Florida Water (1908)
by Murray & Lanman

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.

Murray and Lanman Florida Water

I've been wet shaving with a double-edged razor for awhile now and I've been trying some of the eau de colognes recommended in the wet shaving community. Florida Water is one of the more highly regarded of these and after a solid 4-pass shave I sprayed some on. The first blast is an intense ginger which in something calle Florida Water is surprising. Y'know since Florida is so well known for their ginger. The ginger is bracing and refreshing but quickly to the rescue is something Florida is well known for, as a citrus note comes in and makes for a spicy citrus melange that is quite nice. The spice and citrus linger for a good while before transitioning into a light floral middle which leads to a vetiver base. Like many eau de colognes the longevity is modest and if you need something to last you all day it will require you to top it up at some point. This is a really beautifully constructed eau de cologne which is amazing when you consider the price tag of $5 for 4.2oz.!! Florida Water is said to have use in voodoo ceremonies, I don't know about that, but the designers of this one have definitely performed some kind of olfactory voodoo to make something this good at that price.

Florida Water smells like cheap, watered-down Guerlain Vetiver. It is not terrible though. Good value and not a bad aftershave. Has notes of orange, lime, vetiver, possibly mint, capsicum pepper, and vanilla to my nose. So slap some on in the morning--it burns like no other!

A cologne of historic interest, quality that has passed the test of time and alleged possessor of occult properties, FW's gossamers of citrus, piquant spices with a bright, auspicious array of floral notes create an assuredly alluring amalgam.

But allure or not, this is as volatile as any traditional cologne. The drydown exorcises the citrus almost immediately leaving an insinuation of low-key spice and distant flowers, as though one had been gardening but managed to not get the least bit dirty. There's little sweetness here even with the floral presence, which is the next-volatile note besides the citrus and has a semiconscious quality to it, like a vase full of vivid, fresh-picked and dead, dried-out potpourri-like flowers bundled together - a creative hybrid of aromas even today.

Brilliant in its own beyond-old-school, near-centennarian way, and can be applied throughout the day as liberally as one would want to with nearly no likelihood of offending, depending on how you handle the finishing touches. Doesn't cost much to find out either, so why not?