Florida Water (1908)
by Murray & Lanman

I don't believe I am writing a review about Florida Water and a positive one too!!! But hey, this has to be the cheapest scent on the market and it is still around after over two centuries. This should tell us something. Back in the 80's when it cost about 2,99$ a bottle, I would buy FW to put in the water of my humidifier. It made my apartment smell fresh and clean. Back in my childhood years, some mothers would put a little FW on their babies' belly after they bathed them or changed their nappy. To me, FW is a comfort fragrance. Of course, it is so light it cannot really be worn as a bona fide EDT. Well, maybe as an after-shave. I think it is fun to read what other reviewers do with Florida Water. Any other suggestions?

15th October, 2011.

This little $4 fragrance is quite the chameleon. Right out of the bottle, or immediately upon splashing, it has the fizzy sour lemondrop aura of Caswell Massey #6, which I'm frankly not too thrilled about. Soon, a lot of orange peel begins to creep in, and those initial notes start to fade after a few minutes. Cinnamon and some other spices also start to appear, but more slowly. The middle is thus chiefly orange, with receding fizz and growing cinnamon. Just a few more minutes, and we're left with mostly just the cinnamon. Because of its lightness, and the idea of it as an alternative to an Eau de Cologne, I would use it in summer even though the base is effectively a spicy fall/winter scent. I don't think I've ever seen so much evolution in such a bargain basement fragrance.

30th May, 2011.

Can't really add anything about the scent itself. It really is pretty nice considering the price. It's often kept in the refrigerator and spritzed or rubbed with a cotton ball on the back of the neck or chest as a refreshing summer cool-down. Does double duty by cooling off and helping remove some of the smell of sweat when a shower isn't an option.

The alcohol in it helps cool to with the evaporation. Can always tell it's summer here when the Florida Water is filling up the shelves of the local drugstores.

Used very often in Hoodoo as a spiritual cleanser as well.

18th May, 2011.

Florida water is a light, fleeting American cologne water that has been in constant production since it was first introduced on February 14, 1808. It has very natural smelling notes of Clove, Cinnamon, Lavender, Lemon, Bergamot, Rose, Jasmine, Neroli and Musk. One of it's most common uses is as a true toilet water, meaning that it is added to water in a wash basin to cleanse and refresh the body. It is also used as a very light cologne. Due to its ability to create a sense of well being, it has, over the years, been also adopted by a wide variety of spiritual practitioners to be a holy water of sorts, for spiritual purification and psychological well being. In addition, its other purported uses are quite numerous: as a room spray, personal deodorant, as a compress on the forehead to relieve headaches, as a massage liniment, applied topically to help relieve fevers, as a foot soak, an astringent, pre and post shaving lotion, hair tonic, after bath splash and as a mood enhancer. People often even wash their floors and spray their draperies with it in order to keep the house smelling lovely. The name Florida Water, is based on the idea that Juan Ponce de Leon, discovered Florida in 1512 while searching for the Fountain of Youth. The manufacturers claim that the formula has not changed since 1808. I have used Florida water for over 30 years, and it smells the same now as it did when I first used it, so I have no reason to not take them at their word. It's a wonderful scent, and at $3.00 per bottle, it is always worth having on hand.

18th January, 2011.

This is my aftershave. First picked it up at the 7-11 (American convenience store) for three bucks. Worth it, too. No longevity, but works well after shaving and is a nice personal pick-me-up. My first impression was 'great citrus, too bad this is gone in half an hour' and I was right - BUT - what a wonderful half hour. This and 4711 are totally my favourite aftershaves.

26th September, 2010.

What else can I say but - it's worth the price! In terms of ultra-cheap colognes, this is surprisingly very nice, and more interesting than most.

It opens up citrusy with a slight bitter herbal touch, and soon pleasant, foody cinnamon and rosewood notes come in. It's very light, so after half an hour it's gone, but there's no harm in re- and even over-applying. In fact, it's nearly impossible over-do this stuff.

30th July, 2009.