2017, the assortment included foundation, mascara, eye shadow, blush, and other makeup products. The line applied Burt's Bees' natural and approachable positioning to complexion, eye, and cheek cosmetics.

• 2024Hidden Valley Ranch limited-edition collaboration

  United States

  A social-media joke about ranch-flavored lip balm became a collaborative novelty launch featuring ranch-themed flavors.

  Outcome. Limited-edition product launch.

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• 2022rePurpose Global recycling partnership

  Global

  Burt's Bees announced a multiyear partnership to finance recycling infrastructure intended to keep plastic waste from entering the ocean.

  Outcome. Partnership announced; specific quantified outcome is not established in the supplied sources.

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• 2017Burt's Bees entered full color cosmeticsProduct launch

  The brand had established strong recognition in lip care and natural skin care and sought to extend its proposition into makeup.

  What changed. It launched products including foundation, mascara, eye shadow, and blush.

  Aftermath. The move broadened the brand's presence in beauty while maintaining its natural positioning.

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• 2007Clorox acquired Burt's BeesM&A

  Burt's Bees had become a globally distributed natural personal-care brand after the AEA investment and years of product expansion.

  What changed. The Clorox Company purchased the business for a reported $925 million.

  Aftermath. Burt's Bees continued as a distinct Clorox-owned brand with expanded marketing and distribution resources.

  Reported acquisition price. $925 million (2007)

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• 1994The company concentrated on personal careStrategy

  After developing products across candles, honey, household goods, and food, Burt's Bees was moving toward a more focused personal-care identity.

  What changed. The business shifted its emphasis away from its earlier mixed assortment and toward personal-care products.

  Aftermath. The narrower category focus supported later expansion in lip care, skin care, hair care, and baby care.

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• 2024Burt's Bees and Hidden Valley Ranch launched limited-edition lip balms

  The companies introduced novelty flavors inspired by ranch, buffalo sauce, celery, and carrot after an April Fool's social-media post generated attention.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2022Burt's Bees announced a recycling partnership with rePurpose Global

  The multiyear partnership was intended to finance recycling infrastructure designed to prevent plastic waste from reaching the ocean.

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• 2017Burt's Bees introduced a full cosmetics line

  The brand expanded into color cosmetics with products including foundation, mascara, eye shadow, and blush.

  Product launch
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• 2015Burt Shavitz died at age 80

  Burt Shavitz, co-founder and the namesake associated with the brand, died in Maine.

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• 2007The Clorox Company acquired Burt's Bees

  Clorox purchased the natural personal-care company for a reported $925 million, bringing Burt's Bees into its brand portfolio while retaining the brand identity.

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1. Burt's Bees
2. Burt's Bees official website