Bella Hadid on The Flower That Symbolizes a Brighter Future

My childhood memories smell like jasmine. In my family’s hometown of Homs, Syria, vines of white jasmine bloomed in parks, climbed up walls, and were the centerpiece at giant family lunches. Bella Hadid has similar memories.

“My father is an incredible architect, but part of what he’s good at is building the entire environment,” the Palestinian-Dutch model tells me. “Growing up, we had a garden with these beautiful antique benches. At the end of winter—just like where we are now—jasmine would bloom there. The scent always reminds me of everybody in my family being around for these big meals. Because of this memory, I knew I wanted a jasmine scent before I even launched Orebella.”

Now, two years later, Jasmine Blues is here. The limited-edition scent blends the white flower with rose, eucalyptus, and musk to create a scent that whispers, hovering just above the skin like a shimmering aura. (Before spritzing, shake the bottle to mix the scent with an oil base; the result is a skin-loving mix that doubles as a body oil.)

Courtesy Orebella

It’s an intimate pairing of culture and fragrance for anybody who comes from the Arab diaspora. “I have this little book about the native flowers of Palestine, and jasmine is such an important flower for the entire region. It felt like kimset. Specifically in Palestine, the jasmine flower is a symbol of purity, beauty, and cultural identity.”

“I wore Jasmine Blues to the Vanity Fair Oscars Party last week,” she continues, describing the ultimate road test. “Fragrance is a scary business to be in, because you can love something that everybody else hates—then it just doesn’t get made. I kept getting compliments. People were stopping me to tell me I smelled good!”

Last time I was home in Syria, the country didn’t smell the same. The civil war, which started more than a decade ago, has changed the landscape—and the people—permanently. But that hasn’t stopped its people, or others in the region, from looking hopefully toward a more peaceful future.

“The world is going through so much chaos right now, and you really have to stand by the people you love and your community,” Hadid reflects, “while also being open enough to love everyone at the same time. Jasmine reminds me of those roots and that community.”

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