Mind Games Parfums – Founder + Vision of a new niche perfume era Chess strategies transformed into fragrance
In the exclusive world of niche perfumes , where every scent is a work of art and every creation a narrative, the Mind Games brand rises like a rook on a chessboard. Founded in 2022, it is far more than a fledgling fragrance house—it is a philosophy, a strategic mindset that uses chess as a metaphor to orchestrate olfactory narratives. Mind Games creates luxurious niche fragrances that act like moves on a chessboard: calculated, sophisticated, and full of suspense.
Each fragrance is an intellectual game, a celebration of strategy, intuition, and artistry. Mind Games positions itself as a brand that plays the game of fragrances with the same seriousness as a grandmaster plays his game—with precision, courage, and passion.
The founders of Mind Games Parfums – Alex and Mariana Shalbaf
Behind Mind Games are the founders Alex and Mariana Shalbaf , a married couple who combine the worlds of business acumen and artistic passion.
Alex Shalbaf is an experienced entrepreneur and CEO of Fragrance Group , a leading distributor of niche fragrances in the United States. His strategic thinking, his network in the fragrance industry, and his clear vision have enabled the creation of Mind Games.
Mariana Shalbaf brings the creative soul to the table. With a deep sense of aesthetics and a keen understanding of the emotional dimension of fragrances, she lends the brand its visual and poetic language.
Together, they developed the idea of creating niche perfumes that use the game of chess as artistic inspiration. Each fragrance is a move, each bottle a piece—together they form a game that never ends, but constantly unfolds anew.
The Perfumers – The Grand Masters Behind the Compositions
To make Mind Games ' vision a reality, a collective of the most renowned and talented perfumers of our time was assembled. Each of them is a master of their craft—with their own style, distinctive signature, and international reputation.
Christelle Laprade
A student of the legendary Michel Almairac, Laprade is known for her pared-down, elegant formulas that achieve maximum depth with minimal raw materials. Laprade creates perfumes that are precise, clear, yet full of emotion—perfect for the strategic clarity embodied by Mind Games.
David Apel
An American perfumer famous for his complexity. He loves working with contrasts—sweet versus bitter, light versus dark. His compositions are like well-planned surprise attacks: unpredictable, yet always artful.
Annick Menardo
An icon of modern perfumery, known for her bold, avant-garde designs, Menardo is the creator of classics such as Bvlgari Black and Dior Hypnotic Poison . Her style is uncompromising, intense, and often dark—characteristics that she translates into fascinating niche perfumes for Mind Games .
Emilie Coppermann
A virtuoso of light, Coppermann creates perfumes with a radiant quality that convey lightness and depth simultaneously. She is a master of "olfactory storytelling" and predestined to capture the poetry of chess in fragrance form.
Alexandra Carlin
Known for narrative fragrances that tell stories, Carlin has a knack for capturing emotions, places, and metaphors through her scent. For Mind Games, she creates perfumes that convey the tension of a chess game in top, middle, and base notes.
Nathalie Benareau
A perfumer who combines tradition and innovation, she enjoys experimenting with modern molecules without losing sight of classic structures. Her fragrance, J'Adoube , has become the brand's flagship—an elegant gesture that simultaneously symbolizes the strategic depth of Mind Games .
These perfumers are the true "grandmasters" behind the brand. They give each niche perfume a distinctive signature that is highly recognized within the industry.
The niche fragrance collections from Mind Games – strategies transformed into fragrance
The Mind Games Artisan Collection
The first Mind Games collection (2022) is inspired by chess pieces and opening strategies. Fragrances such as J'Adoube , Double Attack , Grand Master , and Blockade represent openings, tactics, and heroic gestures. Leather, amber, woods, and spices characterize these intense compositions, which represent strength and strategic depth.
The Mind Games Soulmate Collection
A tribute to the pawns—the soul of the game. Ten fragrances embody quiet strength, perseverance, and transformation. Gambit depicts the risk-taking of early moves, while Queening celebrates the moment a pawn becomes a powerful queen. Each fragrance can be worn individually, but they can also be combined to create your own personal "game."
The Mind Games Perfumer Extraordinaire Collection
This fragrance is all about kings and queens, the strategic pieces of the game. Kingside is an ambery, powerful gourmand fragrance with oud and saffron—a symbol of power. Queenside, on the other hand, is elegant, fruity-floral, and reflects the significance of the queen as the most powerful piece on the chessboard. Also included in this collection are the niche fragrances from Mind Games: MENTOR and PRODIGY .
The structure of Mind Games fragrances – Like a game of chess
Each niche fragrance from Mind Games follows the classic three-part structure:
The top notes are the opening moves – fast, fresh, striking.
The heart notes are the middle game – complex, multi-layered, full of tension.
The base notes are the finale – deep, long-lasting, decisive.
This creates an olfactory drama that draws parallels to the tension of a chess game. Each fragrance challenges you to delve deeper, to consider your next moves—while simultaneously savoring the moment.
Mind Games Parfums Design and Presentation – Chess Pieces as Bottles
Mind Games ' bottles are more than containers—they are design objects. Solid, powerful, and inspired by chess pieces. Each cap resembles the crown of a piece, while the clean lines exude stability and elegance. The packaging and bottle are designed to convey not only luxury but also the intellectual depth of the concept.
Conclusion – MIND GAMES: Niche perfumes like a game of chess
Mind Games is not just a brand, but an experience. It combines the precision of chess with the emotion of perfumery, creating modern niche fragrances that are both strategic and artistic.
Every fragrance is a masterpiece. Every bottle is a chapter. Every composition is a niche perfume that not only accompanies you, but also challenges, inspires, and seduces you.
Immerse yourself in the world of Mind Games perfumes – now at scent amor , curated by Georg R. Wuchsa , whose expertise ensures that only the most distinctive and fascinating niche fragrances are included in the scent amor collection.
Discover Mind Games at scent amor – and experience how a game of chess between the senses changes your understanding of fragrance forever.
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