Meet Zisis Kapsalis, Perfumer and Olfactory Guide at Aquaflor
Why he fell in love with Florence, creative Chianti and cocktail collaborations + where he goes for a drink in town
Athenian-born and happily adopted Florentine, perfumer Zisis Kapsalis first came to Florence on a study visa. More than 25 years later, he calls the city home.
Sound familiar? I shared with Zisis my story of falling so hard for Rome I moved there.
So, what’s his story?
A renaissance man in the right city, Zisis has certifications in computer science and applied systems, marketing management, and a university degree in history and archaeology.
He arrived in Florence as part of an EU exchange called Leonardo Da Vinci, that provided full-immersion, professional experiences for students from all over Europe.
I initially moved here on for a three-month visa, and during that exchange program I had so many experiences and I fell in love with everything about the city. 25 years ago, Florence was a quite international scene. Now it’s even more so!
I was, and still am fascinated by the mix of heritage, beauty and warm welcome I receive here. By the end of the program, I was absolutely in love and decided to return.
From Marketing Management and Archeology to the Science of scent
In 2018, Kapsalis radically changed course. On a curious whim, he attended professional perfumery and olfactory sciences courses at Mouillettes & Co, an Italian institution that teaches the exclusive Cinquième Sens method.
I took just the week-long course of the same method years ago in Paris. It’s intense, enlightening, and fully immersive. I left the school so enthusiastic about perfumery that for a moment, I considered a career switch.
Zisis took the leap.
During Pitti Fragrance, an exclusive industry event, Zisis met Nicola Bianchi, the master nose behind a number niche fragrance brands including Optico, Monom, and Cristiana Bellodi.
Kapsalis exudes contagious enthusiasm and a sincere passion for his craft. It’s easy to see why Bianchi invited the burgeoning perfumer to assist him on a collaboration with Aquaflor.
As per their brand ethos, every Aquaflor fragrance, for both body and home, is the fruit of a dynamic team effort. Kapsalis thrived in the collaborative atmosphere.
He has since participated in the development of new scents, collaborations and bespoke perfumes, and leads perfume workshops inside a designated space within the Palazzo Corsini Antinori Serristori that houses Aquaflor.
Scents of Place: Wine, Spirits, and Perfume
Readers of Tastefully, and anyone who has followed my multisensory approach to wine as a transportive experience would not be surprised that perfume falls into my “sense of place” aesthetic.
Kapsalis shares this mentality and brings it to all of his projects. From Chianti Classico to classic cocktails, check out a few of his recent collaborations + a hot tip from me for dining in Chianti country.