Saturday, November 30, 2024

Capturing the scent of Palestinian life in a bottle

Qassem Abu Khalaf and his wife Malak Hijaz have a library of hundreds of ingredients

A young Palestinian couple in Jerusalem have produced a range of perfumes (Méjana Fragrances) to embody the heritage of their people. Despite the horror of the war in Gaza, they hope their scents can still summon memories of a better time, as Sebastian Usher reports from Jerusalem.

Qassem and Malak chose the name Méjana for their company name, as it’s a word that describes the old songs that Palestinians sing as they are working. “Mejana has a special rhythm when you sing it,” Malak says. “It means joy and happiness."


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