Gardez

Okay... Gardez may be a bit of an acquired taste, BUT, it is, without any shadow of a doubt, the most beautiful leather fragrance my skin and clothes have ever had the pleasure of wearing. And yes, @Briar's Reign is completely correct in saying that it will put Ombré Leather to shame (in my opinion). Diving right in, I just want to state that this is one of the most interesting scent profiles I've encountered, amongst the 250+ fragrances I've tested so far. I mean, who else would think that pungent black leather, tart fruits, powdery orris and literal POPCORN would be complimentary notes that would make for a bomb-ass fragrance? (Probably me, if I were on psychidelics. But definitely not sober.) And yet... it just works. Right off the bat, the opening features the fruity accords of blackberry and apricot, mingling with this crackled popcorn note which seems to dominate the scent profile with a certain zing, akin to a fizzy soda or beer. There seems to be the faintest hint of black truffle and cacao as well, lending a velvety richness to the opening. The leather in this initial stage is subtle, like an enhancing background note that gradually steers the direction of the fragrance towards the more intense heart. I'd say this is where the fragrance gives off the heaviest iteration of the leather note - while not overpowering, its slightly animalic pungence adds an assertive power to the softer accords of rosewood and jasmine. Of course, the popcorn note is still present, but it's almost like it exchanged positions with the leather note, and is now an elusive supporting note off in the distance. The drydown, coming about after around 5-7 hours, feels intimate, and holds a powdery aura emerging from a high-quality orris accord, and a very, very delicate, and almost indistinguishable, aldehydic vibe (one that I've noticed on at least one other Mind Games fragrance: Vieri). The leather and popcorn are now moderately present, and combined with the orris and light aldehydes, create a cozy, comforting embrace around your body. It just reads as an exotic, sophisticated, and extremely rare scent profile, that carries itself with such class, and yet holds a power of serenity and seduction. Definitely richly embellished yet not offensive or obnoxiously crass in the slightest, and the polar opposite of basic. And one more thing - this has one of the highest compliment factors EVER. I don't know how I managed to pull five different compliments from five different people about how I'm smelling like I'm made of money, or like pure sex appeal, or like anything and everything good in the world - especially since it hasn't even been 24 hours into my first wear - but I did. I can't say any fragrance I've owned yet has beaten that record in less than a day. Performance-wise: okay, I get the point - fragrance concentrations aren't everything, whatever, but when you're purchasing an Extrait de Parfum, you assume and expect (reasonably so) top-tier performance, at least longevity-wise. Thankfully, Gardez doesn't disappoint. It doesn't turn into a skin scent until after about 8 hours, and fades away after about 12-15. You may think the longevity and projection are underwhelming, but I promise - it's just pretty easy to go noseblind to this fragrance, because I couldn't even detect a whiff of Gardez on myself earlier and yet I was informed of how good I smelled from outside of a 4-foot radius. Something I hate contemplating over is where I would use my fragrances, because when it comes to Gardez, I'd probably wear it anywhere and everywhere, but I just KNOW if I do that, I'll be kicking myself for it on the second day of 2024 when exactly six-and-a-half drops of the fragrance are left inside my majestic flacon. Realistically, I'd save this one for extremely special days, such as formal winter events, my own birthday, or a third date *insert cliché wink here*. Honestly, my introductory fragrance impressions of niche fragrance houses are getting better and better, and undoubtedly, Gardez is an extremely difficult act to follow. When I tell you that it might be my favorite fragrance purchase of 2023... 'cause I mean, nobody talks about it, nobody seems to know the fragrance OR the brand Mind Games (probably since it launched last year), and nobody seems to want to try it, even if they go to Neiman's and see it on display, in favor of other, more popular brands, e.g. Creed, Jo Malone, Diptyque, Bond No. 9, etc. I honestly think Gardez should be the next hyped fragrance on social media, because it is CRIMINALLY underrated, and do not believe that juice that smells THIS f*cking good is right to gatekeep. Once again, the most opulent leather fragrance ever, with a gorgeous chess-inspired bottle, amazing performance, and a memorably gorgeous (and dare I say unforgettable) scent profile. Dear Tom Ford... you've been one-upped. Just owning Gardez enabled me to have a significantly better understanding of the Mind Games brand ethos and what they stand for, and the thought process and calculated strategy behind their production. It's quite fascinating to know, if I'm being honest, and I cannot wait for my next purchase from this brand, which will almost definitely be Vieri (still not listed here for some reason). A legendary fragrance, one that blew me away so much I almost blasted through my window and plummeted 100 feet down to my indisputable death. THIS is what perfumery is all about.

