The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
In Italian, Ciao means both hello and goodbye. Hilde Soliani wanted to capture that moment, the brief pause, the acknowledgment, the warmth of being truly seen. Not a grand entrance. A fleeting encounter that leaves something behind. The name says it all: this is the fragrance for that moment when two people cross paths and something passes between them. A whisper, not a shout.
Mimosa and chamomile together is an unusual pairing. Mimosa gives that honeyed, powdery warmth characteristic of yellow florals, think late afternoon light translated into scent. Chamomile grounds it with something herbal, almost medicinal, a whisper of green that keeps the sweetness from ever becoming cloying. The combination feels simultaneously comforting and unexpected. Yellow florals haven't dominated modern perfumery the way white florals or roses have. Soliani chose them anyway. The result is softer than many compositions, intimate rather than commanding, personal rather than performative.
The evolution
The opening is soft, mimosa at its powderiest, chamomile's green edge barely visible. Within minutes, something shifts. A warmth builds, the yellow florals deepening into something richer, more intimate. The drydown is where Ciao lives: close to the skin, quiet but present. It lingers for hours without ever demanding attention. Quiet, but the kind that gets remembered. After several hours, only a faint warmth remains, something skin-like, almost intimate.
Cultural impact
Ciao occupies a quiet corner of niche perfumery, for those who seek intimate, understated florals rather than attention-grabbing statements. It appeals to collectors drawn to Hilde Soliani's diary-like approach, and to anyone tired of the expected. The fragrance has found its audience among those who want to smell like they discovered something rather than announced something.
