Blockade
On request
Mind Games French Defense
Dark cherry, soft florals, velvet woods
French Defense is a black-cherry extrait that stays calm while it holds your attention. The cherry is dark and soaked in liqueur, violet leaves and chamomile keep its edge green and dry, and everything settles onto amber and pale woods. Christelle Laprade composed it for Mind Games, the chess-inspired house from New York.
Available on request
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Reviews of FragranceGems, the shop behind NicheGems
The store’s selection is really good and comprehensive. Placing an order was very easy, and shipping was really fast. The fragrances were well packed and they were all...
The composition
How it unfolds in notes
The curve shows the order in which the notes come forward, not their strength.
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Top notes
- Cherry
- Violet Leaves
- Chamomile
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Heart notes
- Geranium Madagascar
- Rose Absolute
- Mimosa
-
Base notes
- Amber
- Cedarwood
- Blonde Wood
- Character
- Strong
- Occasion
- Concentration
- Explore by note
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On the skin
How it unfolds
-
First minutes
The opening is red fruit saturated with liquor, as the perfumer puts it: cherry with real depth and very little sugar on top. Violet leaves add a cool, green thread, and chamomile gives a dry, faintly herbal softness, so the fruit never drifts into candy.
-
Soft florals take over
Geranium from Madagascar, rose absolute and mimosa form the heart. They are soft rather than showy: a green, slightly peppery geranium, a velvety rose and the powdery, honeyed glow of mimosa. The cherry does not vanish; it dims behind them like a lamp turned low.
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Amber and pale wood
The base is amber, cedarwood and a blonde wood. Warm resin sits underneath, dry cedar above it, and a pale, smooth wood keeps the finish velvety instead of heavy. As an extrait it stays close to the skin and fades slowly, leaving a faint fruit shadow.
Wearing it
When, who and why
Where it fits
Reach for it on a cool evening when you want presence without noise. Cherry, rose and amber suit autumn and winter, dinners and dressed-up occasions. One or two sprays on the pulse points are enough for an extrait; more adds weight, not clarity.
Who will like it
People who enjoy dark fruit, rose and amber, and who like a fragrance that feels composed rather than loud. It is unisex, as is the whole Mind Games range. If sweet cherry scents usually feel syrupy to you, the green violet leaves and dry woods give this one more structure.
Why choose Mind Games French Defense
It takes cherry seriously: liqueur depth at the start, soft florals in the middle and a velvet finish of amber and wood, all written by one perfumer. Mind Games calls it self-assured, and that fits. Nothing is shouted, yet it is noticed.
At a glance
- House
- Mind Games
- Perfumer
- Christelle Laprade
- Year
- 2023
- Size
- 100 ml
- Family
- Fruity Woody
- For
- Unisex
Questions
Frequently asked
What does extrait de parfum mean for French Defense?
It is the most concentrated form of perfume, with more fragrance oil than an eau de parfum. It feels denser, sits closer to the skin and wears more slowly, so a little goes a long way.
How would you describe the character in one line?
A self-assured black-cherry perfume: dark and liqueur-like at the start, floral in the middle, velvety amber and wood at the end.
Does it suit men and women alike?
Mind Games calls its whole range unisex, and this one follows that. Cherry, rose and amber are not tied to one gender; choose by whether you like the mood.
What size is the bottle?
It holds 100 ml of Extrait de Parfum, a generous bottle for a concentration this rich, which is meant to be applied in small amounts.
The house
About Mind Games
Mind Games is a chess-themed niche house created by Alex and Mariana Shalbaf. Each perfume is an ‘aromatic movement’ that mirrors a move or idea from the game, and every full-size perfume is an Extrait de Parfum in a 100 ml glass flacon with a metal cap shaped like a chess piece.
- A chess-themed niche house created by Alex and Mariana Shalbaf
- Each perfume is an ‘aromatic movement’ that mirrors a move or idea from chess
- The brand calls its whole range unisex or genderless
Pick up where you left off
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Reviews of FragranceGems
What FragranceGems customers say
NicheGems is new. These are reviews from FragranceGems customers about their orders at FragranceGems, the shop behind NicheGems. Collected by Judge.me.
4.7 out of 5
1,200+ reviews on Judge.me
Reviews of FragranceGems, the shop behind NicheGems
The store’s selection is really good and comprehensive. Placing an order was very easy, and shipping was really fast. The fragrances were well packed and they were all excellent. I’m very satisfied. 👍💯👍
Very good quality profume, it last long and it has a good price for its incredible aroma and mixes of fruit and wood smell
A cozy, slightly sensual vanilla that feels like warm night air by the sea. Easy to love if you enjoy gourmand perfumes with a soft smoky edge.
This perfume is really well blended, I just removed a star because I personnaly don't like the top note (citronella)
Placing the order was very easy. Shipping was very fast. I am completely satisfied.
Good cologne, love the citrus and ginger scent making it a playful combo while the tea base makes it a bit more mature. Great for the gym
FragranceGems is again really quick with their releases. I hope this one smells better than Too Damn Good. Already rating a 5 star because of previous experiences!!
Already pre-order. As always, FragranceGems is the first with good releases. Looking forward to my bottle!
The cap of the bottle came with a small part of it broken off and the glass pieces were in the box
A selection of recent reviews in proportion to their star ratings.
From the house of FragranceGems
The niche department of FragranceGems
NicheGems is part of FragranceGems B.V. in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. Original perfumes from niche houses, handled by the same team that looks after every FragranceGems order.
Reviews of FragranceGems, the shop behind NicheGems
- Original perfumes, new and in original packaging
- Packed with care in the Netherlands
- Customer service by the FragranceGems team