Jazmin Sarai

The IAO Gallery @artandolfaction is pleased to present: From Memory to A Sign - من ذكرى إلى علامة, a new solo exhibition by Dana El Masri @danaelmasri, opening Friday, September 4, 2026. From Memory to A Sign من ذكرى إلى علامة September 4 - October 23, 2026 Opening Reception: Friday, September 4, 6-8pm This exhibition gathers works created from 2009 to 2026; a constellation of pieces in dialogue with each other across time. Each work forms a living archive of memory, imagination, and material. Through ceramic, flowers, sound, and scent, From Memory to A Sign, invites us to rediscover traces of home in faraway places, and to feel how memory can be both fragile and rooted. An act of remembrance and rediscovery. ABOUT DANA EL MASRI Dana El Masri is a perfumer, interdisciplinary artist, lecturer, storyteller, and writer whose work explores the intersections of scent, music, culture, and identity. Rooted in her Egyptian-Lebanese heritage, born in Budapest and raised in Dubai, Dana has lived and worked across Montreal, New York, and Los Angeles. She is the founder of Jazmin Saraï, an artisan perfume house established in 2014, and her multisensory installations workshops, and residences have been presented worldwide. Through scent, sound, and storytelling, her practice challenges Eurocentric narratives in perfumery and creates space for multifaceted experiences of cultural belonging and representation. Dana is an IAO lecturer, five-time Art and Olfaction Awards judge, co-founder of the Diverse Talent in Perfumery database, and an award-winning writer whose work has been published internationally. Learn more at https://artandolfaction.com/exhibitions #artandolfaction #IAOGallery #olfactoryart #danaelmasri Flyer by @danaelmasri_

THREE whole years in Los Angeles! 🌴🧿

The duality of life is one that I am still trying to learn.
I write this from my regularly scheduled CT scan (I dislike this, but still not in the clear), my visa hasn’t been renewed yet (been waiting a year), dealing with my usual chronic pain, and facing some of the hardest years for Jazmin Saraï.

YET, I couldn’t be more grateful ✨ My soul is satisfied here somehow. I am finally in an apartment I feel good in. (Bye Hollywood 🫠) I’ve done almost everything I’ve set out to do, and I want to be here! Which says a lot for someone like me, who’s lived all over the world, and never felt like I belonged anywhere.

I really hope that I can stay, keep going, growing, learning, and more! Southern California is truly special.
Thank you to my beloveds for holding me down, it means more than you know.
I’ve met so many beautiful people and grown within communities. While I’m still best in small groups lol, and trust is everything, I can safely say I’ve found some of my people.
The flowers, plants, music, and culture here inspire me deeply, it makes my everyday so much more enriching.

I’m about to share work at The Institute for Art and Olfaction - my vulnerability out there, and it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

I hope to continue running Jazmin Saraï despite all the financial challenges, I hope for my health to continue improving so I can keep experiencing all that life has to offer.
Thank you for following along this journey with me 🫶🏽

Much love, Dana 🌺

I’ve been working on something special for a while; years in fact, quietly creating since I can remember.
My mother instilled creativity and curiosity in me from a young age.
I never felt like I fit in, into one culture, one job, one medium; that’s probably why I was called to perfumery, in a way.

With that said, I humbly present: From Memory to A Sign - من ذكرى إلى علامة
A collection of works I have created from 2009-2026 ✨
I love working with different mediums, and this my chance to share it with you. Opening night September 4th, 6-8pm. Show runs until October 23rd.

Thank you The Institute for Art and Olfaction for hosting me and my work,
and for me bring this multi-sensory playground to life.

Thank you mama Reem Owais for always being someone I have turned to for creative (and business!) advice, her thoughts and feelings are dispersed throughout this exhibit too 🫶🏽
I hope you can make it LA!

Free RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opening-reception-from-memory-to-a-sign-dana-el-masri-tickets-1996759076148?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Studio WIP photo by Stevie Youssef

I’ve been wondering when extending an olive branch started to represent reconciliation and peace.

“King Akhenaten offering an Olive Branch to the Aten
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1345 B.C.
Probably from Hermopolis (Ashmunein; Khemenu);
Originally from Amarna”

Via Egypt Museum but seems to be sadly at the Met

Another incredible portrait/cover by Mati Klarwein for Jimi Hendrix’s unreleased album. 1970.
Can you imagine what that would have sounded like!?

Love teaching & being at The Institute for Art and Olfaction 🌺✨

📸 Minetta / Institute for Art and Olfaction

You know what season it is! Time for some Neon Graffiti ☀️🌱🥭💐🍋🍊

The Miradero Estate, the entrance to the Brand Public Library
One of my favourite places in LA 🌴
The air out here smells fresh, and slightly aromatic from the eucalyptus trees 🍃

What a whirlwind the last 10 days have been!
I am terrible at taking photos but I was absolutely immersed in conversation and scents.
Thank you to Karen Marin for our panel alongside Bryn Thomas Alaniz and Travertine , it was an honour to converse with you!
Monterey was quaint and sweet 💕
This was my first time in the Bay Area and I enjoyed discovering more of California 🌴

San Francisco, what a delight! The energy was palpable during pride and ScentFest SF | Fragrance Festival was a huge event! I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to speak/meet everyone but I truly hope for more next time!
Sebastian Jara Mabrook! This was such a success, it was great to see how many perfume people pulled up! It’s clear this space is needed!
Yosh Han bravo on all that you’ve done! Thank you for inviting me to speak
Damiana thank you for our panel and your thoughtful questions, elated to have spoken alongside Michael Ælfric Nordstrand , Alexandre Helwani Julien Rasquinet (I forgot to mention how much I love Bois D’Ascèse!)

I only got the chance to attend a handful of panels in SF, shoutout to Cali pioneers Saskia Wilson-Brown Sarah Horowitz Parfums Yosh Han Juniper Ridge

I also loved Mona Kattan Elamin✌🏽🤎🧸 and Renaud Salmon for their intentional talk with Emma Vernon

Thank you Mauricio Garcia 🐈‍⬛ Travis J McIntosh Bryson 🧶 Travertine Michael Ælfric Nordstrand Danu Emma Vernon for your love, respect, encouraging words, and all round amazing humour!!
Shoutout to Clement Gavarry for always being so gracious with me, 16 years later! He is proof you can be humble & kind, while working for the largest perfume company in the world 😊

It’s a privilege to be a perfumer, I am so lucky to do what I do. I belong here. Also! I was told to get more spicy, so watch out for the heat!
Ps. Some of these photos are by Mauricio and MATTEO PARFUMS
Much love, Dana xo

Jazmin Saraï is 12! My bb tween ☺️
I have not been blessed with children of my own, so I have always thought of JS as my child and I have nurtured her for well over a decade.
She’s made many friends (and ruffled a few scented feathers lol ) but she’s bloomed with patience, diligence, hard work, perseverance, pure passion and a belief that scent culture helps us feel seen.

With everything going on in the world and homelands, it didn’t feel to right to celebrate. Some years are quieter than others and this one has been a challenge.

Thank you for sticking with me despite not being able to find my perfumes everywhere (ask the retailers; not me), thank you for understanding my vision, thank you for appreciating the nuances.

Please use code TWELVE from today through Sunday. If you were on my mailing list, you got first dibs. Whatever I have in stock is what I have and I will do my best to add more over the weekend.

Much love and gratitude,

Dana xo

Ps. Eid Mubarak, Nowruz Mubarak, happy Spring Equinox, happy Mother’s Day - sending you all peace and fruitful abundance 🌺✨