The Tamesis
My childhood memories have the smell of jasmine. In my family’s hometown of Homs, Syria, white jasmine vines bloom in the park, climb the walls, and become the centerpiece of large family lunches. Bella Hadid has similar memories.
“My father was an incredible architect, but the part he excelled at was building entire environments,” the Palestinian-Dutch model told me. “Growing up, we had a garden with these beautiful antique benches. At the end of winter, just like where we are now, there would be jasmine blooming. The scent always reminded me of everyone in the house having a big meal. Because of that memory, I knew I wanted a jasmine scent before I launched Orebella.”
Now, two years later, Jasmine Blues is here. This limited-edition fragrance blends white flowers with rose, eucalyptus and musk to create a whispering scent that hovers above the skin like a shimmering halo. (Before spraying, shake the bottle to mix the scent with the oil base; the result is a skin-loving blend that doubles as a body oil.)
Courtesy of Orebela
For anyone from the Arab diaspora, it’s an intimate pairing of culture and fragrance. “I have a little book about native Palestinian flowers, and jasmine is such an important flower for the whole region. It feels like Kinset. Especially in Palestine, jasmine is a symbol of purity, beauty and cultural identity.”
“I wore Jasmine Blues to the Vanity Fair Oscar party last week,” she continued, describing the ultimate road test. “The perfume industry is a horrible industry because you can love something that everyone else hates, but it can’t be produced. I get compliments all the time. People stop me and tell me I smell great!”
The last time I was home in Syria, the country smelled different. The civil war that began more than a decade ago permanently changed the landscape and its people. But that hasn’t stopped its people or others in the region from looking forward hopefully to a more peaceful future.
“The world is going through so much chaos right now, and you really have to support the people you love and your community,” Hadid reflects, “but also stay open enough to love everyone. Jasmine reminds me of those roots and that community.”
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