1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3




               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Gerald Stevens,
Inc. (formerly Florafax International, Inc.) for the registration of 5,000,000
shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated October 8, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Florafax International, Inc. for the years ended August 31, 1997
and 1996 included in its Annual Report (Form 10-KSB, as amended by Amendment No.
1 on Form 10-KSB/A and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 on Form 10-KSB/A)
for the year ended August 31, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report
dated October 8, 1998, with respect to the supplemental consolidated financial
statements of Gerald Stevens, Inc. (formerly Florafax International, Inc.) for
the years ended August 31, 1997 and 1996 included in its Current Report (Form
8-K) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP



Tampa, Florida
May 12, 1999