French Defense
On request
Mind Games The Forward
Salted citrus, jasmine, creamy vanilla
Shimmering citrus opens The Forward: lemon, mandarin from Madagascar and pomelo, with a salty twist that keeps the freshness from turning plain. Jasmine Sambac and tonka bean form the heart, and the perfume lands on vanilla, sandalwood and cashmeran. Nathalie Benareau composed it, and Mind Games calls it modern, unisex and balanced between fresh and gourmand.
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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
- Lemon
- Mandarin Madagascar
- Pomelo
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Heart notes
- Jasmine Sambac
- Tonka Bean
- Salt Accord
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Base notes
- Vanilla Madagascar
- Sandalwood Drêches
- Cashmeran
- Character
- Moderate
- Concentration
- Explore by note
In the same spirit
Similar in character
On the skin
How it unfolds
-
Bright and salty
Lemon gives the sharp edge, mandarin the juicy sweetness and pomelo a softer, faintly bitter roundness. Underneath runs the salt accord, which does not make the perfume marine so much as make the fruit seem more vivid. The opening is airy and luminous, with very little weight.
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Jasmine meets tonka
In the heart, Jasmine Sambac brings a warm, creamy, slightly fruity white floral, and tonka bean adds a soft, almond-and-hay sweetness. The salt stays in the background and keeps the floral from turning heavy. This is the point where fresh and gourmand meet, as the brand puts it.
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A creamy landing
The base is vanilla from Madagascar, sandalwood and cashmeran, which the brand describes as a creamy base. Vanilla provides the cream, and the sandalwood gives it a smooth, milky wood. The finish is gentle and rounded, and as an extrait it stays close to the skin without ever becoming heavy.
Wearing it
When, who and why
Light on warm days
The citrus-led opening makes it easy to wear from spring into early autumn, by day as well as in the evening. One or two sprays are enough: the citrus is lively on warm skin, and the creamy base follows as the perfume settles. In colder weather vanilla and sandalwood come forward, so it still works at night.
Who will enjoy it
Anyone who likes citrus but wants it to end somewhere warmer than a light, fleeting freshness, and anyone who enjoys jasmine without heavy florals. The brand calls it modern and unisex, and it suits people who want a clean, polished impression that still finishes softly.
Why choose Mind Games The Forward
It balances two moods that are usually kept apart: sparkling, salty citrus and a creamy vanilla and sandalwood base. Jasmine and tonka are the hinge between them. One perfumer wrote it as a single idea, and the move from bright to soft feels planned, not tacked on.
At a glance
- House
- Mind Games
- Perfumer
- Nathalie Benareau
- Year
- 2023
- Size
- 100 ml
- Family
- Floral Gourmand
- For
- Unisex
Questions
Frequently asked
What does the salt accord add to the opening?
It gives the citrus a salty twist, which makes the lemon, mandarin and pomelo read as brighter and keeps the opening from seeming like plain fruit juice.
Can I wear The Forward in warm weather?
Yes. The citrus-led opening is made for warmer days, and the creamy base stays soft rather than heavy. A couple of sprays are enough for an extrait.
What does the bottle contain?
100 ml of Extrait de Parfum, the concentration Mind Games uses for the full-size perfumes in its range.
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