This online presentation of

Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by catherine yronwode

is sponsored by the

Home Read Our Join Our Radio

LUCKY MOJO CURIO CO. Hoodoo Be a Fan: Online View Your
Page Forums Newsletter Show Workshops Facebook Shopping Cart
6632 Covey Road, Forestville, California 95436
voice: 707-887-1521 / fax: 707-887-7128
LMC LMCCo Hoodoo Practical email: order@luckymojo.com Readers & Hoodoo We Pray Free
Network Publishing Course Conjure Rootworkers Psychics For You Spells
Open 7 Days a Week, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Pacific Time

Sacred Lucky W Hoodoo & Sacred

Manufacturers and Distributors of Hoodoo and Conjure Southern Candle Herb Yronwode
Sex Amulets The Blues Landscape Supplies: Oils, Powders, Incense, Baths, Washes, Herbs, Resins, Spirits Ministry Magic Institution
Colognes, Roots, Minerals, Curios, Books, Candles, Statuary,
and Amulets.

FLORIDA WATER
and
KANANGA WATER
Florida Water is a 19th century formula for a commercially-prepared toilet
water (see below for a definition of toilet water) that blends an array of floral
essential oils in a water-alcohol base. The name refers to the fabled Fountain
of Youth said to have been located in Florida.
A similar toilet water is Kananga Water, which is built upon a foundation of
essential oil of Cananga odorata, also known as Ylang Ylang (which may be
closer to its pronunciation in its native growth region of Indonesia and
adjacent areas). Commercial kananga plantations were established in Jamaica
in the 19th century by the British.
Although both Florida Water and Kanaga Water have the word "water" in
their names, it should be noted that they are actually alcohol-based Colognes
-- unlike such products as Willow Water, Rose Water, and Orange Water, which are made
from distilled water with added botanical fragrances.
Both Florida Water and Kananga Water are widely used in rituals of home protection and
spiritual cleaning, to scent bowls of water set out for the spirits of the dead, as a basis for
making an ink-dyed scrying water, and for other ritual and cosmetic purposes among people of
African-diaspora descent in the United States and the Caribbean. A third 19th century
commercial perfume with a long history of magical associations is Hoyt's Cologne, which is
used among African-American hoodoo practitioners to draw gambling luck.
The specific blends of essential oils found in Florida Water and Kananga Water used to vary
from maker to maker so there is no "one and only" way to make up these mixtures. Typical
commercial formulas for both products can be found in any standard formulary in your local
public library -- such as "Henley's Formulas," or "Fortunes in Formulas" by Hiscox and Sloane.
(See below.) These days i know of only two commercial sources for Florida Water, Lanman and
Kemp and Two Girls (a toiletry company in China) and two commercial perfumeries supplying
Kananga Water, the Vandi Perfume Co. and Lanman and Kemp.
I used to make my own Florida Water and Kananga Water from recipes in commercial
formularies, but i find that the Lanman and Kemp products are perfectly satisfactory and the
labels are very familiar to users, so i now sell that brand in my shop and online.
Murray and Lanman Florida Water Cologne (actually now manufactured and distributed by
Lanman and Kemp) has an old-fashioned Victorian-era style label -- very floral and rococo in
slightly out-of-register pinks, reds, blues, and gold. It depicts a hodge-podge of isolated figures
on a white background -- the Fountain of Youth, a woman with a bird perched on her hand, a
troubadour with a lute, two parrots, two wreaths of flowers, flowers in a basket, ornamental
leaves, etc. The bottles still have an old-fashioned long-necked shape, are embossed at the
shoulder with "Murray & Lanman Florida Water -- New York," and are wrapped and sealed
with silver foil on which is imprinted a spiral black-and-white trade mark notice in Victorian
display lettering with a spread eagle in a stamp plus a handwritten signature ("Lanman and
Kemp").
Lanman and Kemp also manufacture Florida Water Soap. This high-quality beauty bar has the
same familiar floral aroma as the cologne and is wrapped in paper featuring the same lovely
graphics as the famous bottle. Florida Water Soap can be used for physical as well as ritual
cleansing of the skin.
Another brand of Florida Water -- Two Girls, from China -- also has a cool-looking label,
featuring two girl children in Chinese costumes in a floral landscape, but i have never been able
to get a wholesale line on it, and so i sell the Lanman and Kemp variety in my shop.
Murray and Lanman Kananga Water Cologne (now made by Lanman and Kemp) is similar in
quality to Vandi Kananga Water, but the label is more attractive, so that is the brand i carry in
my shop. It is another Victorian-rococo confection of floral motifs and scroll-work, centered on
an image of a bunch of flowers and a waterfall. The container is less ornate, however, being a
simple long-necked plastic bottle without embossing on the shoulder or foil wrapping on the
neck.

