Intense Oud Fragrance Guide
Mind Games Perfume: Everything to Know About the Viral Scent (+ the 10 Best Mind Games Fragrances)
Updated October 2026 · 9 min read
If you've spent any time on fragrance TikTok or in the Neiman Marcus perfume aisle lately, you've probably seen those heavy glass bottles with metal caps shaped like chess pieces. That's Mind Games, a young New York house that has gone from new name to cult favorite in just a few years.
In this guide we cover where the brand comes from, what makes a Mind Games perfume (or Mind Games cologne, as many guys call it) different, and our ranking of the 10 best Mind Games fragrances we carry at Intense Oud.
Where Mind Games Comes From
Mind Games was founded in New York in 2022 by husband-and-wife team Alex and Mariana Shalbaf. Alex is CEO of The Fragrance Group, one of North America's biggest niche perfume distributors, and brings around 20 years in the industry. Mariana is the creative and artistic director.
The idea came from their shared love of chess. Every fragrance is named after a move or concept from the game, and each one is made with master perfumers from the fragrance house Symrise. The brand launched exclusively at Neiman Marcus with the 10-scent Artisan Collection, followed by the pawn-inspired Soulmate Collection in 2023 and the Perfumer Extraordinaire line, home to Mentor and Prodigy.
In 2024 the brand won an award for Best Luxury Packaging Design, and it has since expanded into Europe and the Middle East.
What Makes Mind Games Different?
- Every bottle is an extrait de parfum. That means a high concentration of perfume oil, so these scents last a long time and project well.
- Chess runs through everything. Names like Checkmate, Kingside and French Defense come straight from the board, and the heavy black, silver or white bottles wear metal caps that sit above the glass like chess pieces.
- They're unisex. Mind Games cologne or Mind Games perfume, it's the same bottle. Every scent is made to be worn by anyone.
- Rich but wearable. Despite the luxury price, most of the line is smooth and easy to like rather than challenging or experimental.
The 10 Best Mind Games Fragrances
We ranked our favorites from the Mind Games range at Intense Oud. Every one is a 100 ml extrait de parfum.
#1 · The Viral Gourmand
Kingside
Kingside is the scent most people mean when they talk about Mind Games right now. Released in 2025, it rides the nutty-gourmand wave, but in extrait strength. Pistachio, cardamom and grapefruit open it, hazelnut, rum and peony fill the heart, and the base is creamy almond milk, Peru balsam and tonka.
Think pistachio gelato with a splash of rum. Sweet, creamy and boozy, but grounded enough to wear as a signature.
Top: Pistachio, Cardamom, Grapefruit · Heart: Hazelnut, Rum, Peony · Base: Almond Milk, Peru Balsam, Tonka
Shop Kingside
#2 · Best Dark Gourmand
Mentor
From the Perfumer Extraordinaire line, Mentor was created by perfumer Carlos Viñals as a bridge between his past and his travels. It blends juicy plum, caramel and coffee over a backbone of oud.
Darker and more serious than Kingside, with real depth. A brilliant evening scent for cold weather.
Key notes: Plum, Caramel, Coffee, Oud
Shop Mentor
#3 · Best Leather-Oud
Blockade
One of the 2022 originals, Blockade pairs a juicy, peppery mango opening with a smooth heart of lavender and star anise, then settles into soft leather, patchouli and oud. It's warm and polished rather than smoky or harsh, which makes it one of the easiest leather-oud scents to wear.
Confident and polished. A great pick for anyone looking for a Mind Games cologne with a classic masculine edge.
Top: Mango Skin, Pink Pepper, Tomato Leaf, Bergamot · Heart: Lavender, Mango Flower, Cyclamen, Star Anise · Base: Leather, Patchouli, Amber, Oud
Shop Blockade
#4 · Best Rose
Checkmate
Created by David Apel, Checkmate is a rose with a glass of champagne in hand. Champagne, red currant and davana open it, May rose, Bulgarian rose and magnolia bloom in the heart, and patchouli, tobacco and moss give it a classic chypre finish.
