Around the turn of the 19th century, during the reign of King George III,
the recipe for Altoids® was perfected by Smith & Company, a London
confectionary firm. Altoids® were then promoted for over a century as a
"stomach calmative".
The exact origin of the name is unclear, but it seems that during the 19th
Century confections were given names employing the -oids suffix to imply a
medicinal benefit (of course Altoids® provides no medicinal benefit). Smith
& Company also marketed several other remedies with -oids in their names,
such as Benoids for delicate throats and chests, Zenoids for an easy
digestion , Cyphoids to defend your throat, and Notoids antiseptic voice and
throat pastilles. For over 100 years, Altoids® were packaged in small
rectangular cardboard cartons that were approximately the same size as
today's recognizable tins.
The tins were introduced in the 1920s to help protect the mints and to stay
neatly closed in pockets and handbags. |