Order Florida Water Cologne from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Order Kananga Water Cologne from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Order Florida Water Soap from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.

TRADEMARKS AND RECIPES

"Florida Water" and the associated graphic label are registered trademarks of Lanman and Kemp. It is against
the law to manufacture and market a product of that name or bearing that image. However, formulas for a
variety of products once marketed as Florida Water have been published since the 19th century, and i get
many requests for formula information from would-be mages who want to save a few cents and make their
own. For the record, i think that making Florida Water or Kananga Water at home is somewhat of a fool's
errand, because the Lanman and Kemp products, available from any good occult supply store, are of
impeccable quality and reasonably priced. However, the following technical information is presented for the
use of readers who wish to try their hands at perfumery. It is expected that before you begin such a task you
familiarize yourself with the terminology, systems of measurement, and methods used in a laboratory. Please
do not email me with requests for help in locating essential oils or lab equipment; i will not reply.
TOILET WATERS
From "The Ancient Book of Formulas" by Lewis de Claremont comes this basic information on how to
distinguish perfumes, colognes, and toilet waters based on their relative percentages of essential oils, alcohol,
and water:
All perfumes contain alcohol to varying degrees. Most
important perfumes contain 2 to 3 ounces of oils per pint
of alcohol. Most domestic [cheaper] perfumes [and Colognes]
contain 1 to 3 ounces of oils per pint of alcohol.

However the amounts of essential oil or concentration is

determined solely by taste and price.

Toilet waters are just weak perfumes, generally containing 1

to 6 ounces of essential oil per gallon of alcohol. However
10% to 25% water is usually added according to the amount of
essential oils contained therein.

ALCOHOL USED IN PERFUMERY

From Hiscox and Sloane's "Fortunes in Formulas" comes this basic information on the proper type of alcohol
to use in perfumery:
The alcohol used should be that obtained from the
distillation of wine, provided a first-class article
is desired. It is possible, of course, to make a good
Cologne with very highly rectified and deodorized corn
or potato spirits, but the product never equals that
made from wine spirits. Possibly the reason for this
lies in the fact that the latter always contains a
varying amount of oenanthic ether.

COLOURING
It is traditional to dye Florida Water a pale aqua-green and Kananga Water a pale orange. These dyes are not
necessary to the formulas, but if you intend to show the results of your experiments to others, their use will
greatly enhance viewer recognition.
INCORPORATING GRAIN MUSK AND CIVET IN LIQUID PERFUMES
The formulas for Kananga perfumes below contain grain musk and/or civet. Hiscox and Sloane's "Fortunes
in Formulas" provides the following basic information on the proper formulation of such ingredients in liquid
perfumes:
When grain musk is used as an ingredient in liquid
perfumes, first rub down with pumice stone, then digest
in hot water for 2 or 3 hours; finally add to alcohol.
The addition of 2 or 3 minims of acetic acid will improve
the odor and also prevent accumulation of NH3. Civet
should be thoroughly rubbed down with some coarse powder
and added directly to alcohol.

FLORIDA WATER #1
oil of bergamot 3 fluid ounces
oil of lavender 1 fluid ounce
oil of lemon 1 fluid ounce
oil of cloves 1 1/4 fluid drachms
oil of cinnamon 2 1/2 fluid drachms
oil of neroli 1/2 fluid drachms
essence of jasmine 6 fluid ounces
essence of musk 2 fluid ounces
alcohol 8 pints
rose water 1 pint

Mix and, if cloudy, filter through

magnesium carbonate.

