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Mind Games Ruy Lopez
Mind Games

Ruy Lopez

Floral
Rose
Fruity
Green
Woody
Patchouli
Earthy
EDP · 2023 · unisex

Mind Games is a niche fragrance house known for unconventional compositions that challenge traditional scent categories, and Ruy Lopez continues that philosophy with a composition that refuses easy classification.

Ruy Lopez opens with black pepper and black tea over a tart cherry top, immediately establishing a spiced, slightly astringent character. The heart brings warmth through rum and davana, softening the initial sharpness with a subtle sweetness, while rose adds a floral thread without dominating. The base settles into a woody, leathery structure with oak and patchouli, grounding the composition in earthy, tobacco-like tones. The overall effect is a balanced interplay between fruit, spice, leather, and wood -- sophisticated rather than loud, with enough complexity to sustain interest.

This fragrance suits anyone drawn to unconventional woody compositions with character. It works well for cooler seasons or evenings when its warm leather and spiced fruit can fully develop. The scent aligns with The Mystic, The Maverick, and The Sensualist profiles.

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$395Best · 100ml
$33030d Avg
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Price Comparison4 retailers · updated daily
Size
Updated 182m ago
$395.00
at Neiman Marcus
$16 low$399 retail
near retail, consider waiting
Buy Now →
RetailerStockPrice
Olfactory Factory LLC✓ PartnerTesterIn Stock$388.00−$11Buy
Neiman Marcus✓ PartnerIn Stock$395.00−$4Buy
Mind GamesMSRPIn Stock$395.00retailBuy
Olfactory Factory LLC✓ PartnerIn Stock$399.00Buy

✓ authorized retailer · ⚠ verify seller · delta vs. MSRP · we earn a small commission

Price History · 100ml
Low
$16
Avg
$330
Now
$395.00
13 days tracked · 2026-05-01 – 2026-06-02
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Main Accordsreported by community
Floral
29%
Rose
60%
Fruity
90%
Green
41%
Woody
100%
Patchouli
41%
Earthy
82%
Spicy
80%
Sweet
18%
Leather
100%
Fragrance Notesbrand verified
Top · 0–30 min
Cherry
Cherry
Sweet, slightly almond-like, and bright, cherry in perfumery ranges from fresh and tart to rich and jammy depending on the variety used. It adds an instantly likeable, accessible sweetness that works in both light florals and oriental compositions. A crowd-pleasing note that requires skill to use in a way that feels sophisticated.
Black Pepper
Black Pepper
Sharp, dry, and immediately present, black pepper in perfumery is spice without sweetness, heat without heaviness. It adds edge to citrus openings and warmth to woody bases, creating contrast that keeps a fragrance interesting. One of the most versatile spice notes, comfortable in everything from fresh colognes to deep orientals.
Black Tea
Black Tea
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
Davana
Davana
A curious and highly individual note from an Indian herb, davana has a fruity, slightly winey quality with honey-like sweetness and a faint medicinal edge. Unusually, davana smells different on different skin types, making it one of perfumery's most personalized notes. Used in oriental and woody fragrances for its warm, amber-like complexity.
Rum
Rum
Sweet, slightly smoky, and warm, the distilled essence of sugarcane adds a tropical, slightly boozy warmth to orientals and leather fragrances. It has a brown-sugar, molasses quality with a gentle spirit-like shimmer. Often found alongside tobacco and wood notes to create warm, convivial compositions.
Rose
Rose
The queen of floral notes and the most-used ingredient in fine perfumery. Real rose is simultaneously velvety, honeyed, and slightly spicy, nothing like the synthetic candy version. Depending on the variety used, it can anchor a composition or drift through it like a ghost, adding warmth without dominating.
Base · 3–12 hrs
Leather
Leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
Oak
Oak
Deep, dry, and slightly tannic, oak adds the scent of aged wood and wine barrels to compositions, a complex earthy warmth. Oakwood in perfumery has a slightly bitter, smoky quality that lends weight and gravity. Different from oakmoss (which is a lichen), oak itself suggests cellars, antique furniture, and aged spirits.
Patchouli
Patchouli
Dense, earthy, and darkly sweet, patchouli is the scent of damp soil and dried herbs with an almost chocolatey richness. It polarizes people because in high concentrations it's overwhelming, but as a supporting note it adds depth and longevity that almost nothing else can match. The backbone of countless oriental and chypre fragrances.
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🌙
The MysticBest match84% match
You wear what others can't place — and that's exactly the point.

Warm incense, dry resins, airy woods, smoke with softness. Never obvious.

🎲
The Maverick84% match
You do what works for you. That's always been enough.

Fresh, bold, abstract, dry. Metallic notes, experimental musks, architectural woods with presence.

🔥
The Sensualist82% match
You fill the room without trying.

Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
Community
Rate this fragrance
Rate this fragrance
0255075100
—/100
Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
🌙
The Mystic
You wear what others can't place — and that's exactly the point.
Warm incense, dry resins, airy woods, smoke with softness. Never obvious.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
Floral29%Rose60%Fruity90%Green41%Woody100%
Decants Available
7
listings in stock
1ml$6.99/ml2ml$5.00/ml2ml$6.50/ml3ml$5.33/ml

Mind Games Ruy Lopez— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Ruy Lopez is $395.00. Without a coupon the lowest price is $395.00. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic Mind Games fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for Mind Games Ruy Lopez? +
$395.00 at Neiman Marcus. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
Is $395.00 a good price for Ruy Lopez? +
Yes. The current best price is $395.00 and MSRP is $399.00. At $395.00 you save 1% vs retail.
What does Mind Games Ruy Lopez smell like? +
Mind Games is a niche fragrance house known for unconventional compositions that challenge traditional scent categories, and Ruy Lopez continues that philosophy with a composition that refuses easy classification. Ruy Lopez opens with black pepper and black tea over a tart cherry top, immediately establishing a spiced, slightly astringent character. The heart brings warmth through rum and davana, softening the initial sharpness with a subtle sweetness, while rose adds a floral thread without dominating. The base settles into a woody, leathery structure with oak and patchouli, grounding the composition in earthy, tobacco-like tones. The overall effect is a balanced interplay between fruit, spice, leather, and wood -- sophisticated rather than loud, with enough complexity to sustain interest. This fragrance suits anyone drawn to unconventional woody compositions with character. It works well for cooler seasons or evenings when its warm leather and spiced fruit can fully develop. The scent aligns with The Mystic, The Maverick, and The Sensualist profiles.
What are the notes in Mind Games Ruy Lopez? +
Top: Cherry, Black Pepper, Black Tea. Heart: Davana, Rum, Rose. Base: Leather, Oak, Patchouli.
What other fragrances smell like Mind Games Ruy Lopez? +
Based on shared notes, Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Black Perfecto (Leather, Patchouli, Rose, Black Tea), Lalique Les Compositions Parfumees Leather Copper (Leather, Patchouli, Rose, Black Pepper), Jo Malone Birch & Black Pepper for men (Leather, Patchouli, Rose, Black Pepper), Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man Limited Edition (with Cufflinks) (Leather, Patchouli, Rose, Black Pepper), Armaf Club De Nuit Private Key To My Life (Leather, Patchouli, Rose, Black Pepper) may smell similar to Ruy Lopez.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain