The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Mind Games draws its identity from the intellectual world of chess, where every fragrance represents a strategic move or calculated decision. Counterplay, as the name suggests, embodies the concept of counter-moves and calculated risk. The brand has built its identity around translating this cerebral philosophy into olfactory form, creating fragrances that feel like they have been carefully considered rather than spontaneously composed. Perfumer Christelle Laprade approaches Counterplay with this chess-like precision, selecting each note for its strategic contribution to the overall composition. The fragrance reflects the brand's commitment to creating scents that reward attention and reveal complexity over time.
The note selection in Counterplay reflects a specific philosophy about balance and contrast. The tropical fruit opening provides immediate appeal and accessibility, drawing the wearer in with familiar, pleasant sweetness. The floral heart then deepens the experience, adding complexity and richness that rewards those who allow the fragrance to develop. The woody, earthy drydown grounds the composition, ensuring longevity and providing the sophisticated finish that separates considered fragrance design from simple pleasantness. Each tier serves a purpose in the overall strategy of the scent.
The evolution
Counterplay begins as a bold, fruity opening that immediately captures attention. Melon, guava, and banana create a tropical trifecta that is juicy without being cloying. This opening phase feels like the first move in a chess game, confident and declarative. As the fragrance develops, the heart notes of ylang-ylang, orange blossom, and osmanthus emerge, shifting the composition from bright fruit to lush floral. The ylang-ylang brings its characteristic sweetness while the orange blossom adds a more restrained, waxy quality. Osmanthus serves as the bridge, its apricot-like nuance connecting the fruity opening to the floral heart. The drydown brings the strategic conclusion, with patchouli providing earthy depth, pink pepper introducing clean spice, and sandalwood offering creamy woodiness. This progression from fruit to floral to woody mirrors the back-and-forth of a chess match, each phase responding to and building upon what came before.
Cultural impact
Counterplay landed as part of Mind Games' Artisan Collection, positioning itself as a modern take on the fruity-floral genre. The brand's chess-inspired naming convention gives it an intellectual edge that sets it apart from more straightforward tropical fragrances. The osmanthus-ylang-ylang pairing adds a sophistication that keeps it from feeling generic. The fruity opening combined with the elevated floral heart creates something that feels both contemporary and distinctive, offering a fresh perspective on a category that can often feel predictable.
The House
Mind GamesMind Games is a New York-based niche fragrance house founded in 2022 by Alex and Mariana Shalbaf. The brand draws its creative identity from chess, translating the intellectual precision, strategic elegance, and psychological depth of the game into olfactory experiences. Each fragrance within the collection represents what the brand calls an aromatic movement, inspired by moves on an imaginary playing field. The house operates under The Fragrance Group, the parent company Alex Shalbaf leads as CEO, with Mariana Shalbaf serving as Creative Director. Mind Games produces extrait de parfum浓度的作品，合作的调香师包括Annick Menardo、Christelle Laprade、David Apel等人。品牌以Extreme olfactive signatures为追求，致力于在香水中实现策略与感性的平衡。
The Creator
Christelle LapradeLaprade defines her aesthetic as "trash-glam": a fearless blend of refinement and rebellion. Her compositions embrace duality—sophistication meets crudeness, masculinity dances with femininity.