-- From "Fortunes in Formulas For Home, Farm, and Workshop"

edited by Garner D. Hiscox, M.E. and
Prof. T. O'Conner Sloane, A.B., A.M., Em., Ph.D.
(The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937)
FLORIDA WATER #2
oil of bergamot 3 fluid ounces
oil of lemon 1 fluid ounce
oil of ylang ylang 1 fluid ounce
oil of lavender 1/2 fluid ounce
oil of cinnamon 20 drops
oil of cloves 12 drops
oil of neroli 10 drops
alcohol 1 gallon
rose water 1 pint
(or distilled water plus light rose scent)

-- From my own personal notes, circa 1973, source

not attributed but apparently adapted from an old
formulary to use what i had on hand at the time.
YLANG YLANG PERFUME (Basis for KANANGA WATER #1)
oil of ylang ylang 10 minims
oil of neroli 5 minims
oil of rose 5 minims
oil of bergamot 3 minims
alcohol 10 oz.

One grain of musk may be added

Dilute with distilled water to make a toilet water.

-- From "Manual of Formulas, Recipes, Methods, and Secret Processes"

edited by Raymond B. Wailes, B.S.
(Popular Science Publishing Co., New York, 1932)
BOUQUET CANANG (Basis for KANANGA WATER #2)
ylang ylang oil 45 minims
rose oil 15 minims
cassie oil 5 minims
almond oil 1/2 minims
tincture of orris rhizome 1 fluid ounce
tincture of storax 3 fluid drachms
grain musk 3 grains
civet 1 grain
tonka beans 3 (chopped)
alcohol (90%) 9 fluid ounces

Mix, and digest one month, then filter. The

above is a very delicious perfume.

N.B. Cassie oil, also called cassie otto, is

derived from the flowers of Acacia farnesiana,
a.k.a. Mimosa farnesiana, L. (N.O. Leguminosae,
sub-order Mimoseae). It must not be confounded
with cassia otto, the essential oil obtained
from Cinnamomum cassia.

-- From "Fortunes in Formulas For Home, Farm, and Workshop"

edited by Garner D. Hiscox, M.E. and
Prof. T. O'Conner Sloane, A.B., A.M., Eum., ph.D.
(The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937)
EXTRAIT D'YLANG-YLANG (Basis for KANANGA WATER #3)
Essence d'ylang-ylang 24 grammes
Isoeugenol 4 grammes
Methyl-isoeugenol 2 grammes
Alcohol a 90 [degree symbol] pour 1 litre

-- From "The Ancient Book of Formulas"

by Lewis de Claremont
(Oracle Products Corporation, New York, 1940)
Note: Bouquet Canang, Kananga Perfume, and Extrait d'Ylang-Ylang are strong perfumes and as such may
be diluted with 10% to 25% distilled water as outlined above to make them into Kananga Water Cologne.

Order Florida Water Cologne from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Order Kananga Water Cologne from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Order Florida Water Soap from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.

Search All Lucky Mojo and Affiliated Sites!

You can search our sites for a single word (like archaeoastronomy, hoodoo,
conjure, or clitoris), an exact phrase contained within quote marks (like "love
spells", "spiritual supplies", "occult shop", "gambling luck", "Lucky Mojo bag",
or "guardian angel"), or a name within quote marks (like "Blind Willie McTell",
"Black Hawk", "Hoyt's Cologne", or "Frank Stokes"):

copyright © 1994-2019 catherine yronwode. All rights reserved.

Send your comments to: cat yronwode.
Did you like what you read here? Find it useful?
Then please click on the Paypal Secure Server logo and make a small
donation to catherine yronwode for the creation and maintenance of this
site.

LUCKY MOJO is a large domain that is organized into a number of

interlinked web sites, each with its own distinctive theme and look.
You are currently reading
HOODOO IN THEORY AND PRACTICE by cat yronwode .

