The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Bella is the third chapter in Les Belles de Nina, Nina Ricci's collection of modern princesses. Where Nina and Luna each claimed their own territory, Bella arrived in 2018 with its own identity: an acidic floral-fruity built around rhubarb and a Rose Jelly accord. The rhubarb brings a sharp, almost tangy greenness that cuts through the sweetness, while the Rose Jelly adds a soft, jammy quality that rounds the edges. The apple-shaped bottle is the collection's signature, but Bella's pop green colorway signals something different. Bolder. More magnetic. The ladybug and golden leaves on the cap add a touch of whimsy that matches the fragrance inside.
The Rose Jelly accord is the conceptual heart here. Rose, freesia, and white musk layered together to create something that reads as modern romantic femininity rather than old-fashioned damsel energy. Combined with the rhubarb accord's tart-sweet-green structure, the composition has more architectural interest than a standard fruity-floral. What makes it work is the balance: the rhubarb never becomes shrill, the sweetness never becomes cloying, and the florals never overpower. It's a composition that knows exactly what it wants to be.
The evolution
The opening's tart and bright. Rhubarb, green mandarin, and lemon arrive together, delivering an acidic punch. The combination creates a sharp, almost effervescent quality. The lemon provides a citrusy sparkle that intertwines with the green mandarin's fresh, slightly bitter peel character, while the rhubarb adds an unexpected vegetable-like tartness that grounds the citrus notes. As the top notes evolve, the florals arrive. Freesia comes through first, delicate and slightly dewy, its airy quality bridging the transition from the bright opening to the heart. The rose then asserts itself, but here it's powdery, not heavy. It softens the rhubarb's edge rather than competing with it, creating a harmonious blend where the tartness is gently tamed by the floral sweetness. By the second hour, vanilla and white musk enter the base.
Cultural impact
Bella fits into the Les Belles de Nina collection alongside Nina and Luna, representing the third chapter in a line of modern princesses. Since its 2018 launch, it has become a reliable option in the fruity-floral category for those seeking something bright and cheerful. The rhubarb note is what sets it apart from more conventional sweet florals. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel. It's executing a familiar concept with precision and personality.
The House
Nina RicciNina Ricci is a Parisian fashion house founded in 1932 by Italian-born designer Maria "Nina" Ricci and her son Robert Ricci. The house began as a couture salon on Rue Haussmann, quickly establishing a reputation for refined, feminine gowns with romantic sensibility. Robert established an in-house perfume division in 1941, though the first fragrance would not arrive until 1946. That inaugural scent, Coeur Joie, marked the beginning of a partnership with Lalique that would define the house's olfactory identity. The house introduced its most celebrated fragrance, L'Air du Temps, in 1948, a scent that remains in production decades later. Puig acquired Nina Ricci in 1998, bringing the house under the same ownership that manages Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier. Today, the fragrance collection spans from timeless classics to contemporary offerings like the Nina line, maintaining the house's commitment to feminine elegance.
The Creator
Sonia ConstantConstant's style is often described as daring and complex. She's unafraid to use powerful ingredients and unexpected combinations, resulting in fragrances that are memorable and impactful.
