Agua de Florida is one of the oldest commercial perfume waters in the world and it has been manufactured by several different companies, whereof the most famous and qualitative producers are Murray and Lanman. Murray and Lanman's Agua de Florida is available since the 1830s (Sullivan 1994), and due the many uses attributed to it, it has become popular worldwide.
       Like, eau-de-cologne, this famous flower water was perceived as a magical water that could be used for almost any purpose. Agua de Florida blends many different floral essential oils in alcohol, including lavender and eau-de-cologne scents, like bergamot, orange peel, neroli, rose, cloves, cinnamon, melisse and turmeric (MacEwan 1902; Parrish, Wiegand 1874; Snively 1877; Nelson 1878; Beasely 1886). Yet, its exact constituents differ from one manufacturer to another. This Agua de Florida is the preferred version which is produced in Peru and not in the United States, and therefore contains a higher water content than the American variant.

Agua de Florida is often perceived in the shamanistic world as a teacher plant or ‘planta maestra’, which is also used for shamanistic dieting and healing. When taking Agua de Florida for dieting, the healing men or women would drink a small bottle of the toilet water every night before sleeping and spend the day in meditation while smoking mapacho cigarettes. Like other plant spirits, the Agua de Florida spirit will enter and show its power of protection and healing (Beyer 2007).
      Another shamanistic use of Agua de Florida is employed during a ritual used for ending shamanic diets. The shaman chants and blows mapacho, cinnamon, or Agua de Florida over the becoming shaman. Agua de Florida is sprayed on all vulnerable energy points, like the temples, head, and hands. Thereafter, the diet is ended officially with a bit of salt (Jauregui et al. 2011).
       Aside of being a facilitator in shamanic diets, Agua de Florida is also used for ritual offerings, purification, and cleansing. Moreover, it is used as a protector in spells to remove unwanted thought forms and heavy vibrations, to encourage the display of emotions, to suppress those who talk too much, and to calm places where an excess of energy is present.

Other names: Agua de Florida, Florida Water, Florida Water Cologne, Aqua Florida, Aqua de Florida.

There exists a collective myth that the name ‘Agua de Florida’ originated from the legendary and life-extending "Fountain of Youth" in Florida. This myth originated from a note in a book of De Oviedo in 1535, who suspected the conquistador, Juan Ponce de León from Puerto Rico, to have been looking for this fountain in North America (deOviedo, Valdes 1851). This famous fountain was never found, yet a picture of this fountain embellishes every bottle of Agua de Florida until today. Moreover, Agua de Florida was never produced in Florida but in Manhattan and later on in New Jersey, whereas the state Florida did not even exist in the time of Murray and Lanman’s foundation. Therefore, it seems much more likely that the name originated from the Spanish word ‘florida’ – meaning flowery or of flowers (Skenazy 1999). 
      Lanman ascribed the origins of Agua de Florida in their advertisements to West Indies, Cuba, and South America (Sullivan 1994; Skenazy 1999). Yet, according to modern sources it seems more likely, that Agua de Florida was an American effort to develop another eau-de-cologne for the American market (Sullivan 1994; Launert 1974; Skenazy 1999). And they did so very successfully, even in the 1850s, Florida Water was seen as a golden standard to have in a drug store. 

Agua de Florida was created in 1808 in the United States, and is therefore, one of the oldest colognes sold on the market. Before that time, only Queens and Kings had the privilege of using these delicate colognes. The 19th century was a time, when colognes or perfumed spirits were used not only as fragrances, but also to heal and prevent infections. Moreover they were either drunken as a stimulant, cordial, or breath refresher (Cooley 1868), sprayed over the skin and clothing, or sprayed into the air to counteract infections (Sullivan 1994).  
     As its popularity increased, Agua de Florida also gained healing and curative values in shamanism of the Peruvian Amazon, and beyond: even Caribbean shamans and voodoo priestesses use it during magical rituals. During these curing séances, Agua de Florida is applied on the bodies and heads, while shamans are chanting songs to protect and seal the energy. Agua de Florida is mostly applied to start or end a ceremony and to protect, cleanse, and uplift the spirit during a ritual. Furthermore, shamans pour the flower water into their mouth and spit-spray it out over the patients head several times. The shaman can then detect any negative energies attached to his patient, while the scent provides tranquility and a peaceful atmosphere.
      The use of strong and sweet scents is common in the Amazon area, as shamans and tribal people believe that the plant spirits love resilient and sweet odors. Therefore, it is believed that by overpowering the human scent with a different scent one can achieve protection and avoid the attraction of evil spirits and projections. A common way of overpowering one’s own smell is the ingestion of tobacco, cologne, and camphor or by taking floral bathes. The cologne that shamans preferably use is Agua de Florida, yet sometimes they consume other perfumed ingredients, like camphor, lemon, or peppers at the same time. Moreover, there are even shamans in the Amazon that are specialized in the use of scents to attack, heal, and attract, called "Perfumeros" (Beyer 2007).