Elegant, a little retro and very grown-up. Perfect if you want a rose that isn't sweet.
Top: Champagne, Red Currant, Davana · Heart: May Rose, Bulgarian Rose, Magnolia · Base: Patchouli, Tobacco, Moss
Shop Checkmate
#5 · Best Cherry Scent
French Defense
Named after a classic chess opening and created by perfumer Christelle Laprade, French Defense is one of the brand's most popular scents. Dark cherry, violet leaves and chamomile open it, rose, geranium and mimosa follow, and warm amber, blonde woods and cedar finish it off.
Sweet, dark and elegant. If you love cherry fragrances, put this near the top of your list.
Top: Cherry, Violet Leaves, Chamomile · Heart: Rose, Geranium, Mimosa · Base: Amber, Blonde Woods, Cedarwood
Shop French Defense
#6 · Most Romantic
Lionora
Lionora is all about grace and new love. Bright fruits and florals sink into honeyed osmanthus, then melt into soft, creamy sandalwood.
Delicate but surprisingly powerful. A beautiful date-night scent and a lovely gift.
Key notes: Fruits, Florals, Osmanthus, Sandalwood
Shop Lionora
#7 · Best Fresh Fruity Floral
Queenside
Queenside celebrates the queen's grace and presence. Juicy blackcurrant, lychee and pear open it, lily of the valley, violet and geranium bloom in the heart, and patchouli, oakmoss and musk give it an earthy, elegant finish.
Bright, juicy and polished. One of the best daytime picks in the whole line.
Top: Blackcurrant, Lychee, Pear · Heart: Lily of the Valley, Violet, Geranium · Base: Patchouli, Oakmoss, Musk
Shop Queenside
#8 · Best Coffee-Latte Scent
Prodigy
Mentor's partner in the Perfumer Extraordinaire line, Prodigy is a warm café-au-lait scent with a twist. Rose, bergamot and cardamom open it, longoza blossom and patchouli add a fresh, rosy spice, and Madagascar sandalwood, vanilla and blonde woods give it a smooth, creamy base.
Cozy, a little bitter-sweet and very comforting.
Top: Rose, Bergamot, Cardamom · Heart: Longoza, Patchouli · Base: Vanilla, Blonde Woods, Sandalwood
Shop Prodigy
#9 · Best for Summer
Counterplay
Another Christelle Laprade creation, Counterplay is pure sunshine. Melon, guava and banana open it, osmanthus, ylang-ylang and orange blossom make it creamy and floral, and sandalwood, patchouli and pink pepper ground it.
Tropical, playful and easy to wear. Perfect for brunch, beach days and warm weather.
Top: Melon, Guava, Banana · Heart: Osmanthus, Ylang-Ylang, Orange Blossom · Base: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Pink Pepper
Shop Counterplay
#10 · Best Aromatic Cologne
Gambit
In chess, a gambit is a bold sacrifice for a big payoff, and this scent plays it the same way. It opens with spicy clove, aromatic lavender and fresh petitgrain, a classic barbershop-style start with a modern, warm twist.
Clean, spicy and confident. A great everyday Mind Games cologne for the office.
Key notes: Clove, Lavender, Petitgrain
Shop Gambit
Not Sure Where to Start?
Try a Discovery Set First
Mind Games full bottles are a big investment, so sampling first is smart. The Artisan and Soulmate Collection sets each include ten 2 ml vials, and the Olfactive sets group seven 7.5 ml sprays by family: Amber, Floral, Fruity or Woody. There are also Travel Trios of favorites like Blockade, French Defense, Lionora and Counterplay.
Shop Mind Games Discovery SetsFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
Mind Games has earned its buzz. The chess story is clever, but it's the juice inside those heavy bottles that keeps people coming back. Start with Kingside if you want the scent everyone's talking about, reach for Blockade or Gambit if you want a classic Mind Games cologne, or grab a discovery set and plan your next move from there.
Shop the Mind Games CollectionMore from the Intense Oud Blog
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