Jasmine is one of those captivating flowers, not just for its outward beauty, but for its unforgettable fragrance.
Each delicate-looking flower carries an unbelievable amount of scent, which has been used in countless ways over the centuries. Its smell and appearance has helped cement its popularity as one of the most fragrant flowers you can grow yourself.
The scent itself is believed to be restorative, and can provoke a whole host of emotions just like the flower itself, so people often plant it near their windows to allow the fragrance to drift in, especially when the weather is too poor to go outside.
But the jasmine doesn’t just hold the mystery of its fragrance or even its beauty, there’s also some provoking symbolism attached to this flower, which you should know especially if you want to give a jasmine plant as a gift.
What does ‘Jasmine’ Mean?
The word Jasmine comes from the Fārsi word yâsamin, which means “God’s gift”. Jasmine is a fairly large genus of flowering vines and shrubs, which come from the Oleaceae or olive plant family.
And you only have to be in the vicinity of this plant to see where the name comes from, the brilliant-white or sunshine-yellow flowers emit the most gorgeous fragrance you can imagine.
It’s also Pakistan’s official flower, and is grown all over the world.
What do Jasmine Flowers Represent?
Jasmine flowers are largely a symbol of affection, often given as a romantic gesture, but not exclusively.
Thanks to the heady and sweet fragrance, the flower carries a lot of positive symbolism to do with relationships, and how someone makes you feel. Jasmine is linked to warmth, positive emotions, and even sensuality.
It’s believed that growing jasmine flowers will promote feelings of positivity, contentment, and satisfaction. Not only do these plants create stunning displays when they’re in flower, but the scent can travel far, which is why it’s often planted near seating areas or windows.
When they are given as a gift, these enigmatic flowers carry a message of your strong feelings towards the recipient, as the flowers can represent the person who is just as noteworthy, beautiful, and captivating as the blooms.
Jasmine plants are also often given as house-warming gifts, not just for their gorgeous scent but for their symbolism of good luck, prosperity, and grace.
The symbolism behind these fragrant flowers can also depend on the color. Jasmine flowers come in white or yellow.
While there is a plant called blue jasmine, it’s part of the clematis family, not the jasmine family, and isn’t related to the jasmine.
You can also get pink jasmine – but only the buds are pink, the flowers open in a lovely white.
What does White Jasmine Symbolize?
White jasmine is the most common color that the plant flowers in, and when it comes to art and literature, artists usually depict the white jasmine.
In flower symbolism, white represents grace, innocence, and remembrance, so jasmine also has these connotations.
But that’s not the only meaning. White jasmine is often given to welcome someone into a new home, or to celebrate a new stage of their life. It represents celebration and respect.
The fantastic smell and the long-lasting displays are a lovely reminder of what the recipient has achieved, and what they might go on to do.
What does Yellow Jasmine Signify?
Yellow jasmine blooms represent positivity, a meaningful connection with someone which is platonic, and joy.
They are often given to cheer someone up, to add a bit of positivity to their day, or to celebrate how meaningful your connection with them is to you.
What is the Cultural Significance Behind Jasmine Flowers?
While being a striking plant in its own right, able to adapt to a multitude of different climates and conditions, the jasmine flower also has deep cultural significance.
In Pakistan, both the bride and the groom wear red roses with white jasmine, but this is not the only time that the flower is used. It’s also incorporated into a multitude of bouquets for celebrating special occasions, and it is also used as a symbol of remembrance.
In the US, jasmine carries the meanings of romance, beauty, and passionate love. In the Philippines, jasmine forms an integral part of religious ceremonies, and represents devotion, divinity, divine hope, grace, and love.
In Thailand, jasmine flowers also mean love, but they also represent respect and the love of a mother for her children.
As the flower is widely regarded as a symbol of prosperity and luck, some people carry a single blossom in their pocket or lapel to invite good luck and positive things into their lives.
What does a Jasmine Flower Tattoo Mean?
Just like the flower symbolism, jasmine has a multitude of meanings when chosen as a subject for a tattoo.
As the jasmine plant can come in the form of a vigorous vine, and the flowers themselves represent love in many cultures, the image of the plant can represent the people in your life who make you the person you are.
A jasmine flower tattoo can also symbolize a binding love or loyalty, or something as simple and yet enigmatic as the power of nature.
When Should You Give Someone Jasmine?
Jasmine can be given at any occasion, but they are often used in significant ceremonies such as weddings or celebrations of an achievement, as they are thought to invite good luck and prosperity.
