MIND GAMES
Counterplay
2024
PERFUMER
Christelle Laprade
melon
guava
banana
osmanthus
ylang-ylang
orange blossom
pink pepper
patchouli
sandalwood
Initially exclusive to the Mind Games webstore; later available at Selfridges. Released alongside Opera Mate (2024).
‘A Mind Games online exclusive fragrance. Not available anywhere else. Inspired by the scent of a perfectly ripe cantaloupe on a sunlit summer afternoon, Counterplay is designed to disrupt the mundane and seize the momentum. The fragrance unfolds with a fruity top note that evokes a sense of joy. At its heart, a floral bouquet of honeyed osmanthus and creamy ylang-ylang add a layer of warmth to the juicy top note. The dry-down of patchouli and sandalwood maintain a dynamic balance and add a sophisticated dimension to the final.’ – Mind Games
Released as a duo alongside Opera Mate, so I’ve worn the two side-by-side for review, but the two couldn’t be further apart (and are a terrible clash to wear together). For both goes that I like them somewhat, but I don’t love them.
Counterplay opens brutally vivid. Melon, guava (I’d say I smelled mango). Banana I didn’t smell. But very juicy, in-your-face. To me, this doesn’t have the usual ‘Erba Pura’ DNA, but it is as vibrant. It almost felt a bit salted to me… not sure where that sensation was coming from and I’d have to wear Counterplay again to really get a grip on this scent.
Which is double true for what happens after the opening. Because on my skin, this one vanished. There’s a leftover spicy earthy-fruity patchouli remnant, but very faint and basically as a barely noticeable skin scent, after that loud fruity opening. I honestly can’t really review this fragrance any further, as it just fails to project any meaningful scent to my nose. As mentioned above, I wore it alongside Opera Mate, which hours later is still clearly detectable, but Counterplay smells like it’s been fading for days already.
Perhaps I will wear it again and alter my thoughts; for now, this is all you’re going to get. Solid fruity opening scent, invigorating, smelled well-constructed for a fruity scent profile; after that, I have no idea what happened.