Agua Floresta Florida Water

Agua De Florida, Bottle With Sprayer, 50 Ml from Peru (SKU 3416)

Murray y Lanman's Agua de Florida flower-water, in pocket size bottle with sprayer. This is the Peruvian variety of the commercially-available USA ‘Aqua Florida. Produced in Peru. 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.

Packed in 50 ml bottles. A sprayer is included.



Agua de Florida is one of the oldest commercial toilet 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. Yet, its exact constituents differ from one manufacturer to another. This version is produced in Peru.

The original Agua de Florida now comes in new bottles with a new label design. Available in 50 ml bottles (with sprayer included) and 100 ml, 200 ml and 500 ml refill bottles.

Alongside Agua de Florida, we are introducing a new line of aromatic flowerwaters under the name "Agua Floresta". A new range of divinely scented floral waters for clearing energies and spaces. They are produced with the intention of cleansing away negative energies without smoke or the need for burning incense sticks or charcoal. Using fire is not always practical or safe, whereas these floral waters can be used in any circumstance, anywhere. Being a fine mist they leave minimal residue or waste and can refresh and clear a space with immediate effect. Each floral water has its own unique frequency. A fine mist evaporates in the air leaving the scent to spread out into every pore of reality. The basis of those flowerwaters are alcohol, water and essential oil.

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

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, toilet waters or colognes, were generally perceived as medicinal goods (Sullivan 1994), and 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 medicinal 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).

 

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 medicine 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.              
       There are also several medicinal treatments attributed to Agua de Florida, like the treatment for aire, a respiratory disease transmitted by air, including pulmonary infection, tuberculosis, and flues. There are several recipes involving Agua de Florida to treat aire, including the combination with sliced fresh leaves of the tree Annona squamosal L., Salvia coccinea or Mirabilis jalapa L. maravilla (Sp), together with alcohol and oil (Comerford 1994), which is then applied as poultice. Furthermore, when mixed with chopped leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Agua de Florida is used for bathing children to ease fever (Comerford 1994). To treat general aches, the leaves of Mirabilis jalapa L. maravilla (Sp) or Capraria biflora L. pasmo, claviosa (Sp) are chopped and mixed with Agua de Florida, olive oil and alcohol and then rubbed into the aching body parts. To counteract high blood pressure and stress, the ripped leaves of Citrus aurantium Swingle. naranja agria (Sp) are left in water, strained, and heated slightly in a pan, then the mixture is drunken with drops of Agua de Florida (Comerford 1994).

 

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. 

 

Skin refreshing, muscle and nerve toning, personal deodorant, (sick)room deodorant, spiritual cleaning, home protection, for clearing and balancing energy and also as an offering to the spirits when opening sacred space or praying for assistance.

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. 

 

Here's what Florida Water can be used for, according to its creators:[3]

