Florida water

Florida Water is an American version of the venerable Eau de Cologne, or Cologne Water. It has the same citrus basis as Cologne Water, but shifts the emphasis to sweet orange (rather than the lemon and neroli of the original Cologne Water), and adds spicy notes including lavender and clove. The name probably does not refer to the U.S. state of Florida, but rather to the "flowery" nature of the scent.

According to the current trademark holders, Lanman & Kemp Barclay , Florida Water was introduced by the New York City perfumer (and founder of the original company) Robert Murray, in 1808. The company states that their product, now sold under the Murray & Lanman brand, still uses the original 1808 formula, and that the current label is also a slightly modified version of the 1808 original.

'Florida Water' was regarded a unisex cologne, suitable for men and women alike. Victorian etiquette manuals warned young ladies against the "offensive" impression made by a strong perfume, but Florida Water and Eau de Cologne were recommended as appropriate for all, along with sachets for scenting the linen and fresh flowers in the corsage. Large quantities were also used by barbershops as cologne and aftershave. In the 1880s and 1890s Murray & Lanman Florida Water was advertised as "The Richest of all Perfumes" and "The most Popular Perfume in the World" (we may suspect a little exaggeration here).

Like other colognes of the era, Florida Water was valued for its refreshing and tonic nature as well as its scent, and could be used as a skin toner or as what we would now call a "body splash". It was also used as a toilet water (eau de toilette), by adding it to the bath or wash-water.

Although now obscure to most of the general American population, Florida Water remained popular among South American and Caribbean cultures and was incorporated into magical and ritual traditions including hoodoo.