The The Trade in Goods

Markets, Conflicts, and the “Água de Inglaterra” Brand (c. 1803–1825)

Abstract

This article analyses the disputes surrounding the uses (and misuses) of the name Água de Inglaterra, between 1803 and 1825. Our aim is to demonstrate how the agents of the time modified their strategies over time to market the product. There is a vast literature about Água de Inglaterra. The question we pose is how a widely known and marketed apothecary product came to be identified by its name, and what elements contributed to the strengthening of this emblem. To answer these questions, we have defined as our focus the experiences of merchants in the Atlantic circuits during the final period of the Portuguese Empire in South America. Our theoretical contributions start from the history of consumption and move towards the debate on the formation of new consumer markets and the role of brands at the beginning of the 19^th century.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21747/21829748/cem21a3