Mind Games The Forward Extrait (Tester)

Description

The Forward is a floral gourmand extrait from Mind Games, created by perfumer Nathalie Benareau and named for the chess term describing an aggressive push forward. Benareau built it as, in her words, "a beautiful and unexpected addiction suspended in the balance between contrasts" — a salty, effervescent burst of lemon, mandarin, and pomelo that folds into jasmine sambac and tonka bean, before finishing on a creamy base of Madagascar vanilla, sandalwood, and cashmeran. This listing is the tester bottle: the identical Extrait de Parfum inside, without the retail box.

Scent Character

• Fresh — 34%
• Sweet — 23%
• Woody — 22%
• Floral — 11%
• Marine — 10%

Translation: salty citrus effervescence melting into a creamy vanilla-sandalwood base.

Fragrance Pyramid

Top: Lemon, Mandarin Madagascar, Pomelo

Heart: Jasmine Sambac, Tonka Bean, Salt Accord

Base: Vanilla Madagascar, Sandalwood Dreches, Cashmeran

Performance

• Longevity: Very good — reviewers commonly report 6 to 8 hours.
• Sillage: Moderate — noticeable up close without overwhelming the room.
• Projection: Present through the first hour or two, then settles close to skin.

Best Occasions & Season

• Season: Spring, Summer, and Fall.
• Occasion: Everyday and Leisure.
• Wear: Unisex.

Concentration & Provenance

Concentration: Extrait de Parfum
Perfumer: Nathalie Benareau
House: Mind Games (The Fragrance Group)
Released: 2023

Try Before You Commit

A tester bottle already is the try-before-you-commit option — full-size Extrait de Parfum at a lower price than the boxed retail bottle, since it skips the packaging. If you'd rather start smaller still, Venba also carries The Forward in 1mL, 5mL, and 10mL sample sizes under its standard retail listing.

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FAQ

What's the difference between this tester and the retail bottle? The juice is identical — this is the same Extrait de Parfum, just without the retail box, priced accordingly.

Is The Forward unisex? Yes — the salted-citrus opening and creamy vanilla-sandalwood base wear well on anyone.

How long does it last? Very good performance — most wearers report 6 to 8 hours.

What does the name mean? "The Forward" is a chess term for an aggressive, forward-pushing move.