Counterplay by Mind Games is a bold and strategic composition that lives up to its chess-inspired name. This fragrance strikes a captivating balance between spicy warmth and woody elegance, offering a complex profile that evolves masterfully on the skin.
Scent Profile Breakdown:
Top Notes:
A vibrant opening of pink pepper, bergamot, and elemi sets the tone with a fiery-sparkling energy. The pink pepper adds a dry, aromatic warmth, while bergamot contributes a fleeting citrus brightness. Elemi lends a resinous undertone that hints at what's to come.
Heart Notes:
As it transitions, the fragrance reveals a core of saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon. These spices are smooth rather than sharp—evoking heat without abrasiveness. There’s a luxurious, slightly gourmand edge here, but it never becomes sweet. The spicy mid feels like a calculated maneuver in a game, deliberate and intelligent.
Base Notes:
The dry down is rich and grounding, built on creamy sandalwood, patchouli, and amberwood. The patchouli is clean and modern—not earthy or musty. Amberwood adds projection and a subtly synthetic lift that ensures longevity, while sandalwood ties everything together with a silky, warm finish.
Performance:
Excellent projection and sillage for the first few hours, then settles into a more intimate, long-lasting skin scent. Easily 8–10 hours of wear, with the dry down lingering beautifully.
Ideal For:
A signature scent for someone who wants to command attention without shouting. Perfect for evening wear, cool weather, or upscale events. Gender-neutral but leans ever so slightly masculine in its spice-forward confidence.
Vibe:
Sophisticated, strategic, sensual. Counterplay feels like the scent of a well-dressed tactician—sharp, mysterious, and three moves ahead.