If you’ve been in the spiritual community for any amount of time, you have most likely heard of Florida Water. But you may be wondering: what is it? What does it do? Where does it come from? No, it’s not water from the tap of a Florida home in the Southern United States! It’s comical how many people have this as their first thought, and it does make sense. But what’s really the reason for the name? So today, we’ll go through the history and uses of Florida Water, plus an easy recipe.
What is Florida Water?
Surprisingly, Florida Water started out as a cologne in 1808 by a New York City perfumer named Robert I. Murray. The name comes from the Spanish word for flower: “flor.” It was adapted for America from a popular German perfume that was created in 1709. It was considered a unisex perfume for its sweet floral and citrus notes, yet strong spicy and herbal notes. In those days, cologne was used to freshen everything, not just to wear on your skin. So it has a long history as a perfume, but where exactly do its magickal uses come in?
Popularly used in Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Santeria, one of the theories is that slaves used it in their magickal practice to hide it from their Christian owners. This is the same reason Hoodoo and Voodoo spells often use the Bible today. Slavery was legal so with no freedom in sight, combining African religions with the American religion forced upon them became a small way they could resist oppression and preserve some of their roots. So as the slaves worked, they used Florida Water to secretly infuse magickal cleansing into all their chores.
Florida Water made itself a staple in some Hispanic spiritual practices but the reason for this is also largely unknown. Another theory is that because of the already established magickal uses of the ingredients of Florida Water, it was a convenient way to access their magickal properties since it was something most people had on hand anyway. To this day it is still easy to find, affordable, inconspicuous, and readily available, so even witches in the broom closet can use it to secretly infuse magick into their daily lives.
Ways to Use Florida Water
The first and most obvious way to use Florida Water is for its original purpose, as cologne. You might use it this way in glamour magick, enchanting it to make you appear more attractive to others. As a face wash, it is said to cure blemishes.
Similarly, Florida Water can be used as an ingredient in a love spell for its inclusion of roses. *It is highly flammable so be sure to keep away from an open flame and do not use on or around candles.
Many people today still swear by Florida Water as a cure-all remedy. It is unknown why and has not been proven, yet it has stood the test of time. Perhaps it was the original claim that Florida Water was from the Fountain of Youth. Or maybe it is simply magick! There is no harm in trying it as a way to relieve fatigue, nervous tension, headache, and fever.
Anoint your doorways for cleansing and home protection. The front door is considered the “mouth” of the home in Feng Shui, the place where the energy enters. Anointing with Florida Water will purify the energy that enters and prevent harmful energy from infiltrating your home.
Add to kitchen cleaning products, such as creating a floor wash or an oven cleaner with Florida Water. In Feng Shui, the kitchen is the wealth center of your home and keeping it clean, both literally and spiritually, brings good luck!
When a few drops are added to a chalice of water as an offering to your ancestors, Florida Water gives clearer communication so you can ask for guidance.
Wipe down your altar and all the items on it with Florida Water for spiritual cleansing. Use it to clean craft tools before a ritual to cleanse old energy they may be holding onto.
Likewise, you can cleanse yourself with Florida Water before a ritual. It makes a great ingredient to add to a ritual bath. A small amount added to the water will cleanse and protect.
Do-It-Yourself Florida Water Recipe
Though Florida Water is easy to find in most places, it is nearly as easy to make yourself if you have the right supplies. Want to try your hand at making it yourself?
Here’s an easy recipe!
Items You’ll Need:
- 1 part vodka
- 1 part rosewater
- 1 orange peel
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups fresh herbs of your choice
- 10 drops each essential oils of bergamot, lavender, lemon, ylang-ylang, jasmine
Directions:
There are two different ways you can make this recipe. The first is to simply add all these ingredients into a large glass container and now you have your own Florida Water!
The second option is if you do not have rosewater or fresh herbs, you can use a few tablespoons of dried roses and dried herbs of your choice and allow to steep in boiled water like an infusion and cover for 20-30 minutes, then add to the vodka mixture in the jar. You can choose from herbs such as basil, hyssop, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemongrass, peppermint, sage, rosemary, depending on your intentions. This recipe is purposely customizable to fit your own magickal preferences!
Allow the ingredients to sit in the vodka mixture for a moon cycle. It is great to make it at a full moon and charge it under the moon after you put the ingredients together, or make it at a new moon and charge it under the full moon halfway through the cycle. When it is finished, you can strain the herbs out or use as is!
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