MIND GAMES
KINGSIDE
2025
PERFUMER
David Apel
pistachio
cardamom
Grapefruit zest
hazelnut flower
amber rum
peony
tonka bean
almond milk
Peru balsam
Released along Queenside (2025).
‘Confident and captivating, Kingside Extrait de Parfum is a tribute to quiet power and refined elegance. Vibrant Cardamom Oil and Grapefruit Zest create a bold, invigorating opening, softened by the delicate allure of Pink Peony Petals and the creamy decadence of Pistachio Gelato. At its heart, the fragrance deepens with the richness of Tonka Bean Absolute and the warmth of Madagascar Vanilla, leaving a lasting impression of strength, sophistication, and irresistible charm.’ – Mind Games
‘The inspiration for the fragrance came from two words – delicious and colorful. Two of the notes in partficular are very special to me; peru balsam and tonka bean. It’s a unique opportunity for a perfumer to create with their own experiences in mind.’ – David Apel
Kingside is one of the most cozy, soft, but ultimately also one of the most generic gourmands. I was surprised to find both Kingside & Queenside softer, lighter fragrances; the names evoked power or richness to me, but I feel like these are more easy going, daily picks.
This opens with that typical bready, semi-sweet, nutty, roasted style that’s been done to death in recent years. It’s sweeter and cozier than Opera Mate; more common, but also nicer to wear. From memory, they dry down very similar however.
The opening is already quite basic; I don’t get pistachio specifically, I don’t get grapefruit, don’t get ‘amber rum’ (whatever that is). I don’t really get much flowers either. It may all add to the levity and softness, but it doesn’t have that musky or screechy floral tinge of a Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato | 33, which is a plus. It’s quite linear and mostly gets sweeter and sweeter over the time.
The base feels very standard, sugary, caramelized, vanillic…ethyl malton, coumarin. It’s pleasant, but does come across a tad cheap; it smells like your average vanillic base in a lower priced body mist or 60$ Kalotinis gourmand.
Very cozy and comforting wear, but nothing that makes Kingside stand out, in scent or quality.