- Added to the bath or wash-basin, Murray & Lanman's Florida Water is delightfully refreshing and leaves the skin delicately fragrant. 
- After the shower it provides an exhilarating rubdown, giving a delightful glow to the skin, toning muscles and nerves.
- As an astringent and skin Lotion, Murray & Lanman's Florida Water acts with pleasing effect. It contracts the pores, tones-up the skin, leaving it with a feeling of freshness.
- As a personal deodorant, Murray & Lanman's Florida Water is indispensable to the fastidious woman. Its faint and elusive, yet delightful scent, makes it invaluable for this purpose.
- As a sickroom deodorant, a few drops sprinkled around the room perfumes the air and overcomes sickroom odors.
- As a rubdown for the sick, Murray & Lanman's Florida Water has a beneficial, stimulating effect. Many find it more pleasant and helpful than an alcohol rub.
- Before shaving, Murray & Lanman's 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.
- Excitement or nervousness is usually relieved by simply applying cooling and refreshing Murray & Lanman's Florida Water to the temples and forehead.
- For insect bites, an application of Murray & Lanman's Florida Water on the infected part usually proves helpful.
- In hot weather, a feeling of agreeable coolness is quickly induced by applying Murray & Lanman's Florida Water to the brow. Use as directed in bath and after shave.
- As a perfume, there is no more delightful scent than Murray & Lanman's Florida Water. Unobtrusive and remindful of a flower-garden, it can be used in an atomizer, on the handkerchief, or on the person.
- After exercise, a rubdown with Murray & Lanman's Florida Water produces a warm tingling glow - delightful and invigorating - zestful to the muscles, restful to the nerves.
- For jangled nerves, produced by exitement or shock, Murray & Lanman's Florida Water applied to the forehead and used as a rubdown, usually relieves nervous tension and relaxes the muscles.
- To the hair a sprinkling of Murray & Lanman's Florida Water gives an enchanting fragrance appropriate to the party or dance. It soothes itching scalp.
- For boudoir daintiness, a few drops sprinkled in your lingerie drawer, handkerchief-box and clothes closets is lovely and lasting.
- 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 Murray & Lanman's Florida Water.
- Head colds will be less annoying if a little Murray & Lanman's Florida Water is sprinkled on a handkerchief and the aroma frequently inhaled.
- For tired, burning feet, bathe in warm water to which Murray & Lanman's Florida Water has been added. The soothing, refreshing effect is most gratifying.
- For complexion care, never fail to massage the skin with Murray & Lanman's Florida Water after removing make-up, especially before retiring.

There are several "unofficial uses" for Florida Water Cologne. It is often used for ritual offering and purification. It is used 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. Many use it like holy water for cleansings, good luck and protection.

Florida Water is a staple for many of the religious ceremonies of Afro/Latino religious expressions or sects. Basically, it is cologne used for spiritual services, purification, cleansing, healing, jinx-breaking, protection from enemies, tranquility, peaceful home, dealing with the dead, safe travel, and psychism.

Household tips: Keep some in a spray bottle in the fridge to keep fresh and cool in the summer. Add it to a spray bottle when you iron for fresh, wonderful smelling clothes or spray your curtains to freshen up a room.

Beyer S (2007). Strong Sweet Smells. Retrieved on 30.7.2015 via http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2007/12/strong-sweet-smells/

Beasley H (1886). The Druggists’ General Receipt Book. Ninth edition. J. and A. Churchill, London.

Comerford SC (1996). Medicinal Plants of Two Mayan Healers from San Andrés, Petén, Guatemala. Economic Botany; 50(3): 327-336.

deOviedo y Valdes GF (1851), Historia Natural y General de las Indias, Islas y Tierra-Firme del Mar Oceano. Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, book 16, chapter XI.

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

Jauregui X, Clavo ZM, Jovel EM, Pardo-de-Santayana M (2011). "Plantas con madre": plants that teach and guide in the shamanic initiation process in the East-Central Peruvian Amazon. J Ethnopharmacol.;134(3):739-52.

Launert EL, Watson M. (1974). Scent and Scent Bottles. Barrie and Jenkins, London

MacEwan P (1902). Pharmaceutical Formulas: A Book of Useful Recipes for the Drug Trade. Chemist and Druggist, London.

Nelson JH (1878) The Druggists’ Hand-book of Private Formulas. John H. Nelson, Cleveland, Ohio.

Parrish E, Wiegand T (1874). A Treatise on Pharmacy. Fourth edition. Henry C. Lea, Philadelphia, and Bailliere, Tindale, and Cox, London.

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.

(MacEwan 1902; Parrish, Wiegand 1874; Snively 1877; Nelson 1878; Beasely 1886). 

 

This is a natural product, used as incense or in perfumery, or as an ingredient of incense and other perfumery or potpourri preparations.
Some incense plants or products may have some history of other folklore purposes, but we offer this product for its use as incense. Not food grade, not for consumption.

Please read our Terms & Conditions before placing your order.