Florida Water is a lightly scented (citrus, herbal, floral, spicy) eau de cologne, used to refresh people, places, and things. It is often used in spiritual practices to cleanse negative energy. I like to use it on thresholds to freshen a space when seasons shift and on bed linens when I change the sheets. It has been around for hundreds of years and recipes vary. I like to use ingredients from the garden so I mix things up from time to time, but here is the basic recipe I use.

• 1/2 cup dried lavender
• 1/2 cup dried mountain mint
• 20 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 dried organic orange (sliced)
• 1 dried organic lemon (sliced)
• 10 drops bergamot essential oil
• 10 drops rose essential oil

Soak the ingredients in 3 -4 cups high proof vodka for 3 months. I like to use a wide-mouth Mason jar and store the solution in the pantry. Remember to label what is in the jar and put the date the marination began (trust me, this is easy to forget). I shake the jar from time to time, whisper words of affirmation, and open the jar to sniff test it for readiness.

After a few months, when the solution is ready dilute with distilled water using a roughly 1 to 5 ratio (for example, one cup of the solution to 5 cups water). For those so inlined, you can you moon water. I then bottle the Florida Water in small amber glass bottles.