Opposing traditional eau-de-colognes in which the orange scents predominated, Agua de Florida has a dominant lavender and flowery note. Due to its flowery, yet spicy tones, this cologne is used by both sexes. Components of the scent include citrus and herbal notes along with spicy and floral undertones. These delightful elements are provided by bergamot (Monarda didyma), neroli (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limon), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), lavender (Lavendula officinales), rose (Rosa Damascena), and orange flower (Citrus aurantium). When the fragrance is first applied the delicious citrus notes are most dominant, then clove and cinnamon notes move to the front, and the scent settles into an incredibly appealing dry spice. 
       Yet, due to many rival companies that tried to copy the recipe of Florida Water, the producers guard their formula closely and cannot reveal all scent elements. 

Many uses of Florida Water can be attributed to aromatherapy: it is used as a skin refresher, muscle and nerve balancer, personal deodorant, (sick) room deodorant, spiritual cleanser, home protector, cleanser and balancer of energies, and also as an offering to the spirits when opening sacred spaces or praying for assistance.

Agua de Florida is often perceived in the shamanistic world as a teacher plant or ‘planta maestra’, which is also used for shamanistic dieting and healing. When taking Agua de Florida for dieting, the healing men or women would drink a small bottle of the toilet water every night before sleeping and spend the day in meditation while smoking mapacho cigarettes. Like other plant spirits, the Agua de Florida spirit will enter and show its power of protection and healing (Beyer 2007).
      Another shamanistic use of Agua de Florida is employed during a ritual used for ending shamanic diets. The shaman chants and blows mapacho, cinnamon, or Agua de Florida over the becoming shaman. Agua de Florida is sprayed on all vulnerable energy points, like the temples, head, and hands. Thereafter, the diet is ended officially with a bit of salt (Jauregui et al. 2011).
       Aside of being a facilitator in shamanic diets, Agua de Florida is also used for ritual offerings, purification, and cleansing. Moreover, it is used as a protector in spells to remove unwanted thought forms and heavy vibrations, to encourage the display of emotions, to suppress those who talk too much, and to calm places where an excess of energy is present.

Here's what Florida Water can be used for, according to Murray and Lanman:
1.    Added to the bath or wash-basin, Florida Water is delightfully refreshing and leaves the skin delicately fragrant. 
2.    After the shower it provides an exhilarating rubdown, giving a delightful glow to the skin, toning muscles and nerves.
3.    As an astringent and skin Lotion, Florida Water acts with pleasing effect. It contracts the pores, tones-up the skin, leaving it          with a feeling of freshness.
4.    As a personal deodorant, Florida Water is indispensable to the fastidious woman. Its faint and elusive, yet delightful scent,            makes it invaluable for this purpose.
5.    As a sickroom deodorant, a few drops sprinkled around the room perfumes the air and overcomes sickroom odors.
6.    As a rubdown for the sick, Florida Water has a beneficial, stimulating effect. Many find it more pleasant and helpful than an            alcohol rub.
7.    Before shaving, Florida Water softens the toughest beard and prepares the skin for a smooth, luxurious shave. After shaving, it contracts the pores, its mildly astringent action soothes and heals skin abrasions caused by shaving.
8.    Excitement or nervousness is usually relieved by simply applying cooling and refreshing Florida Water to the temples and     forehead.
9.    For insect bites, an application of Florida Water on the infected part usually proves helpful.
10.  In hot weather, a feeling of agreeable coolness is quickly induced by applying Florida Water to the brow. Use as directed in bath and after shave.
11.    As a perfume, there is no more delightful scent than Florida Water. Unobtrusive and remindful of a flower-garden, it can be used in an atomizer, on the handkerchief, or on the person.
12.    After exercise, a rubdown with Florida Water produces a warm tingling glow - delightful and invigorating - zestful to the muscles, restful to the nerves.
13.    For jangled nerves, produced by excitement or shock, Florida Water applied to the forehead and used as a rubdown, usually relieves nervous tension and relaxes the muscles.
14.    To the hair a sprinkling of Florida Water gives an enchanting fragrance appropriate to the party or dance. It soothes itching scalp.
15.    For boudoir daintiness, a few drops sprinkled in your lingerie drawer, handkerchief-box and clothes closets is lovely and lasting.
16.    To freshen rooms that have been newly dusted, to overcome smoke-stuffiness, kitchen odors and the smell of new paint, sweeten the air with a sprinkling of Florida Water.
17.    Head colds will be less annoying if a little Florida Water is sprinkled on a handkerchief and the aroma frequently inhaled.
18.    For tired, burning feet, bathe in warm water to which Florida Water has been added. The soothing, refreshing effect is most gratifying.
19.     For complexion care, never fail to massage the skin with Florida Water removing make-up, especially before retiring.
20.     Add it to a spray bottle when you iron for fresh, wonderful smelling clothes or spray your curtains to freshen up a room.

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Florida Water, Lanman & Kemp-Barclay & Co., Inc.

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Skenazy L (1999). Still Making a Splash They Say, NY Daily News. Retrieved on 30.7.2015 via http://www.nydailynews.com/making-splash-old-fashioned-florida-water-cures-ails-ya-smells-good-article-1.828293

Snively JH. (1877). A Treatise on the Manufacture of Perfumes and Kindred Toilet Articles. Charles W. Smith, Nashville, Tennessee. 

Sullivan C (1994). Searching for Nineteenth-Century Florida Water Bottles. Historical Archaeology, 28( 1):78-98.

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