Scholars's Mate

A Symphony of Partnership and Ebony Elegance: Scholars's Mate Mind Games

This perfume by Christelle Laprade, it's all about those deep connections that come from collaboration and the symbolic meaning of chess. It's called "Scholar's Mate" and it's like a tribute to partnerships, a beautiful representation of the intense bond that happens when people work together towards a shared goal. When Laprade was creating this scent, she was reminded of dark, ebony woods, which are a symbol of chess boards. She also thought about the old Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban, where wood is charred with fire to preserve it. To capture that essence, she used smoky woods like vetiver and cedar to create a strong, rugged base. But she also added some softer, more delicate notes like elemi and cardamom leaves, which give it a touch of mystery and intrigue.

 

Olfactory Notes

Scholar’s Mate opens with a refined burst of green elemi and crisp cardamom leaf, evoking the sharp intellect and anticipation of an opening chess move. As the scent develops, the heart reveals a creamy, smoky interplay of sandalwood and vetiver, reminiscent of polished chess pieces and the quiet intensity of strategy. Gradually, the base deepens into a rich, charred cedarwood accord, inspired by the ancient Shou Sugi Ban technique, leaving a lasting impression of resilience and mastery. The dry-down lingers with warmth, embodying the victorious elegance of a well-played game.

 

Olfactory notes: Woody, Warm Spicy, Aromatic

Fragrance Family: Woody Aromatic 

Top Notes: Cardamom, Bergamot, Cinnamon Leaf, Grapefruit

Heart Notes: Orris, Elemi, Pimento

Base Notes: Indian Sandalwood, Fig Milk, Vetiver Madagascar, Cypriol

• Concentration: Extrait de Parfum
• Made in the USA
• Parfumeur: Christelle Laprade
• Year of Launch: 2022

If you're wondering about how long "Scholars's Mate Mind Games" will last, Fragrantica says you can expect it to linger for about 7 hours.

Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum), Water (Aqua/EAU), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzylmethane, BHT, Limonene, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Eugenol, Citronellol, Citral.