En Prise

I get that initial blast of Ginger and Bergamot right away. There's saffron there, as well, but it's not trying to be Bakkarat 540. It's lending a bit of sweetness there aided by the sugar. After a bit when the initial top notes give away, you can really smell the greenness coming from the Cassis/Black currant leaves and the geranium. I'll check back in later to report in on how long this last, and what the dry down turns into. First an observation though. The greenness in this of the Cassis is doing the same thing that the tomato leaves are doing in Blockade. It's very nice and not at all as off putting to me as what the green note does in Aventus. This is fresh, clean, and completely inoffensive. That's not to say it's a bad thing. This could be pulled off in the office easily as being out and about on a spring or summer day. The brightness does somewhat subside in the dry down, however I'm not overwhelmed by the base notes during the whole wearing experience. You just kind of realize the Cedar. Vetiver and Oakmoss were always there playing a supporting role. This, like Vieri, lasted a good 5 to 6 hours. I'd say that this one is good for a day out, or a date night, in the office definitely, but as for season En Prise would be more suitable towards the Spring and Summer times of year.

En Prise is my favorite from Mind Games so far. Up top, the saffron and bergamot paired with a subtle sweetness from the sugar create a fresh, optimistic opening, and the vetiver and oakmoss add a refined, earthy structure that keeps it from leaning too sugary. The overall effect reminds me of a cool spring day near a waterfall clean air, greenery, and brightness. It’s also impressively wearable across most occasions if you don't over do it, and it’s a good office pick since it doesn’t come across as harsh, loud, or offensive. Friends around me read it as more earthy than I do, but either way, it’s a really distinctive fragrance and an easy recommendation.

Picked up a sample after smelling it a few times in store and imma be real, The first time I smelt this I loved it. I hadn’t looked at the notes at all and the first thing I thought for some reason was mango like even more mango then blockade. But now that I see that it’s grapefruit I can kinda tell. Honestly this is my favorite from the entire line you get a little bit of spicyness from that ginger ooooooo baby. I most likely will pick up a bottle but I gotta wait for a sale because while it is very very good it’s not worth $375 but if you were thinking of checking this thing out please do get a sample it smells amazing.

Every nose is different and scents are subjective, so what you smell may not be the same as what I smell. With that, I can honestly say I enjoy this fragrance and I pick up what smells similar (not identical) to Blue Talisman probably because of the bergamot and ginger notes. Blue Talisman is in my top 10 fragrances, so for me En Prise ranks very high! 8.5/10

The most sporty of the mind games fragrances in my opinion. Citrus and wood stand out here with black currant and bergamot hitting my nose the hardest. Very unisex and matches its name perfectly. I love wearing this one to work because it gives me an uplifting focus. It lasts a good while but I find it’s not as strong as the other mind games fragrances.