The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Xisma was launched in 2024 by Sileno Cheloni, a perfumer based in Florence. The fragrance is inspired by the enigmatic presence of a man in Florence, surrounded by beauty and elegance yet carrying the unpredictability of a storm. Cheloni translated that figure into a composition of bergamot, Sicilian bitter orange, tobacco leaf, and broom, followed by ambrette, musk, and heliotrope. The opening is vivid and finely bitter, with bergamot and Sicilian bitter orange giving the composition a bright citrus lift. Tobacco leaf introduces dry warmth, while broom adds a green, aromatic texture. As these notes settle, ambrette lends a soft, musky quality and heliotrope deepens the drydown with a powdery floral character.
The striking part of Xisma is its contrast. Bergamot and Sicilian bitter orange bring immediate brightness, but the heart turns earthy and aromatic with tobacco leaf and broom absolute. That pairing feels sharper and stranger, like citrus light cutting across smoke. The green quality of broom moves alongside the dry warmth of tobacco leaf, giving the middle a textured, herbal character. Ambrette, musk, and heliotrope then pull the composition inward, giving the final hours a powdery, musky softness without erasing its tension.
The evolution
The opening arrives with the speed of a change in weather. Bergamot and Sicilian bitter orange create a bright, fragrant edge, vivid enough to feel almost windswept. As that brightness softens, tobacco leaf introduces dry warmth while broom absolute adds a green, aromatic note. The two textures move together, balancing the clarity of citrus with a darker, earthier accord. The composition then moves toward its quieter register: ambrette gives the drydown a soft, musky texture, and heliotrope settles the whole composition into a powdery floral hush. Musk remains the lasting anchor, giving Xisma a clean skin-close presence even as the sharper opening fades. Over time, the fragrance draws closer to the skin, with tobacco, musky warmth, and soft floral notes gradually taking the lead. The final stage feels intimate and gently enveloping, like the memory of a storm after the sky has cleared.
Cultural impact
Xisma connects the atmosphere of Florence with a fragrance built around contrast. Bergamot and Sicilian bitter orange establish a luminous opening, while tobacco leaf and broom introduce dry warmth, green texture, and an earthy aromatic character. As the composition develops, ambrette, musk, and heliotrope create a powdery, musky drydown that remains close and intimate. Its distinctiveness comes from the interaction of these notes: citrus clarity meets tobacco and broom, then gives way to a softer floral hush.
The House
Sileno Cheloni Firenze Maestro ProfumiereSileno Cheloni, known as Maestro Profumiere, has built a Florence-centered fragrance practice around artistic perfumery, natural raw materials, and personal scent discovery. His path began at an ashram in Cyprus, where the study of scent became part of a spiritual calling. Back in Florence, he founded Aquaflor Firenze, later developed his own atelier and the Profumoir space in the historic San Niccolò district. The house presents fragrances such as Reginella, Xisma, Firmamento, Sangueblu, Satanel, Eden, and Argentovivo, alongside bespoke compositions and layering-oriented experiences. Its identity combines the discipline of a perfume atelier with a sense of exploration, placing the wearer at the center of the olfactory story.
The Creator
Sileno CheloniCheloni gravitates toward rich, structured materials. Woods, resins, and precious florals anchor his compositions, giving them weight and longevity.
