Mind Games brings raw materials within smelling distance

Created in 2022 by The Fragrance Group, American niche fragrance house Mind Games, conceived by Alex and Mariana Shalbaf around the world of chess, is expanding its Perfumer Extraordinaire collection with Knight's Tour and Arabian Mate. Its distinctive approach is to accompany each fragrance with two samples of raw materials used in its composition, allowing consumers to discover selected ingredients alongside the finished scent.

The two new launches explore contrasting olfactory styles. Knight's Tour develops an aromatic, woody profile around saffron, cedarwood, lavender, vetiver and oakmoss. More opulent, Arabian Mate brings together rose, jasmine and saffron with oud, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla and amber.

Through Perfumer Extraordinaire, Mind Games is above all seeking to shift attention from the finished product to how it is constructed: raw materials, inspiration and the perfumer's creative vision become an integral part of the experience. The approach aims to make a creative process traditionally inaccessible to consumers more tangible and easier to understand. The collection is set to comprise 12 fragrances by the end of 2026.