Quick Specs
- Brand: Lanman & Murray (Murray & Lanman)
- Format: Spray bottle, 12 oz
- Edition: Limited Edition
- Formula: Original 1808 recipe, alcohol-based cologne with citrus and floral notes
- Primary Notes: Orange, lemon, lavender, bergamot, clove
- Best For: Ritual cleansing, altar work, floor washes, Hoodoo, Santeria, Espiritismo, and spiritual hygiene
Over Two Centuries of Ritual Use
Florida Water was introduced by New York perfumer Robert I. Murray in 1808, inspired by the legend of the Fountain of Youth in Spanish Florida. Murray was joined by David Trumbull Lanman in 1835, and the product has been produced under variations of that partnership ever since. The current producer states that this is still the original 1808 formula, and the label design is based on George du Maurier’s 1855 artwork.
Florida Water became a staple in spiritual practice among enslaved African Americans in the 19th century, who used it discreetly as a substitute for traditional blessed waters when their own religious practices were suppressed. It crossed into Hoodoo, Santeria, Espiritismo, Haitian Vodou, curanderismo, and Palo through this history, and its citrus-dominant scent is now considered a classic of altar work across many traditions.
The Spray Format Advantage
The 12 oz spray bottle format is more practical than the classic pour bottle for most ritual applications. Spraying into a room, over an altar, or at the four corners of a space is faster and more controlled than pouring and wiping. The limited edition designation means this spray version isn’t always available, so stocking up when it is makes practical sense for regular practitioners.
How to Use Florida Water Spray
Three ways to work Florida Water spray into your practice.
- Cleanse Your Space
Spray Florida Water into room corners, along thresholds, and across the center while holding your intention for cleansing. The alcohol base evaporates quickly, leaving the scent behind. Use it as a quicker alternative to burning sage.
- Prepare Your Altar or Tools
Lightly mist your altar surface, candles, or divination tools before ritual work. Florida Water is safe for most non-porous surfaces and evaporates without residue. It can substitute for holy water in altar setups or floor wash workings.
- Personal Ritual Use
Spray a small amount onto your hands, rub together, then pass your hands over your face, arms, and neck as a personal cleansing before readings or ritual. It can also be added to bathwater or spritzed on linens before ritual use.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock this spray version because the pour bottle, while classic, is impractical for space misting and altar work. The 12 oz size gives you enough for months of regular use, and the limited edition spray format means I don’t always have it. If you’re building a spiritual hygiene kit, check out my oils, herbs, and plant magic section for other cleansing supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Florida Water has a citrus-forward scent with strong orange and lemon notes, softened by lavender and light floral undertones. The alcohol base gives initial brightness that mellows as it dries. It works as both a fragrance and a ritual scent.
Lanman and Kemp-Barclay, the current producer, states that the product still uses Robert Murray's original 1808 formula. The label is based on George du Maurier's 1855 artwork, making this one of the longest-running fragrance formulas in America.
Florida Water is used in Hoodoo, Santeria, Espiritismo, Haitian Vodou, Palo, and curanderismo. Its cross-traditional adoption stems from African American spiritual practice in the 19th century, where it served as a substitute for sacred waters.
Yes. Florida Water spray is popular for surface cleansing crystals. Lightly mist the stone and wipe with a soft cloth, or spray and let air dry. Avoid prolonged contact with porous stones like selenite, malachite, or raw pyrite, which react.
Love it reminds me of my youth ❤️
I won’t but this any other way live the spray bottle
It was worth a fond memories for a friend . Her mom blessed their home with it .
Smells amazing! I could bathe in this ! Love it!
Excellent product