Here are some other LUCKY MOJO web sites you can visit:
OCCULTISM, MAGIC SPELLS, MYSTICISM, RELIGION, SYMBOLISM
Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by cat yronwode: an introduction to African-American
rootwork
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by cat yronwode:a materia magica of African-American
conjure
Lucky W Amulet Archive by cat yronwode: an online museum of worldwide talismans
and charms
Sacred Sex: essays and articles on tantra yoga, neo-tantra, karezza, sex magic, and sex
worship
Sacred Landscape: essays and articles on archaeoastronomy and sacred geometry
Freemasonry for Women by cat yronwode: a history of mixed-gender Freemasonic
lodges
The Lucky Mojo Esoteric Archive: captured internet text files on occult and spiritual
topics
Lucky Mojo Usenet FAQ Archive:FAQs and REFs for occult and magical usenet
newsgroups
Aleister Crowley Text Archive: a multitude of texts by an early 20th century occultist
Lucky Mojo Magic Spells Archives: love spells, money spells, luck spells, protection
spells, and more
Free Love Spell Archive: love spells, attraction spells, sex magick, romance spells,
and lust spells
Free Money Spell Archive: money spells, prosperity spells, and wealth spells for job
and business
Free Protection Spell Archive: protection spells against witchcraft, jinxes, hexes, and
the evil eye
Free Gambling Luck Spell Archive: lucky gambling spells for the lottery, casinos, and
races
POPULAR CULTURE
Hoodoo and Blues Lyrics: transcriptions of blues songs about African-American folk
magic
EaRhEaD!'S Syd Barrett Lyrics Site: lyrics by the founder of the Pink Floyd Sound
The Lesser Book of the Vishanti: Dr. Strange Comics as a magical system, by cat
yronwode
The Spirit Checklist: a 1940s newspaper comic book by Will Eisner, indexed by cat
yronwode
Fit to Print: collected weekly columns about comics and pop culture by cat yronwode
Eclipse Comics Index: a list of all Eclipse comics, albums, and trading cards
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course with cat yronwode: 52 weekly lessons in
book form
Hoodoo Conjure Training Workshops: hands-on rootwork classes, lectures, and
seminars
Apprentice with catherine yronwode: personal 3-week training for qualified HRCC
graduates
Lucky Mojo Community Forum: an online message board for our occult spiritual shop
customers
Lucky Mojo Hoodoo Rootwork Hour Radio Show: learn free magic spells via podcast
download
Lucky Mojo Videos: see video tours of the Lucky Mojo shop and get a glimpse of the
spirit train
Lucky Mojo Publishing: practical spell books on world-wide folk magic and divination
Lucky Mojo Newsletter Archive: subscribe and receive discount coupons and free
magick spells
LMC Radio Network: magical news, information, education, and entertainment for all!
Follow Us on Facebook: get company news and product updates as a Lucky Mojo
Facebook Fan
ONLINE SHOPPING
The Lucky Mojo Curio Co.: spiritual supplies for hoodoo, magick, witchcraft, and conjure
Herb Magic: complete line of Lucky Mojo Herbs, Minerals, and Zoological Curios, with
sample spells
Mystic Tea Room Gift Shop: antique, vintage, and contemporary fortune telling tea cups
PERSONAL SITES
catherine yronwode: the eclectic and eccentric author of many of the above web pages
nagasiva yronwode: nigris (333), nocTifer, lorax666, boboroshi, Troll Towelhead, !
Garden of Joy Blues: former 80 acre hippie commune near Birch Tree in the Missouri
Ozarks
Liselotte Erlanger Glozer: illustrated articles on collectible vintage postcards
Jackie Payne: Shades of Blues: a San Francisco Bay Area blues singer
ADMINISTRATIVE
Lucky Mojo Site Map: the home page for the whole Lucky Mojo electron-pile
All the Pages: descriptive named links to about 1,000 top-level Lucky Mojo web pages
How to Contact Us: we welcome feedback and suggestions regarding maintenance of
this site
Make a Donation: please send us a small Paypal donation to keep us in bandwidth and
macs!
OTHER SITES OF INTEREST
Arcane Archive: thousands of archived Usenet posts on religion, magic, spell-casting,
mysticism, and spirituality
Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers: psychic reading, conjure, and
hoodoo root doctor services
Candles and Curios: essays and articles on traditional African American conjure and folk
magic, plus shopping
Crystal Silence League: a non-denominational site; post your prayers; pray for others; let
others pray for you
Gospel of Satan: the story of Jesus and the angels, from the perspective of the God of
this World
Hoodoo Psychics: connect online or call 1-888-4-HOODOO for instant readings now from
a member of AIRR
Missionary Independent Spiritual Church: spirit-led, inter-faith; prayer-light services;
Smallest Church in the World
Mystic Tea Room: tea leaf reading, teacup divination, and a museum of antique fortune
telling cups
Satan Service: an archive presenting the theory, practice, and history of Satanism and
Satanists
Southern Spirits: 19th and 20th century accounts of hoodoo, including ex-slave
narratives & interviews
Spiritual Spells: lessons in folk magic and spell casting from an eclectic Wiccan
perspective, plus shopping
Yronwode Home: personal pages of catherine yronwode and nagasiva yronwode,
magical archivists
Yronwode Institution: the Yronwode Institution for the Preservation and Popularization of
Indigenous Ethnomagicology