text Mila Montagni
The scent of my city
Sileno Cheloni, a San Niccolò artisan at the his workshop
What should a perfume represent for your ideal customer?
Just the mood one aspires to. An instant journey from who you are to who you want to be in a squirt of perfume.
What essences would best represent Florence?
Obviously iris and rose, but also a note of turpentine and wood, because Florence is both the work of art and the frame.
Photography is one of your passions. What would your personal portrait of Florence be like?
I would take pictures of real Florentines, because they are becoming increasingly rare in Florence. The city is going to be here for a long time, but the real Florence is slowly disappearing.
What work of art do you feel the most attuned to?
Ponte Vecchio. It’s just standing there, open to everyone, and every time I cross it, I experience the magic of being a work of art myself. This was the magic of the Renaissance.
The place to hide in on rainy days?
I enjoy having tea in my OL’Factory amidst velvet sofas and the scent of birch. I never go out, let alone on rainy days…
What walk through the city is the most “sensory”?
Through the entire Oltrarno area, from San Frediano to San Niccolò, amidst gardens, artists, artisans and genuine restaurants. An explosion of the senses and feelings, up to Piazzale Michelangelo where the view takes your breath away, as well as the climb…
