In this intimate and sensory-rich conversation, we sit down with Sileno Cheloni, a master perfumer based in the San Niccolò neighborhood of Florence, Italy. A true alchemist of emotion, Sileno creates more than fragrance—he creates experiences, memory portals, and personalized rituals that connect us back to ourselves.

With a background rooted in artistry and a spiritual lineage shaped by a Sufi master in Cyprus, Sileno approaches scent not just as an olfactory craft but as a profound medium of presence, intuition, and transformation.

In this episode, we explore:

• The sacred roots of perfumery as emotional connection and presence
• How Florence shaped the world’s olfactory legacy (and why it’s still a place of creative birth)
• What scent teaches us about slowing down, deep knowing, and living consciously
• Why Sileno doesn’t memorize his scents—and how that keeps his work intuitive and alive
• His fragrance organ with over 190 notes and how he guides clients to create a custom scent
• Ritual, memory, and sensory storytelling through incense ceremonies and dinner experiences
• The importance of living your art as a game—with joy, depth, and discernment
• A peek into his most meaningful travels, materials, and encounters (from Oman to the silent valleys of the East)
• What Florence might smell like—and why he once tried to gift the city its own perfume

Sileno invites us into a slower, more sensory way of living—where scent becomes a compass, a ceremony, and a poetic rebellion against the commercial noise of modern life.

This is not just an episode about perfume. It’s about remembering our essence. 

Follow Sileno on Instagram: @silenocheloni
Explore his world at: https://profumoir.com/

Photo courtesy of Nisa Sedaghat, Studio Sapore.

THE SAPORE PODCAST

The Sapore Podcast is an invitation to explore the world richly through the senses. Rooted in the Italian word sapore—meaning “to savor” and “to taste”—each episode features soulful conversations with chefs, winemakers, artists, designers, and creatives from around the world.

From intimate kitchens in Florence to late-night wine bars in Paris and sacred rituals in Marrakesh, Sapore explores and savors the rituals, memories, and places that connect us to a life well-traveled and well-lived.

Follow along on Instagram:

Studio Sapore: @studio.sapore 

Host Nisa Sedaghat: @nisssyy

Get in touch:

Email: hello@studiosapore.com 

Online at: www.studiosapore.com

The podcast is produced by Nisa Sedaghat.