Mind Games Caissa Extrait (Tester)

Description

Caissa is Mind Games' ode to Caïssa, the mythical goddess said to preside over the game of chess — the house calls this bottle its "Silver Queen." Perfumer David Apel built an amber floral gourmand around the surprising warmth of black licorice, an idea he has described as drawing on "the texture, color and surprising aroma of the licorice candy." Anise-sweet top notes give way to a lush white-floral heart of gardenia, Madagascar ylang-ylang, and Egyptian jasmine, before ambrocenide (a soft, ambery musk), cocoa, and musk settle into a warm, powdery finish. It reads confident and a little mysterious — fitting for a scent named for chess's own guardian spirit.

Scent Character

• Floral — 35%
• Sweet / Gourmand (licorice, cocoa) — 30%
• Amber & Musk — 25%
• Spicy (pink peppercorn, cardamom) — 10%

Translation: A floral-forward fragrance with a sweet, almost candy-like licorice twist and a soft ambery musk base — more playful gourmand than heavy amber.

Fragrance Pyramid

Top: Fougassette Accord, Pink Peppercorn, Cardamom, Black Licorice

Heart: Gardenia, Madagascar Ylang-Ylang, Egyptian Jasmine

Base: Ambrocenide, Cocoa, Musk

Performance

Longevity: As an extrait de parfum, Caissa is built for staying power — the ambery musk base helps it hold on skin for many hours.

Sillage: Moderate to strong in the first hours, settling into a warm, close skin scent as the licorice and musk soften.

Projection: Noticeable without being overwhelming, especially in cooler weather when the gourmand base performs best.

Best Occasions & Season

Caissa's sweet, ambery warmth suits fall and winter best, with enough floral lift to carry into cool spring evenings. It's an evening fragrance — think date nights, special occasions, and after-dark wear rather than the office.

Concentration & Provenance

Concentration: Extrait de Parfum

Perfumer: David Apel

House: Mind Games

Launched: 2022

Try Before You Commit

This Tester bottle gives you the full 3.4oz/100ml Caissa experience at $219.99 — a lower-commitment way to bring it home than the boxed retail edition. Prefer to sample in miniature first? Caissa is also available in 1mL ($6.99), 5mL ($33.99), and 10mL ($54.99) sample sizes.

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 Caissa smell like?

A sweet, floral amber built around black licorice and gardenia, warmed by cocoa and ambery musk in the base — more playful gourmand than heavy incense-amber.

Is Caissa unisex?

Yes. Mind Games designs Caissa to be worn by anyone drawn to its licorice-floral character.

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

Same 3.4oz/100ml Extrait de Parfum juice — the Tester simply ships without retail packaging, at a lower price.

How long does Caissa last on skin?

As an extrait, expect strong, long-lasting wear, with the ambery musk base carrying well into the evening.