Gap Just Brought Back Its Fragrance Collection — & Made It Better
Usage Guide
Overview
Before brands like Le Labo and Sol de Janeiro became beauty-industry obsessions, the cult-favorite scents of the mall generation came from the same place as your go-to jeans: Gap. Back in the day, Dream, Heaven, Grass, and Om weren’t just random nouns — they were Gap’s bestselling perfume collection. And after years off shelves, the iconic fragrances have been reimagined for a new generation of beauty lovers.
Created by renowned perfumer Jérôme Epinette (the nose behind Byredo’s Gypsy Water and Bal d’Afrique, as well as newcomer NOYZ’s entire fragrance lineup), the collection includes refreshed versions of the four original scents, along with one brand-new addition: Harmony.
As a fragrance lover and proud ’90s baby, I couldn’t wait to get my nose on them. Ahead, I put the entire lineup to the test to see whether these affordable, nostalgic fragrances still hold up — and which ones are actually worth adding to your perfume wardrobe.
Heaven
Heaven made me do a double take (or should I say double sniff?) on first spritz. If I hadn’t seen the Gap bottle with my own eyes, I would’ve guessed it came from another mall fragrance mainstay: Victoria’s Secret. Although it’s technically a floral amber (a family that pairs romantic florals with warm, resinous notes like amber, ambrox, and tonka bean), the dessert-like vanilla is what really shines on my skin. It’s sweet, sexy, and surprisingly sophisticated. Alongside Madagascar vanilla, you’ll find juicy pear and honeysuckle, while patchouli and musk anchor the fragrance with a sensual, skin-like finish. I found myself reaching for this one most often for date nights and girls’ nights out, and love how it stayed on my hair and clothes especially.
Grass
On paper, Grass is closest to the types of fragrances I naturally gravitate toward. I love a crisp, herbaceous scent for daytime, especially in the summer, so its clean, citrus-forward profile had me convinced it’d be my favorite of the bunch. (It’s also the only original Gap fragrance I’d ever tried, and I remember loving it as a kid.) Rather than recreating the original note-for-note, Grass offers a more modern interpretation, opening with invigorating green mandarin and violet leaf before unfolding into woody cypress, creamy matcha, and a grounding blend of earthy cedar and bright vetiver. The result is a unique, long-lasting fragrance that strikes a beautiful balance between freshly showered skin and milky green tea. Of the five, this also felt the most gender-neutral; I loved it just as much on my husband as I did on myself.
Dream
Details
Next up, Dream. As the name suggests, this feminine floral musk is utterly romantic. Right away, I picked up sparkling bergamot, neroli, and orange blossom. That citrusy trio gives way to a bouquet of jasmine and freesia before settling into a base of cedarwood, soft musk, and warm amber. It’s pretty, airy, and undeniably feminine, but ultimately not for me. I don’t typically gravitate toward sweeter florals, but if that’s your fragrance love language, this would make a lovely addition to your perfume wardrobe.
Om
I won’t bury the lede here: Om is my clear favorite of the bunch. It has an effortlessly cozy, skin-like quality where no single note steals the spotlight — everything simply works together. The woody aromatic fragrance opens with bright ginger and smoky olibanum (a beloved note of mine that also appears in Lore’s Somewhere but Nowhere, one of my most reached-for perfumes) before settling into warm sandalwood and herbal coriander flower. Amber woods, velvety cashmeran, and cedar create a comforting, lingering dry down that feels tailor-made for fall. I’ve barely stopped wearing it since it arrived, and despite its impressive longevity, it never feels overpowering — just like you naturally smell amazing.
Harmony
Last but not least, there’s Harmony. Unlike the previous scents, Harmony is a brand-new addition to Gap’s fragrance portfolio. The fruity floral has top notes of bright bergamot and juicy apricot nectar, before revealing a bouquet of sweet white florals — gardenia, jasmine, and tuberose, and a base of sheer woods and warm amber. My first impressions of this one were that it’s fresh and fruity, but not in a teeny-bopper way. Perhaps this is controversial, but I’m calling it now: This is the perfect gym perfume because it’s light and clean, and not super strong. To be honest, I felt like this one didn’t last as long as the other Gap scents, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it allows me to layer it with others without getting overpowering or simply have it fade if I want to wear fragrance but not worry about it causing someone a headache.
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Source
Originally published at www.refinery29.com.