Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez was one of the most surprising fragrances I’ve tried this year. Looking at the note pyramid beforehand, I was convinced the oak would dominate the fragrance and make it too woody or too masculine for my taste. Instead, what I got was a beautiful boozy cherry fragrance that stayed remarkably consistent throughout the entire wear. The opening on my skin was an explosion of cherry and rum. The cherry is not candy-like, medicinal, or syrupy. It feels woven into the fragrance rather than sitting on top of it. Combined with the rum, it creates an intoxicating boozy atmosphere that immediately grabbed my attention. As the fragrance developed, I began to notice the black tea. The tea gives the fragrance a sophisticated dryness that keeps the cherry from becoming overly sweet. The result is something that feels mature and intriguing without becoming heavy or overly serious. The leather is present, but not in the way I feared. It isn’t harsh, smoky, or overwhelming. Instead, it acts as a soft textural element underneath the fragrance, giving it structure and depth. The oak, which I was worried about the most, never took over. In fact, the woody aspects stayed firmly in the background and never distracted from the cherry-rum accord that remained the star of the show. One of the things I appreciated most is that the fragrance never betrayed its opening. So many fragrances begin beautifully and then wander into an entirely different territory hours later. Ruy Lopez stayed true to itself. Hours after application, it was still giving me the same boozy atmosphere that made me fall in love with it in the first place. What surprised me most was how differently people interpreted it. I initially worried it might come across as too masculine because of the leather, oak, tea, and patchouli. Yet when my younger brother smelled it, he immediately thought it leaned feminine. That made me realize this fragrance truly sits in a unisex space. Depending on what notes you focus on, you might experience it completely differently. By the end of the day, I knew this was wishlist-worthy. When I came home, my room still carried traces of the fragrance, and the air smelled like cherry liqueur and rum. I found myself wishing there was a candle version because the atmosphere it created was just that enjoyable. Ruy Lopez feels like an evening fragrance. A dinner out. A conversation that lasts longer than expected. A fragrance for someone who wants to smell interesting rather than simply sweet or pretty. Final verdict: A sophisticated cherry-rum and tea fragrance with a soft leather backbone. Boozy, intriguing, surprisingly approachable, and one of the most pleasant surprises in my sample collection.

I tested this one out yesterday. I have to say that Christelle Laprade knocked this one out of the park. It's fantastic. It's addictive. I cannot stop smelling my hand. I smelled it in the store a few times on the strips. That does not suffice at all. This is a fragrance that has to be on your skin to be enjoyed! I'm going to add a few additional comments on this one since it has dried down. I walk 5 miles a day broken up over the day. Once in the morning and another at lunch during the week. It was 93 degrees outside yesterday. This fragrance is still going 4 hours later on my skin. For something that is recommended in the fall and winter months, this is easily pulled off in the late spring heading into summer months in Florida. I thought that it might be cloying but it really hasn't been. Wife liked the opening a lot but wasn't a fan of the dry down. I like it a lot. It did start off unisex in the initial spray leaning femme, but the dry down did go back a bit harder masculine leaning. Honestly think it could be worn for all occasions, but probably suitable more for the evening and intimate occasions.

Magic! Powerful! You know what this reminds me off? 3 fragrances at the same time.. Xj Tony Iommi Angels Share by Killian and Nefs from Nishane. Screams high quality. It is that good! I love these dark boozy sweet woody stuff.. so much presence... if you wear this on the right occasion people around you will feel you and enjoy it. The best part for me is the dry down, when the oakwood sets in... yummmmmmmmmm!!!! The projection is freaking incredible you may have to trow your clothes away after a night out wearing this perfume. Sorry for our beautiful ladies out there this is a masculine scent.. however we live in a free world so girls go for it!!! Youngsters??? Can’t imagine them hooked on this kind of scent this is a pretty mature fragrance kinda of type... Night out.. lots of stuff going on.. no time to get back home type of scent!!!! Totally worth it!

It feels like holding a basket of perfectly ripe plums, not overripe, not overly sweet, just balanced and juicy. There’s a fresh green undertone, subtly herbal, but the plum’s fruity richness remains front and center. A smooth tea note wraps it all in a velvety, comforting texture, adding understated elegance without heaviness. You don’t see influencers or reviewers going gaga over this one, probably because it wasn’t pushed with paid endorsements. But in my opinion, Ruy Lopez is one of the best from the house. It’s beautifully balanced, versatile, and refined, wearable in any season. Honestly, I find it far superior to Mentor, which felt one-dimensional and overpriced by comparison. Ruy Lopez, on the other hand, is a quiet masterpiece that deserves more recognition.

