<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001528674-12-000073.txt : 20120326
<SEC-HEADER>0001528674-12-000073.hdr.sgml : 20120326
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120326151949
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001528674-12-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120315
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120326
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120326

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Arora Nikesh
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001468233

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00644
		FILM NUMBER:		12714416

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 AMPHITHEATRE PARKWAY
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0205</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000021665</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001468233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Arora Nikesh</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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No Securities Owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No Securities Owned</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>No Securities Owned</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Report of Initial Holdings</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nina Huffman by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa_arora.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>POWER OF ATTORNEY



FORMS 3, 4 AND 5





 I,  Nikesh Arora, a director of Colgate-Palmolive

Company (the "Company"), do hereby appoint Andrew D. Hendry,

Katherine Hargrove Ramundo, Nina Huffman, Joyce McCarthy,

Kristine Hutchinson and Sharon Han, and each of them, as my

true and lawful attorneys with the power to execute and file

on my behalf and in my place and stead, as I myself could do

if I were personally present, any Form 3, 4 or 5, any and all

amendments thereto and any documents in connection therewith,

required to be filed by me with the Securities and Exchange

Commission pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with my

ownership, either directly or indirectly, of securities of

the Company, or any change therein.



 This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and

effect for as long as I continue to be a director of the Company

or until earlier revoked by me in writing and shall not otherwise

be affected by my subsequent disability or incompetence.



 In witness whereof, I have signed this instrument

this 19th day of March, 2012.





   /s/ Nikesh Arora



   Nikesh Arora





</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
