In 1907, Persil, the first household detergent, was marketed by Henkel & Cie, of Düsseldorf as the first “self-acting'' washing powder in the world. Persil was the combination of both washing and bleaching agents in one powder. The brand name derived from the beginning syllables of its two most important chemical components, perborate (a bleaching agent) and silicate. The first Persil packet was a paper-wrapped folding box, with much text, decorated in the primary colors green, red and white. Around 1910 the popular Persil box triggered the beginnings of brand piracy, as witnessed by innumerable imitation attempts (Pirsil, Pirsal, Persiehl, O-Hä etc.) In 1917, the Persil brand was registered as a trademark.