I've sampled the entire soulmate collection and this is by far my favorite. Full bottle worthy. Mind games as a whole hasn't disappointed me yet Sex in a bottle type of fragrance in my opinion. Its like the cherry, plum, davana and black tea are having a foursome (boy, girl, girl, girl for visualization purposes) creating a succulent wine like accord with a backbone supported by woods and patchouli, it works. It just fucking works. Edit: I used to looove this, beautiful sillage, positive feedback nearly everytime I wore it until I smelled it on someone at my job. Its smelled like dog shit on them and now I'm conflicted everytime I look at my bottle in the cabinet 😔 I still adore this one but my nose really got destroyed that day wtf...

I’m glad I grabbed the full discovery sets from Mind Games and tested everything in-store. I’ll admit I blind bought a couple off hype (which I never recommend unless you’re a collector like me) and ended up disappointed. After really living with the line, I kept coming back to Ruy Lopez. Now it’s my favorite from the house, honestly signature scent worthy. I wore it to an event yesterday and the compliments didn’t stop. Fragrance is subjective, but this one just does it for me. It deserves a higher rating, but I love that it’s not overhyped so I can keep smelling like ME. Ruy Lopez for the win 👑🔥👑

I'm not really a fan of this house in general, but they have a few good ones and this is one of those. I normally don't like tea, but this smells like the most expensive luxury tea you can imagine. The davana, rum and patchouli are perfectly blended in here and it smells almost regal. Like I'd imagine the vibe in the tea room at Windsor Palace. If you like something along the lines but not precisely like Le Labo Noir 29, but more aromatic with a splash of booze, I think you'll enjoy this one. ----------------------------------------------------- Scent 8/10 Performance 7.5/10

If you like Noir 29, this is a far better take on that style of fragrance. Fruity, green, and somehow boozy tea fragrance. Signature scent worthy, as it can be worn in all and any season in most settings. I’m glad the hype on this is not as high as others in the house because this truly has become my favorite fragrance of all time and will be for a long time so hoping will be able to gather a few back up bottles. Performance is truly remarkable. Lasts days and projects beyond arms length equally as long.

Predominantly a spicy cherry tea from the open to the dry down, but not juvenile or sweet, more dressed up and mature. The woods also come through, but the leather is mild to my nose (I like heavy leather though). Some booze mostly in the open. Longevity through the day into evening and people were still noticing it late in the day. A great option for colder weather if you don’t want sweet or vanilla. My first fragrance from Mind Games and I am impressed, the profile and performance are solid.

I love this fragrance a ton. It’s been my favorite for about 2 years now, it lasts over 8 hours on my skin I’ve worn it so much I fear I will have to repurchase it soon. It projects very well on me probably being my most complimented fragrance. In a house like Mind Games where everything is good this is a hidden gem. The only bad thing I can say is that it’s a bit overpriced for retail.

Normally I don’t like this type of scent profile, but I LOVE this one. To me it smells like a mixed drink in the best way... Maybe Cherry Coke mixed with a very dark expensive bourbon enjoyed in an underground jazz club in New Orleans. The longer it sat on my skin, the better it got. I would definitely say unisex, but maybe 62% male 39% female

I love this perfume but its so easy to overspray. The opening to my nose is basically nonexistent for about five minutes and then it blooms and if I managed to doubt if I used enough during that five minutes and go spray more I'm suddenly swimming in tea and rose.

This smells so much like chewing tequila fibers that I got as a small small child in Mexico. Very interesting memories this fragrance brings me. All I get is fermented tequila fiber. It’s really really nice. This is high on my list for my next purchase.

I smell Cinnamon, Oak, Leather and amazing Whiskey. This smells like a very successful man just finished his day and wants to hang out at night. Also smells like cinnamon tea from another angle. But the first 4 notes I mentioned are there

Almost identical to The Noir 29. Maybe a tiny bit more masculine, but the difference is hardly detectable. Absolutely gorgeous and so addictive.

Smelled in Saks and knew I needed a bottle. It’s similar to The Noir but with a bright cherry / plum note. So beautiful and sophisticated.

Ruy Lopez and The Forward are the BEST Mindgames fragrances. All you trendies and bandwagon people need to get over it

Rose and patchouli masterpiece. I need to get my hands on a full bottle asap.

Reminds me of a combination of Noir 29 and Cherry Smoke - a big Love ❤️

This one is sooo good. If you like Le labo noir 29 you would like this