Wrigley's Altoids. Curiously Strong Mints. In 1783, Smith Kendon, proprietor of the London firm Smith & Company, came up with the idea for an exceptionally intense lozenge. Originally marketed to relieve intestinal discomfort, its 1920s advertising suggested that these mints could act as antidote to the poisons in the stomach. This led to the start of the iconic “curiously strong” branding campaign that still defines the brand to this day. The name Altoids was born out of the Latin “alt” (to change) and the Greek “oids” (taking the form of). Also, by the 1920s, to help protect the mints in pockets and handbags across the globe, the original cardboard box had been replaced by the distinctive metal tins of today.