Every great adventure begins with a journey, and ours started on June 1 as we departed Lagos, made a stopover in Doha, & finally touched down at Malpensa Airport in Milan on June 2 after nearly 14 hours in the air.
Long trip?
Absolutely.
Worth it?
Every single minute.
Before going any further, a standing ovation for @qatarairways. The airline’s reputation for excellence didn’t arrive by accident. From takeoff to touchdown, the care, comfort, professionalism, & attention to detail were on full display. They made a long-haul journey feel remarkably easier than it should have been. And I met an exquisite Kenyan bombshell by the name Sally, the dark & lovely awesomeness on 2 legs, was just a trip. Salute to beauty, brains & professionalism!
Milan welcomed us bright & early.
There was only 1 tiny problem.
Our apartment check-in wasn’t until 4pm. A dampener!
Now imagine arriving in one of the world’s fashion capitals after a marathon journey & realizing you still have several hours to kill before you can collapse into a bed.
Adventure, they call it.
Thankfully, we had the perfect place to wait.
Straight from the airport, we headed to the iconic @nhcollectionmilanocitylife, a former church cathedral magnificently transformed into a 5-star hotel. This was where @mr_seinde & @mrcologne76 were going to stay.
The architecture alone was enough to wake up tired eyes.
Well… almost.
A sumptuous breakfast helped tremendously, but let’s be honest: after 14 hours of travel, only sleep possesses true healing powers.
Still, the wait turned out to be surprisingly entertaining.
With @esxenceofficial opening the following day, the hotel had become a magnet for fragrance enthusiasts, exhibitors, brand owners, distributors, creators, & industry heavyweights from across the globe.
Every few minutes, another familiar face seemed to walk through the doors.
It felt less like waiting & more like the unofficial opening ceremony of Esxence Milan 2026.
Eventually, however, exhaustion won the battle.
My body had reached the point where it was negotiating directly with gravity.
The moment we finally arrived at our accommodation, something magical happened.
Every trace of fatigue simply surrendered.
Perched on the 15th floor along the serene Via Gallarate, our penthouse apartment immediately felt like home, & then some.
What awaited us was a beautifully maintained 3-bedroom apartment that was equal parts comfort, elegance, & inspiration.
And then there was the view.
Good heavens.
The view.
The wraparound balcony offered an almost 360-degree panorama of immediate Milan that seemed to stretch endlessly into the horizon.
The city unfolded beneath us like a living postcard.
And there, standing proudly in the distance, was the legendary San Siro Stadium.
At that moment, sleep had competition.
For photographers, filmmakers, content creators, dreamers, & lovers of beautiful spaces, this place was pure creative fuel.
Every corner seemed designed to inspire.
Every angle looked camera-ready.
Every glance through the window reminded you that you were in one of Europe’s most celebrated cities.
The gated compound itself was equally impressive, immaculately clean, secure, peaceful, & meticulously maintained.
There were security codes for the gates, the entrances, & practically every access point before finally ascending to the 15th floor.
The entire experience felt exclusive without being intimidating.
Comfortable without being pretentious.
Luxurious without trying too hard.
Simply put, it got everything right.
I’ve often heard people say that where you stay can influence how you feel, think, & create.
After this experience, I completely understand why.
And if I had to summarize the accommodation in just four words?
Money. Extremely. Well. Spent.
A heartfelt thank you goes to @mr_seinde of @seinde_signature, @phony.tetuila, & Tolani Olusola for the honour of welcoming us into such an exceptional space.
It was appreciated far more than words can adequately express.
To make matters even sweeter, just 2 streets away sat a shopping mall with virtually everything one could possibly need.
Food.
Essentials.
Shopping.
Convenience.
Everything.
The location couldn’t have been better.
Then came the funniest discovery of all.
Only after Esxence had ended did I realize that the exhibition venue was actually within comfortable walking distance from the apartment.
Yes.
You read that correctly.
After spending between €14 & €22 daily on transportation, I discovered we could have simply enjoyed a pleasant stroll.
Let’s just call that my Milan contribution to the local transport economy.
Every trip teaches you something.
This one certainly did.
But beyond the lesson, what remains strongest are the memories, the excitement of arrival, the beauty of Milan, the energy of Esxence, & the comfort of having a spectacular place to call home for 6 unforgettable days, before I had to move to a smaller place at a hotel just a stone throw away, as my people were leaving Milan for further adventure.
Enough of my storytelling.
Come & enjoy a glimpse of the space for yourself.
Trust me, you may find yourself wishing you were standing on that balcony too.
