Mind Games Gardez Extrait (Tester)

Description

Gardez borrows its name from an old chess call — French for "guard!", traditionally used to warn an opponent that their queen is under attack — and Mind Games built the fragrance around a similar tension: the contrast of black and white, strength against delicacy. Perfumer Emilie Coppermann opens with juicy apricot and green blackberry leaf, then lets orris root, jasmine sambac, blackcurrant, and rosewood soften into something powdery and floral, before black leather, cedarwood, and an unexpected note of buttered popcorn ground the whole thing in something dark and a little playful. It's an opulent floral leather — confident, a little theatrical, and built to be noticed.

Scent Character

• Floral (orris, jasmine sambac) — 33%
• Woody (cedarwood) — 33%
• Leather (black leather) — 17%
• Sweet (popcorn, blackcurrant) — 17%

Translation: A leather fragrance that leans surprisingly floral and powdery up top, with the leather only fully emerging in the base — plus a quirky gourmand popcorn note that keeps it from feeling too serious.

Fragrance Pyramid

Top: Apricot, Blackberry Leaf

Heart: Orris Root, Jasmine Sambac, Palisander Rosewood, Blackcurrant

Base: Black Leather, Cedarwood, Popcorn

Performance

Longevity: Moderate — expect roughly four to six hours of wear before the leather and cedar fade to a soft skin scent.

Sillage: Moderate. Gardez doesn't shout, but the leather-and-popcorn combination is distinctive enough to be noticed at close range.

Projection: Best appreciated up close or in cooler weather, when the leather base holds its shape longest.

Best Occasions & Season

Gardez's leather-forward drydown is built for fall and winter, and it's an evening fragrance — night-out and date-night wear rather than daytime or warm-weather use.

Concentration & Provenance

Concentration: Extrait de Parfum

Perfumer: Emilie Coppermann

House: Mind Games

Launched: 2022

Try Before You Commit

This Tester bottle offers the full 3.4oz/100ml Gardez experience for those who want to commit to a bottle without retail packaging, at $319.99. The boxed retail edition of the same fragrance is also available at $299.99, if you'd prefer that format.

100% Authentic

Every Mind Games fragrance at Venba is 100% genuine. We've filled over 200,000 orders and hold a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot from fragrance lovers who trust what shows up in the box. Orders over $100 ship free within the US, and if something isn't right, our returns process is hassle-free.

FAQ

What does Gardez smell like?

An opulent floral leather — juicy apricot and blackberry leaf up top, powdery orris and jasmine sambac through the heart, and black leather with a surprising popcorn note in the base.

What does the name Gardez mean?

It's an old chess term — French for "guard!" — used to warn an opponent their queen is under threat. Mind Games built the scent around that same black-versus-white tension.

Is Gardez unisex?

Yes, it's designed to be worn by anyone drawn to its floral-leather character.

What's the difference between this Tester and the retail bottle?

Same 3.4oz/100ml Extrait de Parfum — the Tester ships without retail packaging.