Why These New High-End Fragrances Come With Tiny Vials of Patchouli, Rose, and Amber
- Mind Games introduces two new gourmand-grown extraits de parfum, Mentor and Prodigy, as part of its Perfumer Extraordinaire collection, which includes small capsules of the key raw materials in each recipe for consumers to experience.
Mind Games is the intellectual, chess-inspired niche perfumery brand that plays its own game—and for its third collection, the luxe label pares things down with two new gourmand-grown extraits de parfum: Mentor and Prodigy. This line is called Perfumer Extraordinaire , which the brand calls "a tribute to the unparalleled artistry and intricate craftsmanship" behind such nuanced blends.
Both scents arrive with two additional vials: small capsules of the key raw materials in each recipe. It means that, if you want, you can splash on an isolated essence for the day, or simply take a whiff of the top-shelf components whenever you desire.
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"We wanted to open a curtain into the world of perfumers to see what inspires them and how they approach each new fragrance," says Mind Games creative director Marianna Shalbaf, who runs the label with her husband Alex, CEO of The Fragrance Group. "We invite people to smell and experience the key elements that make each fragrance special by including raw ingredients in the boxes," she adds. "It's like taking a step back to the beginning of the creative process, where everything starts with raw, natural materials."
As for the sum of these parts: The two extraits themselves hold court with the other 20 pieces in Mind Games' roster.
In 2022, the Shalbafs founded Mind Games as the first in-house line from The Fragrance Group, a scent licenser and distributor that makes colognes for brands including Tumi, Brioni, and Bentley. Mind Games came onto the scene with a roar, introducing 10 exquisite extraits with its Artisan Collection. In 2023, it dropped another 10 scents with its Soulmate Collection. (One of those fragrances, Ruy Lopez, won a Robb Report Grooming Award earlier this year.)
Enter Perfumer Extraordinaire, a more dialed-in third chapter for Mind Games, with just two extraits in its ranks.
Mind Games Prodigy
Prodigy blends rose absolute and patchouli, plus notes of creamy caffe latte, bergamot, sandalwood, cinnamon, and vanilla. Its gourmand-ness is the subtler of the two, layered beautifully with the rose and patchouli.
"Perfumer Natalie Benareau, who created Prodigy, has an incredible way of seeing each ingredient as a color," Mariana says. "She thinks like a painter, finding ingredients that complement each other to form a vivid, layered scent."
Mind Games Mentor
Mentor combines boya oud and amber with notes of salted caramel, coffee, amber resin, tonka, and dark plum. This is Mind Games's very first oud fragrance, and it's proof that you can use woody notes and still produce a really delicious gourmand scent.
"Carlos Vinals, the perfumer behind Mentor, draws inspiration from his past, and he mixes it with new experiences from his travels, almost like he's creating a bridge between past and present," she adds. "When you experience these two side by side, you get this beautiful contrast: Mentor's depth and warmth complement the smooth, refined blend of Prodigy. Together, they expand the range of the Mind Games lineup."
I love both of these scents, but the roses in Prodigy put it a little more squarely in unisex territory. Plenty of guys will want to wear it, no doubt, and it'll work on a wide swath of people year-round. Mentor, however, is a great option for guys during the colder half of the calendar. I think its gourmand notes are too pronounced for me to declare it as a full-year fragrance—but in terms of its deliciousness, I'd happily huff it 365 days out of the year.
As for those tiny vials of raw materials, it's an interesting trick, and something true fumeheads will appreciate. Prodigy comes with rose absolute and patchouli, and Mentor is packaged with boya oud and amber. The idea isn't necessarily that you'll rub yourself with these chemical dilutions, but rather use them as part of the olfactory journey, tracing your way from one component to the finished product. For example, I have a hard time getting much from the isolated rose absolute on its own, but I can pick it out when I put on Prodigy. It's a clever way to underscore that the perfumers know how to get the best out of the ingredients—and a reminder that Mind Games is doing something out of the ordinary with every bottle.
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