Discovery Set Diaries | Entry No. 03: Mind Games — Artisan Collection
- Hilary Burke
- Jan 5
- 5 min read
Similarly to my blog on the first collection (Soulmate), I took the creative liberty of creating a Fragrance Legend to help convey how the fragrances behaved and felt to me — the energy they gave off, not necessarily their technical chess correctness.
This second discovery, the Artisan Collection, continues Mind Games’ exploration of chess through fragrance—this time with more intensity, tension, and heat.
Like the first collection I explored, Artisan embodies specific chess moves and concepts, evoking intellect, strategy, and passion through scent. But where the Soulmate Collection felt foundational and transformative, the Artisan Collection feels bolder—more daring, more assertive, and way less concerned with subtlety.
The brand describes these genderless fragrances as scents that “inspire boldness, command attention, and invite others into the sensuous mysteries of the game that only you can play.” That energy is palpable throughout this collection. The fragrances from Artisan don’t wait for permission—they make their move!
The Artisan Collection includes:
♕Checkmate
♘Caïssa
As-Suli’s Diamond
♕Blockade
♖Castling
♔Grand Master
♘Gardez
♙Scholar’s Mate
♘Double Attack
J’adoube
Of the ten, eight were incredible and went straight onto my wish list. Let’s discover Mind Games — Artisan Collection.
What moved me:
Cheers to this champagne-forward scent. Checkmate opens with a bright, sparkling burst of champagne and fruity florals—it immediately feels like a celebration waiting to happen.
Ordinarily, I shy away from tobacco accords, but here it’s softened beautifully with rose and bourbon, rounding the edges and keeping everything refined.
In chess, checkmate means the king is under direct attack and the game is over. What I smell here is victory. Whether it’s the end of the match or the memory of the win, Checkmate makes me want to celebrate.
Caïssa ♘
Caïssa took me on a journey. On first wear, I wasn’t sure—I found it too sweet, with the ylang-ylang dominating. But on day two, something shifted.
The sweetness softened, and notes of black licorice (another note I don’t typically love) began to cut through, allowing the musky base to rise. Suddenly, the fragrance felt more dimensional, more composed.
Caïssa is the goddess of chess, its mythological muse and inspiration. This fragrance leans feminine to me, so the name feels fitting. It’s complex and polarizing—you either fall for Caïssa’s charm, or you resist her entirely. There’s no middle ground.
Blockade ♕
Blockade is tied for front runner in this collection—it had me from the first spritz.
Mango is a tricky note for me; it often reads overly sweet or loud. But here, it’s juicy and fresh, grounded by peppercorn (a note I adore), giving it structure and edge.
In chess, a blockade is a positional strategy where a piece occupies a strong, defended square. Leather and oud bring that same sense of strength and inevitability to this scent.
The contrast between sweet fruit and dark leather creates a dynamic, compelling fragrance that earns its place firmly on my wish list.
Castling ♖
Castling is ethereal, fresh, and quietly elegant. When I smelled it, I imagined floating—layers of luminous florals suspended in air.
It opens with fig and bergamot before shifting into a subtle mineral note of fleur de sel (the salt accord appears again, and I love it here). The fragrance then settles into a warm, musky, wood-forward base.
In chess, castling is a move of protection, the only one involving two pieces at once.
That duality translates beautifully here—the brightness of the opening and the depth of the base work together in harmony.
Castling is tender, clean, and effortlessly transitional from day to night.
Grand Master is another standout.
Black currant opens soft and sweet, held delicately by rose centifolia. Rose can overpower for me, but here it’s restrained and elegant.
Hints of Kona coffee add richness and creaminess, creating a beautifully balanced heart. Again, coffee notes done with precision and perfection.
In chess, the Grand Master title represents the highest level of mastery and calculation. This fragrance mirrors that distinction—strong in name, yet delicately balanced between tender and tough, dark and sweet.
This is the other front runner for me. Its quiet strength and depth make it deeply captivating and absolutely wish-list worthy.
The scholar’s mate is a four-move attack that relies on coordination and precision—and Scholar’s Mate reflects that collaboration beautifully.
I was once again reunited with grapefruit (my forever favorite), paired with cardamom and cinnamon. The result is sparkling, spicy, and warm without losing its brightness.
Orris—quickly becoming one of my favorite notes—adds a powdery, creamy softness that smooths the sweetness and rounds the edges. The result is a woody, aromatic floral with excellent projection and longevity, managing to feel both cozy and complex.
Even the name Double Attack carries weight. In chess, it’s a tactic where one move creates two simultaneous threats—and this fragrance lives up to it.
A 2023 Fragrance Foundation Finalist, this scent blends rich chocolate and cinnamon with vanilla and orange bitters for a quietly powerful opening. It’s refined, stoic, and confident.
As it develops, geranium and agave give way to vetiver, Madagascar vanilla, and sandalwood—cutting sweetness with depth and structure.
This fragrance truly performed a double attack on both my heart and my senses.
Honorable Mention:
Gardez ♘
Gardez deserves a moment of its own.
This is a wonderfully creative fragrance that blends leathery notes with iris and blackberry leaf, finished with an unexpected note of popcorn. It’s playful without being gimmicky—clever, confident, and surprisingly sexy.
There’s a sense of humor here that I really appreciate. Gardez feels like a perfectly styled movie night or game night—low lights, good company, something indulgent in the air. The contrast between the refined leather and iris and the nostalgic warmth of popcorn creates a scent that feels both sophisticated and approachable.
It’s imaginative, a little mischievous, and proof that fragrance doesn’t always have to take itself too seriously to be compelling.
Closing Reflection:
Experiencing all twenty Mind Games fragrances felt less like testing perfume and more like entering a conversation—with strategy, memory, and myself.
The Soulmate Collection taught me patience and transformation. The Artisan Collection asked me to step forward with confidence. Together, they felt like two halves of the same game: one that teaches you the board—its rhythm, its potential—and another that invites you to play.
Across both collections, nothing felt repetitive or rushed. Each fragrance served a purpose, much like every piece on a chessboard. Some scents surprised me immediately, others challenged me, and a few revealed their power only with time and attention.
What stayed with me most was how intentional the entire experience felt. These weren’t passive samples; they required presence. They unfolded slowly, shifted on skin, and invited me to sit with them rather than decide too quickly.
These two discovery sets reminded me why I’m choosing intention over impulse—why slowing down, allowing fragrance to evolve, and engaging with it fully will always feel more meaningful than blind buying.
The Mind Games perfumes offer movement. And right now, that feels like exactly what fragrance should do.
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