Originally introduced as a playful carnival accessory, lança perfume (literally “perfume thrower”) was a device that sprayed jets of icy, fragranced mist from a pressurized container. Its main component was ethyl chloride, combined with ether, chloroform, and perfumed essences. Though intended as a harmless festivity item, it became the center of national controversy due to its growing misuse as an inhalant.
The use of volatile substances for intoxication in Brazil dates back to at least the 1920s. A series of medical articles published during this time referred to the “ether inhaling vice” that had taken hold in urban centers. Devices containing ethyl chloride — popularly known as lança perfume — were openly sold and used without restriction, particularly during the four-day Carnival celebration, when revelers would spray one another with the chilled mist for amusement.
The French chemical company Rhodia played a pivotal role in the development and commercialization of lança perfume. In 1919, M. Perretin of Rhodia established a manufacturing plant in Brazil. By 1927, the company revolutionized the market with the introduction of the Metal Rodo tube, replacing the fragile glass containers that were prone to breakage. Not long after, Rhodia launched a more luxurious version — the Rodouro — packaged in gilded metal. Rhodia's leadership soon inspired a wave of domestic competitors, including Vlan, Pierrot, A. Laves, Assumpacao, Geyser, Meu Coração, Colombina, and Nice, all vying for market share in Brazil’s Carnival season.