516 community ratings

French Defense

Name: French Defense
Brand: Mind Games

Perfumer: Christelle Laprade

2023UnisexModern

Votes lean masculine

8.1/ 10

Community score
516 ratings

See your match

Mind Games French Defense is a sweet, floral and spicy unisex scent that leads with black cherry, cognac and saffron.

Compare

Skunky's take: A bouquet in a bottle: floral and eye-catching.

How does it perform?

From 434 community ratings, all out of 10.

Longevity

7.8 /10

Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.

Sillage

7.4 /10

People close to you notice, nobody gets overwhelmed.

Bottle

8.8 /10

Talks even from the shelf.

Value for money

6.1 /10

The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.

Blind buy risk

Low risk

87% of votes are positive and opinions barely differ.

Notes

They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.

Top notesfirst 15 minutes

Amber Cognac Saffron Chamomile Blond woods Black cherry Patchouli Mimosa

Madagascan geranium

Cedarwood Violet leaf Rose absolute

Accords

From most dominant to most subtle.

Floral
Fruity
Sweet
Gourmand
Spicy
Woody
Creamy
Resinous

What does French Defense smell like?

Black cherry and cognac give it a fruity, gourmand sweetness. Saffron and patchouli add a spicy warmth, while rose absolute, mimosa and chamomile build the floral side. Amber settles everything onto a resinous, creamy base, and cedarwood and blond woods give it a woody frame.

Longevity and sillage are both rated good. Most voters pick fall and winter, then spring, and it leans towards evenings and nights out. Votes for masculine and feminine are almost level, so it reads as truly unisex. Memoize Caritas and Jeroboam Gozo have a close profile.