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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001305508-07-000134.txt : 20071107
<SEC-HEADER>0001305508-07-000134.hdr.sgml : 20071107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071107160137
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001305508-07-000134
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000021665
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERFUMES, COSMETICS & OTHER TOILET PREPARATIONS [2844]
		IRS NUMBER:				131815595
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123102000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		14TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARK REUBEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208230

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00644
		FILM NUMBER:		071221515

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO
		STREET 2:		300 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123102945

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-05</periodOfReport>

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        <issuerName>COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerName>MARK REUBEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>300 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>520000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>53.0188</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1300000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-11-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1300000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>53.0188</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1300000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-11-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1300000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This line shows Mr. Mark's direct holdings of common stock of the Company prior to the transactions reported on this form.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This report relates to Mr. Mark's exercise of expiring stock options granted in 1997 under the Company's employee stock option plan, his only remaining options granted during his tenure as CEO. The options were granted in several tranches, shown separately on this form, with premium strike prices ranging from 10% to 70% over the market price of the common stock on the date of grant.  In addition, the options were subject to early expiration if the common stock price did not reach certain hurdle rates (50% appreciation within 5 years and 70% appreciation within 7 years).  During the ten-year period the options were in effect, the  total shareholder return on the Company's common stock was 174% versus 92%  for the S&amp;P 500 and 140%  for the peer group used by Colgate in its proxy statement performance graph, and the Company's market capitalization increased from $18.5 billion to  $38.4 billion.  The net effect of the option exercise and other transactions reported on this form was 
to increase Mr. Mark's holdings of Colgate Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The exercise price of the options and related withholding requirement was satisfied by the Company's withholding shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Purpose of share sale was to help fund income taxes in connection with this option exercise and retirement distributions to Mr. Mark as a result of his retirement as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on July 1, 2007.  Shares were sold on November 6, 2007, at the average price shown above, in 30 lots at prices ranging from $75.08 to $75.50.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">In 1998 Mr. Mark transferred this portion of the 1997 option grant to a family limited liability company owned by Mr. Mark's spouse and several trusts for the benefit of his children and grandchildren (&quot;LLC&quot;), which also exercised the options transferred to it at the end of their term.  Mr. Mark disclaims beneficial ownership in the shares held by the LLC to the extent he has no pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The exercise price of the options held by the family LLC was satisfied by the Company's withholding shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Mr. Mark holds these shares through an LLC of which he is the sole member.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Option became 100% exercisable on the date shown in this column.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Reuben Mark</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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