Aw used cartoon commercialisation to promote his Tiger Balm product, named after himself, to any potential customer as well as at any public celebration.

Aw fled to Hong Kong during World War II and managed the business from there, while his brother stayed in Singapore until he closed down the factory and went to Rangoon.

He set up Chung Khiaw Bank and once owned Pulau Serangoon (present day Coney Island), Singapore.

[3] In 1954, at the age of 72, Aw died from a heart attack following a major operation in Honolulu while on a trip to Hong Kong from Boston, US.

He is remembered through his work with Haw Par Villas throughout Asia, with locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Fujian province of China.