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Mind Games

Niche brand · New York City, United States

Mind Games

Mind Games translates the strategy and tension of chess into precisely composed, genderless extrait de parfums.

New York City, United States · founded 2022

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Founded: 2022
Origin: New York City, USA
Creative leadership: Alex and Mariana Shalbaf
Core idea: Chess as a link between strategy, design and scent
Perfumery: Collaboration with Symrise and its master perfumers
Responsibility: Sustainability stated as part of sourcing, innovation and production
At Parfinity: 28 fragrances to sample

The story

Mind Games began in New York with the idea of treating chess not only as a motif, but as a way of thinking about perfumery. Alex and Mariana Shalbaf bring strategy, design and scent together in a genderless collection where each composition can be read like a move of its own.

The brand works with perfumers from the Symrise sphere and puts both sculptural bottles and olfactive contrast at the center. From Caïssa to Mentor, the range moves from chess-led storytelling to a direct tribute to the craft of the perfumer.

01 · New York, since 2022

A fragrance house in the spirit of chess

Alex and Mariana Shalbaf built Mind Games as an independent niche fragrance brand. The official story uses chess as a cultural image for character, skill, risk and timing. The board becomes a method for thinking about compositions, bottles and brand language as one system.

02 · Composition and form

Every move needs its own signature

Mind Games describes its fragrances as precisely calculated, complex experiences. Its work with Symrise brings together different perfumers, including Christelle Laprade, David Apel and Nathalie Benareau, who are connected with Mind Games compositions in the Parfinity catalogue. The bottles echo the sculptural presence of chess pieces, while fragrances such as Blockade and Prodigy develop their own olfactive dramaturgy.

03 · Responsibility

Sustainability as part of the game

On its official About page, Mind Games describes sustainability as a foundational value. It points to responsible labour and trade practices, considered sourcing of raw materials, investment in green technology, and research into packaging and disposal. These points reflect the brand's stated position and are not presented here as an independent performance assessment.

Sample without risk

Discover Mind Games at home

Choose five Mind Games fragrances as 2 ml samples for your Parfinity Box. The value of your box is fully credited towards a later bottle purchase.

Your individual Parfinity Box

Choose any 5 fragrances
Wear every fragrance more than once
Credit the box value towards a bottle

FloralFruity

Sweet Floral Vanilla

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

Castling

8.6/10(5)

WoodyFloral

Velvet Vanilla & Green Fig

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

Double Attack

7.5/10(2)

GourmandSpicy

Cocoa vs spice, vanillic victory.

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

WoodySpicy

Bold woody-spicy smoky allure

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

Caissa

FloralGourmand

Floral-gourmand: bread & blossoms.

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

Check Please

FruityGourmand

Apple Cognac & Nougat

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

Checkmate

FloralChypre

Sparkling rose & bold tobacco.

Sample from €9

€270100ml

Mind Games

Kingside

AmberWoody

Warm Amber & Pistachio

Sample from €9

€360100ml

Community

What the community says about Mind Games

10/10

„The fragrance is very fresh, great for the summer. It reminds me a bit of Aventus.“

michael68Blockade

10/10

„I really like the fragrance. The cherry comes across as smoky and dark, and it lasts very well. I would say it is much darker and longer-lasting compared to Lost Cherry. One of my favorites for the darker season 👍“

michael68French Defense

10/10

„Lemon fluff with vanilla and a light salt crust. Leans slightly masculine but I love it.“

melanie82The Forward

7.8 / 10from 104 approved reviews by our community

The noses

Perfumers of Mind Games

Christelle Laprade

Born in 1976 in the sun-drenched coastal town of Sanary-sur-Mer in southern France, Christelle Laprade discovered her passion for scent through the aromatic landscapes of her childhood.

Discover more about Christelle Laprade

David Apel

David Apel's path to becoming one of America's most respected perfumers began unexpectedly in 1980 at Givaudan's gas chromatography lab.

Discover more about David Apel

Nathalie Benareau

Nathalie Benareau's path to becoming a Senior Perfumer at Symrise began in the French Alpine countryside, where afternoon hikes sparked her fascination with scent.

Discover more about Nathalie Benareau

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does Mind Games' chess concept represent?

The brand uses chess as an image for strategy, character, timing and the significance of individual decisions. That idea connects fragrance composition, bottle design and storytelling.

Who composes the fragrances?

Mind Games works with master perfumers from the Symrise sphere. In the Parfinity catalogue, Mind Games fragrances are connected with people including Christelle Laprade, David Apel and Nathalie Benareau.

Where is Mind Games from?

Mind Games is rooted in New York City, USA. The brand's official contact and privacy information gives its address on West 36th Street in New York.

Wear First. Love Forever.

Which story will you wear on your skin?

Build your Mind Games selection and get to know each fragrance where it matters: in everyday life, on your skin, and without time pressure.

Sample Mind Games now www.mindgamesfragrance.com