This is an absolute masterpiece that has claimed a permanent spot in my top 5 fragrances out of the hundreds of bottles in my collection. It wraps you in an aura that’s incredibly sexy, unique, and profoundly mysterious, like stepping into a dimly lit world where every breath draws you deeper into intrigue. I picture myself sitting on a dusted leather bench in an old rustic bar, the air thick with quiet anticipation. Right in front of me sits a full ashtray, its lingering traces adding a raw, smoky edge to the night, while across the table, a lady in a sophisticated red dress leans in with a knowing smile, elegant, captivating, and impossible to look away from. Gardez evokes that exact moment of charged silence and magnetic pull, turning heads without effort and making ordinary evenings feel like the start of something unforgettable.  What I love most is how it transforms into pure seductive confidence on the skin, mysterious layers unfolding hour after hour in a way that feels personal and addictive. Among my vast collection, it’s the one I reach for when I crave that irresistible blend of sophistication and edge. The kind that makes you feel both powerful and vulnerable in the best possible way. It’s not just a fragrance; it’s an experience of quiet allure and timeless charm. If you’re looking for something truly distinctive that captures dark sensuality and enigmatic charm, Gardez delivers in every spray. It’s my secret weapon, and I cherish it like few others.

Wow! She’s stunning and might be worth the outrageous price tag (to me). I love dry fragrances that border on pencil shavings - and this is very much leathery pencil shavings with a fruity berry accompaniment. It’s very leather forward and heavy in the opening but the dry down is very soft and fruity; it completely transforms as it wears. Gardez is a fruity iris and leather fragrance that’s beautifully strange. It’s definitely not for everyone, some might find the leather opening too dry and borderline musty; I however, think it’s very well blended and truly unique. I was initially drawn to the popcorn note, I adore popcorn fragrances; the popcorn isn’t realistic or really present here. Strangely, Gardez wears its notes backwards, the opening is leathery and woody and the base notes dominate, you also get a bit of the florals from the orris and jasmine. The apricot doesn’t start to really take over until about a half hour accompanied by a soft berry fruitiness - the dry down is so delicate and feminine. It starts off as dry and leathery but gets fruitier and juicier as time passes. Incredible fragrance all around, would make an unforgettable signature scent.

I DO NOT LOVE THIS ! I don’t love it in the open, don’t love it at dry down. Somehow, I didn’t love it as I swiped my card to purchase the first fragrance I didn’t love. Not sure what sorcery is in this but seems I’m not the only one. I actually spoke to a coworker who said “I didn’t love it yet I kept coming back to it”. This has such a unique DNA , beautifully balanced that you won’t love it but you’ll be fascinated by it the more you spend time with it. Still a week after wearing it I can’t even explain it so I’ll be back with an edit to try to convey this experience. Spray it twice on skin and watch it draw you in, if you test on blotter, take it with you- don’t toss it ! I’ll be back later to explain the fragrance but if you’re looking for a truly unique experience that’s also office friendly- look no further.

Update after the wearing Gardez for a few weeks; I love it even more. It’s very berry. It’s a refined take on berries and leather. The black berry leaf note is very present, it has really come forward the more I wear this fragrance. I look forward to that juicy berry note, once the leather steps back. This fragrance has grown on me and Its become softer to my nose. I might even call it a fruity fragrance now. This fragrance is complex and shows various sides of itself as it wears. I really liked Gardez the first few times I wore it, now it’s become one of my favorite fragrances. I’m not someone who likes berry forward fragrances due to a plasticity synthetic scent I get from them but this is a game changer for me.