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.
