A wonderful c. 1933–1940 Murray & Lanman Florida Water miniature/sample bottle, measuring just 3 3/4" tall and retaining its spectacular original full-color paper label, neck label and metallic foil/capsule remnants.
This is the desirable 1/2 fluid ounce miniature size, far less commonly encountered than the standard larger Florida Water bottles. What really sets this example apart is the survival of its elaborate original packaging. The wonderfully ornate label is filled with flowers, birds, figures, scrollwork and the famous fountain imagery associated with Murray & Lanman for generations.
The bottle itself is strongly embossed on the reverse:
FLORIDA WATER
MURRAY & LANMAN
DRUGGISTS
NEW YORK
The front label reads prominently:
FLORIDA WATER
MURRAY & LANMAN
NEW YORK
and identifies the actual manufacturer as:
PREPARED ONLY BY
LANMAN & KEMP-BARCLAY & CO.
INCORPORATED
NEW YORK, U.S.A.
The side of the label identifies the contents as 1/2 oz. fl.
The Lanman & Kemp-Barclay & Co. corporate name provides an important dating clue. That company name came into use in 1933, while the bottle retains the earlier cork-style finish rather than the later screw-cap form.
Taken together, the packaging and bottle construction point to approximately 1933–1940, most likely the mid-to-late 1930s.
Although the label has a wonderfully Victorian appearance, that was intentional. Murray & Lanman retained its elaborate 19th-century branding for decades because the design had become synonymous with Florida Water.
Florida Water was introduced in the early 19th century and became one of America's most enduring proprietary fragrances.
Despite the name, it wasn't drinking water. Florida Water was an aromatic, alcohol-based preparation related to eau de Cologne, traditionally incorporating citrus, floral and spicy notes.
It was marketed for an extraordinary variety of purposes—as a cologne, refreshing wash, aftershave/barber preparation, bath additive, handkerchief fragrance and household aromatic. Period advertising even promoted Florida Water for headaches, fatigue, nervousness and freshening the sickroom, illustrating just how differently toiletries and proprietary preparations were marketed before modern consumer and medical regulations.
Florida Water also developed an important cultural life beyond ordinary perfumery and remains associated with traditional cleansing and spiritual practices in parts of the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States.
The firm's history stretches back to Robert Murray's New York drug and perfumery business established in 1808. David Trumbull Lanman later joined the enterprise, and the famous Murray & Lanman name became closely associated with Florida Water.
Even as the corporate ownership and company names changed, the familiar Murray & Lanman name continued to dominate the product's packaging because consumers already recognized it.
That explains the fascinating combination seen here: the bottle and main label prominently proclaim MURRAY & LANMAN, while the smaller manufacturer information identifies LANMAN & KEMP-BARCLAY & CO.
The label is arguably the star of this bottle.
Its fountain, flowers, birds, human figures and elaborate decorative elements descend from Murray & Lanman's 19th-century trademark imagery. The company was using versions of this distinctive visual identity by the late 1800s and continued it well into the 20th century.
On this tiny 3 3/4" bottle, the amount of multicolor detail is remarkable.
Even better, the bottle retains additional original paper and metallic material around the neck, giving it the appearance of an old drugstore or perfumery bottle that escaped being stripped of its packaging.
Excellent antique display condition.
Bottle measures approximately 3 3/4" tall.
The glass is bright and attractive with strong embossed lettering. The important original multicolor body label remains remarkably complete for its age, retaining strong decorative imagery and easily readable Murray & Lanman identification.
The paper naturally shows age-related toning, fading, surface wear, small areas of color loss and edge wear as clearly shown in the photographs.
The bottle also retains substantial original neck label and metallic foil/capsule material, with expected deterioration and losses from age.