<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2008-05-08</periodOfReport>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0000021665</issuerCik>        <issuerName>COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CL</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001423830</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>de Guillenchmidt Alec</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>300 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>0</isOther>            <officerTitle>Pres. Colgate Europe &amp; So.Pac.</officerTitle>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2008-05-08</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>2732</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>72.1128</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>31200</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value></value>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>138</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By Issuer's 401(k) Plan Trustee</value>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <footnotes></footnotes>    <remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>Nina D. Gillman by power of attorney</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2008-05-12</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>