Quick Specs
- Brand: Murray & Lanman
- Type: Cologne water (alcohol-based fragrance)
- Size: 2oz travel bottle
- Fragrance notes: Citrus, lavender, bergamot, clove
- Best for: Altar offerings, space cleansing, hand preparation for readings, floor washes
Florida Water: What It Is and Where It Comes From
Murray and Lanman Florida Water has been in continuous production since 1808, making it one of the oldest American cologne brands still on the market. It was created by perfumer Robert Murray as an American counterpart to the European Eau de Cologne tradition, built around a bright citrus base with lavender, bergamot, and clove notes. Despite the name, Florida Water has nothing to do with the state of Florida. The name references the mythical Fountain of Youth, which Spanish explorers believed was located in Florida, and carries connotations of renewal and freshness.
Over time, Florida Water was adopted independently by several traditions and is used for spiritual cleansing in hoodoo, Santeria, Espiritismo, and Andean folk practice, including limpieza, the Spanish term for spiritual cleansing. Practitioners also use it as a fragrant offering, a quick space-clearing tool, and a hand preparation before divination.
Florida Water Spiritual Uses and the 2oz Travel Size
The 2oz bottle holds the same formula as larger sizes. It’s a travel bottle and a practical entry point for practitioners who want to try Florida Water without committing to a larger volume. The uses are the same regardless of size: splash a small amount on your hands before tarot readings or spiritual work, add it to a floor wash, use it as an altar offering, anoint candles before lighting, or mist a space by diluting a small amount in water in a spray bottle. Browse my full soaps, waters, and bath products collection for other ritual washes and spiritual waters that pair well with Florida Water work.
Florida Water is a cologne, which means it contains alcohol and fragrance. It is not a medical preparation and not a substitute for skincare products. It is flammable, so it should be kept away from open flames when the bottle is uncapped. These are standard cologne precautions, not unusual warnings specific to spiritual use.
How to Use Murray and Lanman Florida Water
How practitioners use Florida Water in spiritual cleansing, altar work, and reading preparation.
- Prepare Hands Before a Reading or Ritual
Before a reading or ritual, pour a small amount of Florida Water into your palms and rub your hands together until it absorbs. The citrus-forward fragrance clears mental fog and signals to the mind that intentional work is beginning.
- Cleanse a Space or Floor
To cleanse a space, add a capful of Florida Water to a spray bottle filled with water and mist doorways, corners, and altar surfaces. It works as a floor wash additive as well: add a small pour to a bucket of rinse water after mopping.
- Use as an Altar Offering or Candle Dressing
For altar use, place the open bottle near offerings as a fragrant gift in its own right. It’s also used to anoint candles: pour a small amount onto your fingers and stroke the candle from base to tip before lighting to dress it for ritual work.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock Murray and Lanman Florida Water because it has a consistent formula and a reliable fragrance profile. The 2oz size fills a real gap: it’s the right size to carry in a kit bag, to keep on a travel altar, or to hand to someone who’s curious but not ready to buy a full bottle. You can find complementary tools in my ritual waters, colognes, and air fresheners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Florida Water is a cologne water, not water from Florida. The name references the mythical Fountain of Youth. The formula contains alcohol and citrus, lavender, bergamot, and clove fragrances, and has been produced by Murray and Lanman since 1808.
Florida Water is used for spiritual cleansing in hoodoo, Santeria, Espiritismo, and Andean folk practice. It is also used for altar offerings, anointing candles, floor washes, and clearing hands before divination. Its citrus and alcohol base makes it effective and fast-drying.
The 2oz size contains the same Murray and Lanman formula as larger bottles. It’s sized for travel, personal kits, and first-time buyers. The fragrance and formula are identical to the larger sizes; only the volume differs.
Florida Water is a cologne and contains alcohol. It is not a skincare product or a medical preparation. Use it in small amounts. It is flammable, so keep it away from open flames when not in a sealed bottle.
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