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Hello, I am Jayi
You probably know me by the more familiar name Jasmine.
Ah, you noticed me before you saw me, didn’t you?
That’s my superpower. I don’t need to shout from the rooftops — I whisper with fragrance.
I’m Jasmine, part of a big, fragrant family (My genus name is: Jasminum). This genus belongs to the family Oleaceae (the olive family). Some of my cousin species from the same genus that you may encounter in India are:
Jasminum sambac: More popularly known as Mogra/Mallige/Arabian jasmine
Jasminum grandiflorum: Spanish or Royal jasmine
Jasminum multiflorum: Locally called Kund/Kunda/Kundo. Known for its whiteness. In Indian mythological stories the simile used is “as white as kunda”, and not the poplar western version: “as white as snow”. Essential to Manipuri wedding ceremonies.
Jasminum officinale: Also known as Common jasmine or Poet’s jasmine. Often popularly known as ‘Chameli’
Jasminum auriculatum: Also popularly called ‘Juhi’ in Hindi
Jasminum simplicifolium: Literally meaning ‘simple-leaved’ jasmine.
The origin of the genus name Jasminum has a lovely linguistic journey:
Latin word jasminum was borrowed from Arabic: yāsamīn
Arabic yāsamīn itself is believed to have come from Persian: yāsaman / yāsmin
Unlike many scientific names that describe shape or function, Jasminum is a name of cultural inheritance, reflecting how deeply humans valued the plant’s scent long before formal taxonomy. When Carl Linnaeus formalized plant naming in the 18th century, he retained this widely known name, Latinizing it to Jasminum rather than inventing a new descriptive term.
In Konkani I’m referred to as Jāyi (जाई). While it is most often used for Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac), but in everyday speech it can refer to jasmine in general.
My Story
I may look like a modest shrub or climber, but don’t be fooled — I’ve been charming humans for thousands of years, across India, Arabia, China, and beyond. My flowers are white, star-shaped, and delicately fragrant.
Humans use me for:
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Hair garlands and temple offerings
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Weddings and festivals
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Perfumes and attars
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Teas, oils, and even medicines
In South India, I’m lovingly woven into hair as Mallige or Mogra. In Goa and the Konkan belt, I’m a familiar garden companion — quietly doing my aromatic duty.
When I bloom, moths, bees, and other pollinators know exactly where to come.
No neon lights needed — my fragrance is the invitation.
And while you sleep, I’m busy ensuring the ecosystem keeps ticking along nicely. You’re welcome!
Traditionally, parts of me have been used to:
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Calm nerves
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Ease headaches
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Help with mild skin and joint issues
Of course, humans discovered this long before science gave it fancy labels.
An interesting trivia - Raat Rani or Night Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum), belongs to a different family than me called Solanaceae (the potato family!). Because of the fragrant white flowers, some people confused her for me and loosely called it ‘night jasmine’.
Next time you catch a sudden sweet scent in the evening air, pause for a moment.
It might just be me, reminding you that you don’t need to be loud to be unforgettable.
Now come closer — carefully.
I may be delicate, but my perfume is powerful.
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