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Is the word sabao the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No

While the fundamental meaning of the word is the same, there is a difference in typical usage. In Brazil, "sabão" is a generic term used for laundry soap (powder or liquid) and is also commonly used to refer to soap for personal hygiene (though "sabonete" is also used). In Portugal, "sabão" is more specifically associated with cleaning and laundry (e.g., sabão em pó or sabão azul). For personal hygiene, such as washing hands or the body, a person from Portugal would much more naturally use the word sabonete (bar soap) or gel de banho (shower gel).

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

  1. Eu comprei sabão em pó para lavar a roupa. (I bought laundry powder to wash the clothes.)
  2. Passe um pouco de sabão nas mãos. (Put a little soap on your hands.)
  3. Esse sabão de coco é ótimo para a pele. (This coconut soap is great for the skin.)
  4. O sabão acabou no banheiro. (The soap ran out in the bathroom.)
  5. Use sabão neutro para lavar o rosto. (Use neutral soap to wash your face.)

Continental Portuguese Usage

  1. Eu comprei detergente para lavar a roupa. (I bought detergent to wash the clothes.)
  2. Passa o sabonete nas mãos. (Put the soap on your hands.)
  3. Este sabonete de coco é ótimo para a pele. (This coconut soap is great for the skin.)
  4. O sabonete acabou na casa de banho. (The soap ran out in the bathroom.)
  5. Usa sabonete neutro para lavar o rosto. (Use neutral soap to wash your face.)