Thank you to @Jeffrey Conyers for sending me a sample of Dua Queen if Chess, so I could do this side by side. These open up extremely close in both scent profile and strength. I literally have to close my eyes and constantly go back and forth to tell the difference. The first 5 minutes, Dua just has ever so slight and I mean slight, apple shower gel touch to it, but you can only tell if you put your nose into, close your eyes and no distractions around you, so let's just say the opening is a 1:1. Going into the mid, about 15 minutes, the powdery orris and rum come into play on both. Apple fades on both and the itsy bitsy teeny weeny shower gel note on the Dua is gone. At about the 20 min mark, the saffron in Dua makes an appearance and Mind Games shows up about a minute later, which is interesting, because I did spray on the Dua first. So even the transitional time line between the 2 are parallel. Into the dry down the powdery orris sticks around longer and lil bit stronger with the Dua for a few minutes longer than the OG. Vanilla, coconut and soft musk come to the party.and about 45 min in the powdery orris drop to the same level as Mind Games. They are now back to a 1:1 and stays that way. At one point I did question if @Jeffrey Conyers sent me a sample of the OG to trick me😂 Final thoughts - This is a beautiful soft, cuddle with your SA, 3rd date, and/or bedtime scent. So far Dua has nailed it with the Mind Games. Dua is at $33 for 34ml (no sale) and I picked up Mind Games Queening tester at $179 for 100ml. If you don't care about the bottle, Dua is the clear winner, even if you get it at regular price. For me, I have 2 other Mind Games, French Defense and Grand Master, I am more than happy to add this one to my collection, for the price I scored it at, thanks again to @Ben E for thinking of me when he found the sale.

I reviewed Balmain Bleu Infini back in July https://www.skool.com/bos/sotd-sample-of-the-day-balmain-bleu-infini?p=8fc67b81 I decided to pickup the Dua version on their big sale . Opening, the OG starts off heavier in the mossy notes while Dua leans heavier in the clary sage. Both have a little floral and earthiness to them. Salt is very present that gives both frags lift and an aquatic like note. Up close they are kinda the same but now, as it hits the air is where they gain similarities. Once you pull back and you are 6 inches plus away, you know there is a slight diff and you know one is trying to be the other. Going into the mid salt starts to fade along with the opening clary sage and moss for each respectively. Akigalawood starts to show up in both, but with Dua it takes center stage, OG the akigalawood is still backup singer. The moss in the OG is fighting to let go of the mic, but you see it coming. Right around the 20 min mark, in the air I would say Dua is about 75% there but ramping up quick. About 45 min in the get closer in the profile, but kinda stops at about 85%. OG maintanes this earthiness to it, while Dua lets that fade into the back and really smooths out. Rose starts to show up in both, however you do have to focus a bit more in the OG to pick it up. Final thoughts, this is one that is growing on me and I will wear this more than twice a year. Although Dua did not succeed in going 1:1 it definitely did its job in providing an excellent alternative to Balmain. Dua was like a top notch cover band, you know it's not the original group, but you rock out to it and heck you may even like them better than the OG. In this case I prefer the Dua over the OG, but not buy much. I found the earthiness in the OG to be just ever so slightly edgy with me, but not annoying in anyway, Dua just didn't display that. This isn't a blind buy for the OG, you must try it, it's not for everyone. For Dua, if you grab on sale, go ahead and jump as it was only like $20 so no love lost if it doesn't work out

The Alexandria opens up fresh and fruity. It really pops with a strong cherry right off the rip. Alt's is more of a earthy cherry to me. Not as sweet, but the cherry is still there. Projection on both are decent, but not exactly long lasting. I get about an hour off my skin.

While waiting for my Mission Fragrance set I've been doing the classroom portion and I'm really looking forward to the Commitment fragrance it calls to all the darker more masculine notes I am drawn to!

I finally got the OG Stephane Humbert Lucas Sea My Love after falling head over heels for the Dua version. 2 sprays of SHL on my left and 2 sprays of Dua in the right. The opening SHL is lighter more forward with the salty, mild citrus and aquatic tone. Dua is more forward with the leather and little less, salt and citrus. With Dua announcing the leather earlier it is making it deeper, richer, and more noticeable. With SHL thoughts of Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt come to mind in the salty accord and this luxury feel to it. For the opening and per my taste, I am going with Dua. Dua is only about 40% similar to SHL at about the 10 min mark and Dua feels more like more leathery flanker to SHL. Going into the mid, about 20 min in. The Salty citrus in SHL starts to settle and leather is coming in. The leather in Dua is still present but a bit softer, the saltiness has stepped up and now they start to shift closer together, maybe 50% at this point. It's interesting, at this time, SHL seems to be playing it safe, Dua is putting it out there, neither are decisive in any way, but Dua comes across more "niche" vs the OG, never thought I would say that in any comparison of Dua vs the OG, but there, I said it. Dry down at about the 1hr and 15min mark. These they get very close at about 85-90% both pickup amber, a little earthy, musk,, very well balanced on both the Dua and SHL. What sets them apart in the remaining diff is SHL has a slight resinous touch and the leather in Dua is a tad more. Final thoughts. For the first hour these felt more like flankers rather than Dua trying to dupe SHL. If it existed if Dua was trying to create of Sea My Love Intense, than it would have made more sense. Both are very good and truth I love them both. SHL feels like more daytime and Dua is the continuation into the afternoon/evening. For pricing, I scored the SHL for $149 for 50ml and Dua was $22 for 34ml. Both are winners depending on what experience you want. As for Dua duping the OG, they kinda failed, but succeeded in creating an inspirational twist. So far, out of all my Dua compares this one was the farthest apart, but I love it none the less. For SHL, I am still super happy I got it.