The spicy-flowery notes of Florida Water are complemented by sweet orange, lavender, and clove. Always promoted as a unisex scent, Florida Water can be used as a body splash, aftershave, skin toner, linen sprinkle, and so much more. Not as obtrusive or long-lasting as perfume or cologne, Florida Water is a light, refreshing tonic suitable for daily use. The cooling, soothing, refreshing properties of Florida Water are valuable in many applications. Perhaps the tonic nature of this cleansing scent promoted its use in various spiritual practices. It has a long tradition in various folk applications, from cooling aching feet and rubbing down aching muscles, to adding to bathing water, and to sprinkling about the home for a refreshing, “just-cleaned,” spiritually-elevated feeling. Some use Florida Water to refresh their heads, to cleanse their environment, and to cool the “atmosphere” in their homes.
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Suggested by Grey Townsend
From Fennerer’s Complete Formulary published in 1888:
4347. Florida Water.—
Oil of Lavender Flowers, English, 6 fl.drachms,
Oil of Bergamot 2 fl.drachms,
Oil of Lemon 1 1/2 fl.drachm,
Oil of Cloves 20 minims,
Oil of Cassia 10 minims,
Oil of Orange 30 minims,
Essence Rose 60 minims,
Essence Neroli 10 minims,
Cologne Spirit 15 fl.ounces.
Mix them.
for those trying to figure out the measurements, the drachm (old British for dram) is a unit of apothecary weight equal to an eighth of an ounce. It took some digging, but the minim is the smallest unit of liquid measure, 1/60 of a fluid dram, roughly equivalent to one drop. So, Oil of Clove = 20 drops and so on.
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The following recipe is from A Course In Modern Conjure graduate Chris Rossi
2 cups Vodka ( highest proof you can get…the higher the better)
3 tbsp Rose Water
1 tbsp Lemon essential oil
16 drops Bergamot essential oil
12 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Rosemary essential oil
3 drops clove
3 drops rose
2 drops Jasmine essential oil
2 drops neroli essential oil
Mix all together and then added 2 cups purified water to finish it. Yields 4 cups (32 oz) Florida Water. Stored in a glass bottle.
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Here is one that sounds quite lovely, if pricey to make. Given how much alcohol is called for I wouldn’t skimp and use cheap vodka.
Alcohol 8 pints
Bergamot Oil: 2 fluid ounces
Cinnamon Oil 2 teasspons
Cloves Oil 3/4 teaspoon
Jasmine Oil 4 fluid ounces
Lavender Oil: 2 fluid ounces
Lemon Oil 2 fluid ounces
Neroli Oil 1/2 teaspoon
Rose Oil 1 fluid ounce
Ylang Ylang Oil 2 fluid ounces
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