Counterplay Mind Games 2024

The opening of Counterplay is absolutely stunning! It’s a beautiful burst of fresh, juicy Guava and Melon. I really don’t get any other notes. The initial spray envelopes you in the Guava gorgeousness of it all, only for it to fade into a melon skin scent after a couple of minutes. I so wish the Guava note stayed for the full wear. I would have instantly purchased this! It’s such a shame. It’s the absolute best bit about this fragrance, and yet it doesn’t make any appearance after the opening. This is still a lovely melon scent, but I already own Granita which has the same melon note and I’m sorry to say I prefer it to Counterplay. Granita is also cheaper. My other issue with Counterplay is I find it very weak. It becomes a skin scent very quickly. At the price Mind games charges, it just isn’t worth the cost. Had the Guava stayed for the whole wear, my opinion would be different but I’ll have to pass on this one. It just isn’t different enough from Granita to justify a full bottle. For the record, this lasted 2 hours before disappearing completely.

If you’ve tested this and love it, you should definitely get a sample of Granita before spending your money on Counterplay.

I was kindly gifted a 2ml of this. Of the 3 Mind Games scents I’ve tried, this appeals to me the least.

I get a clean, almost laundry-like musk coupled with an uber-ripe honeydew melon. Cool smelling (like granite countertops) and unexpected, this could appeal to a fresh and fruity fragrance lover.

This is fresh enough to wear at the gym, spa or Sunday brunch. This could be too intense on a plane or on a super hot day, but otherwise “Counterplay” is easy to like.

While this scent could be worn by any gender, the person this will stand out most to are people who want to recreate a L’Oréal “no tangles” shampoo for kids cue a 2006.

I like it, but will likely give this 2ml to someone else who’ll appreciate it more. 7/10.

First impression: composed. Not loud. Not playful.

Counterplay doesn’t rush. It builds in layers — woods, subtle sweetness, and a smooth backbone that feels deliberate rather than flashy. Nothing spikes. Nothing screeches. It’s measured.

Mid-wear is where it settles into itself. The sweetness never turns syrupy, the woods never go dry and dusty, and there’s no green edge. It stays balanced. That restraint is the whole point.

This is not a fragrance that tries to dominate the room. It creates proximity presence. Close-range confidence. There’s a quiet intelligence to it — like it’s more interested in strategy than spectacle.

Counterplay fits in the “controlled modern sophistication” lane. It’s its own category — contemporary, structured, and composed.

You wear this when you want to look calm under pressure.

For the first time, I was able to smell all the Mindgame fragrances. The madness is not only the price but also the scents. Different, extremely high quality, refined, and wonderfully complex. I couldn't get enough of them. Since I first went through the entire black line, I initially thought, "this is really Initio. They can do scents for the cooler days." But then I went through the white line and was proven wrong.

One fragrance that stood out to me is "Counterplay | Mind Games." This tropical note of guava, melon, and banana in the opening is something I've never smelled before. I'm happy to skip the mango and cherry hype this year - this is tropical, but so wonderfully different.
Not fizzy, not sticky sweet, and above all, not artificial. Exotic, soft, high quality. The scent has power but is still not overwhelming.

The fruity and truly exotic opening quickly becomes beautifully floral, creamy, and soft with orange blossom and ylang-ylang. Wow!

Unisex, almost a touch feminine, doesn't bother me at all. Longevity is great, and the quality is extremely high. The bottle and atomizer are at absolute peak level.

I believe I've not only found my new summer scent but also my new favorite brand. Definitely give it a try!

where have you been so long?

I found you on Wednesday in the perfume shop and had to have you. You captivated me right away: because of your lush fruits that throw me back to my childhood and your unique composition of fragrance notes that I don't know from any other. You are one of a kind. You also have incredible longevity, developing beautifully on my skin, and that's what you are. With you, I feel comfortable and confident. Today I'm at a wedding & since no +1 is allowed, you are my companion today.
With you, I feel light as a feather. If a fragrance were a color, you would be pastel blue.

P.S. I've been learning chess for a week and I'm having so much fun :)