Jasmine Flowers: Malli, Mullai and Jaathi

Few flowers are as closely tied to Indian homes, temples and celebrations as jasmine. Its small white blossoms and sweet evening fragrance are part of daily pooja, wedding mornings and festival nights across South India and beyond. This guide covers the main kinds of jasmine you'll find at Spice Town Flowers, how they are used, and how to keep them fragrant at home.

Kinds of jasmine

Malli (Arabian jasmine)

Malli, known botanically as Jasminum sambac, is the most familiar jasmine for strings. It goes by many names: malli or malligai in Tamil, mallige in Kannada, mallelu in Telugu, mulla in Malayalam and mogra in Hindi and Marathi. The buds are plump and round, and the scent is rich and heady.

Mullai

Mullai (Jasminum auriculatum) has slimmer, more pointed buds and a lighter, softer fragrance. Many Tamil families prefer it for daily pooja and for the hair. Strings of mullai look delicate and lacy.

Jaathi (Spanish jasmine)

Jaathi or jathi malli (Jasminum grandiflorum) has larger, star-shaped flowers, often tinged pink on the outside of the bud. It is used in strings and garlands and has a fine, delicate fragrance. We list it when available.

Browse our current flower strings.

How jasmine strings are made

Jasmine strings are tied by hand from buds, not open flowers. Buds are picked before they open and knotted closely together along a thread, so a string looks like a neat, tight rope of white. The buds then open gradually, usually through the late afternoon and evening, releasing their fragrance as they do. A string that looks tight and green-white in the morning is doing exactly what it should.

Strings are sold by length. Our standard size is 6 ft, which you can use whole or cut into shorter pieces.

How jasmine is used

  • Pooja. Jasmine strings are draped over pictures and murtis of deities, wound around the kalasam, and offered at temples. Loose jasmine is used for archana.
  • In the hair. Wearing jasmine in a braid or bun is a cherished custom for festivals, temple visits, weddings and everyday wear in many South Indian families. In North India and Maharashtra, a gajra of mogra is worn in the same way.
  • Weddings. Jasmine is woven into the bride's hair, used in garlands and decorations, and sometimes given to guests.
  • Festivals. Jasmine is part of nearly every festival pooja, from Varalakshmi Vratham to Navaratri and Diwali. See our festival flowers guide.
  • At home. A short string in a small bowl of water fills a room with fragrance in the evening.

How much do I need?

  • Hair: about 1 to 2 ft for a braid, depending on length and how full you'd like it.
  • A framed picture: measure across the top and down both sides of the frame.
  • A home altar with several pictures: one 6 ft string, cut into pieces, often covers it.
  • A kalasam: 2 to 3 ft of string if you wind it around the neck of the pot a few times. For a ready-made piece, a 1 ft kalasa mala from our pooja garlands fits around the kalasam.

Keeping jasmine fragrant

Jasmine is delicate. These steps help strings last as long as possible:

  1. Get it cool quickly. Bring strings home soon after pickup, and keep them out of a hot car.
  2. Wrap it lightly damp. Wrap the string loosely in a damp (not dripping) paper towel or thin cotton cloth.
  3. Close it in a container. Place it in an airtight box or a closed container. This keeps moisture in and stops the scent from spreading through the refrigerator.
  4. Refrigerate, don't freeze. Keep it in the main part of the fridge. Freezing turns the buds brown.
  5. Take it out when you need it. Buds open at room temperature, so take the string out an hour or two before you want the fragrance.

Even with good care, jasmine is at its most fragrant on the day the buds open. Some browning of petals after that is natural. More tips are in our flower care guide.

Common questions about jasmine

Why are some buds on my string still closed?

That's normal. Strings are tied from buds, and they open at different times. Warmth and room temperature encourage them to open.

Why is my jasmine turning brown?

Jasmine browns when it's bruised, too warm, too wet or frozen, and naturally as the flowers age after opening. Keep it cool, lightly damp and loosely wrapped.

Can I order a lot of jasmine for a wedding or temple?

Yes. For large quantities, use the bulk and temple order form at least a week ahead, so we can plan for your date.

Order jasmine in Vernon, CT

Choose your jasmine and mullai strings online, pick a date in the cart, and collect them at Spice Town, 378 Kelly Rd, Vernon, CT. Questions? Call 860-237-4280.