Florida Water is a scented perfume that was introduced to North America in the 1800s.
Since then,
It has been used in many magical and spiritual practices for healing,
Purification,
And protection.
Its sweet,
Zesty scent is believed to be appealing to spirits and attract positive energies while keeping negative energies at bay.
Starting out as a popular perfume,
Florida Water's name was inspired by the Fountain of Youth in Florida.
It later came to be known for its cleansing properties.
Because of this,
It became popular with many spiritual practitioners across many traditions,
Including Hoodoo and Santeria.
Although there are slight variances in some recipes,
Florida Water is typically made from the following blend of ingredients.
Basil for protection,
Love,
And abundance.
Clove for positive energy and psychic protection.
Cinnamon for grounding and success.
Lavender for peace and protection.
Orange for positive energy and abundance.
Peppermint for healing and psychic powers.
Rosemary for purification and repelling negative energies.
Sage,
Also for purification as well as creating sacred space.
And star anise for fortune and intuition.
Grain alcohol is traditionally added as a preservative in most commercially available varieties.
To make an alcohol-free version,
Distilled or purified water can be used instead.
And the ingredients simply boiled in the water.
Note that without a preservative,
Florida Water will need to be used within a day or two.
If you choose to make your own,
It's important to gather and use the ingredients mindfully and with a positive,
Spirit-filled purpose,
Charging each of them with your intentions.
Also,
It is a great practice to customize the blend of herbs based on your intentions.
The described ingredients are the most common and offered as suggestions rather than a master list.
Make it something meaningful to you.
Growing at least some of the herbs yourself is a wonderful way of adding your energy to and spirit into the mix.
Some typical uses of Florida Water include cleansing areas,
Driving away negative energies,
And building a connection with ancestors or spirits.
As an atomizer,
It can be sprayed in a room,
On objects,
Or sprayed or dabbed on the skin.
It can also be added to mop buckets or laundry detergent.
Florida Water is often used to clean altars and altar tools.
Many find it to be helpful in establishing or maintaining a connection with the spirit realm.
For this purpose,
Florida Water can be poured in a libation bowl and kept on an altar or within a sacred space,
And it can be used to cleanse divination tools such as scrying balls.
Some people even pour Florida Water into their bath water for purification and protection,
And others will use it for hand-washing for this same purpose and or before performing rituals or divination.
In my personal practice,
I make Florida Water with a blend of essential oils and moon water and fill the libation bowl on my altar with it to welcome land spirits,
My ancestors,
And any deities I'm working with.
Most practitioners can wholeheartedly agree on two things.
Florida Water is a valuable tool for attracting the positive and driving away the negative,
And that the aroma itself is both uplifting and calm.
