Close

I can't express enough how much I didn't appreciate this perfume until I was at the end of the bottle. I bought this a few years ago at Marshalls for around $15 (50ml), and was drawn to the beautiful, minimalist iridescent white bottle, that looked like it could be a fragrance about as much as it could be lubricant or contact solution or some fancy serum for your face. I was home alone during quarantine spraying it without abandon until I got near the end and had the epiphany that every single time I wore it, people told me I smelled amazing. Not my perfume, but me. Even people in my life who I knew didn't like perfume (and for whom I wore for its inoffensiveness). And the more I started to think about that, the more I realized how unique and hard to replace this fragrance really is. Putting your nose to the bottle, you get some faint ozonic notes mixed with lemon biscotti, but not at all sweet or men's body spray-like, but the most comforting, subtle in-between -- like you really are at the beach eating a bland and refreshing biscuit. There's some "clean laundry" fragrance there too, but it isn't cheap or jarring. When I spray it on, I do get primarily fabric softener scent at first, but within 15 seconds it dies down to a subtle, zesty lemon, baby powder and almond. The jasmine really helps the scent from feeling like it's a gourmand or green fresh composition, and keeps it squarely as a clean, musky fresh skin scent with a subtle hint of 'baked dessert' warmth. I had the chance to buy this for cheaper when it was still flooding discount stores and that day is long gone. As much as I've been wrestling with the idea of buying an (overpriced!) bottle as my boyfriend seemed to love it so much on me, I really have to learn to let go, try new things, allow my taste to evolve and tie this unique scent to a chapter in my life I know I will look back on thoughtfully. Maybe one day on a busy street by chance, the odd combination will spur me to remember. It was a pleasure to be laundry biscuit lady.

This fragrance sat forgotten for years as I received it around Christmas 2009 at Secret Santa on the job I was then. I remember spraying it, thinking "Fresh, unremarkable, but I'll keep it" and forgetting about it. Well, now it's summer (2014, mind you) and I decided to try it again. Wow! Surprisingly complex compared to what I was expecting. On the opening I get freshness and something similar to sea breeze (reminds me of Navegar without all the wood and spices), plus something deeper which I cannot really describe. Could be the almond, an almond that is more almond peel in its slightly woody smell than sweet almond. As it dries it gets just a hint of flowers, very subtle and not very sweet, and a nice fresh powdery note without losing the sea breeze atmosphere and slight bright wood notes (compared to darker wood notes that orientals often have). I know it has more notes as I can smell something else behind this, but I cannot identify them. To me, it recalls waking up in early summer near the sea, open windows and a slight breeze, the air still neither cool nor warm. I really like it now! ----- Added: Comparison to Noa: In my mind, both this and Noa are "morning, clean, white, breezy" fragrances. Noa is more cool and fresh and airy, almost transparent, where this one is more powdery and sweet and salty, though never going into gourmand territory. I find both comforting and energizing (in a calm way) at the same time, and I wear one or the other quite often in the morning before going to work when I'm not in the mood for citrus, greens or soft florals. (I do love orientals and old-style chypres and even masculine wood scents, but in my mind they are more of a "going out" or "night at home" scents).

I am so obsessed with this perfume that I joined this website just to give it a good review. Weird, right? It's Gap, you can buy it at a mall, and it doesn't have a flashy bottle or an exciting celebrity campaign behind it. Yet since I first discovered Close three years ago, I've never looked for another scent. I think part of Close's appeal to me is its subtlety. I've always been extremely put off by the strong "chemical" scents in high end designer perfumes, and bold florals are nice on other people, but they give me headaches after extended wear. Close fits me like a glove. I spray some on my wrists, shirt, and hair in the morning and it still lingers when I go to bed. I wear it every day, and it feels to me like the way that I should smell naturally, rather than something overpowering and artificial. It's become something that my friends recognize me by since it always stays really well on jackets and scarves and pillows. It's subtle, which almost makes it more intimate. Guys love it too... In fact, I can name three different guys who commented on how good I smelled after romantic entanglements... in all three cases, I was wearing Close. Basically, I'm crazy about this perfume. If they ever discontinue it, I will probably cry. It is sweet and warm without being syrupy, light and fresh with good staying power, and the musk is gentle and soft. It smells like curling up by a fire in a comfy sweater with a gentle ocean breeze coming from the window. And all things equally poetic and artistic. Try it out!

Following years of disuse, this formula has suddenly grown on me. I purchased Close on impulse after smelling it in the air - it was calming and attractive. I brought it home and found it to be nothing more than overpowering salty musk... Tried getting used to it over the weeks, but some peers openly disliked it as well, so I just left it alone. I later realized that, at the store, it positively reminded me of my then long-term boyfriend. Curiously, it smells like white florals on his skin (or like "pretty, pretty flowers", as I originally stated). 4 years later: I now LOVE this. Dries down into a pleasantly feminine, sensual and clean scent. On my skin: Almond (not amaretto), salt, musk, vanilla and a hint of floral. No citrus to my nose. Smells like I hopped right out of the shower and started running... at the beach. I understand how it can seem "dirty" or "gross" to some noses, but I think that's because it smells much like a human being. Reminds me of hot summer days, but it's cozy effect could also be nice during the winter. Purchased the 15ml trio. They smell watered down. An employee pulled it out of nowhere and the package was very dented, so I'm assuming it's from an old batch. The "new", 1.7 onz bottles on display smell optimal.

I found this at Marshall's a few weeks back and have waited on doing a proper review because I hoped the words would come to me that would do this juice justice. When I hopped on Fragrantica to look up the notes I was underwhelmed, but the reviews were good as was the price so I snagged it up, took it to my car and tore into it like a rabid animal (this probably sounds familiar to all you bargain hunting perfume addicts out there lol) Instant love! Soft, lightly sweet,musky white floral. Delicate yet confidant. This reminds me of perfumes I have smelled on other girls/women over the years that conveys "This is a girl who knows what she's about. She may seem demure and sweet, but she is confidant in herself and knows her worth." And anytime I have detected "this kind" of scent I always thought it had to be expensive, or it wouldn't smell like that on me. Or...I'm too much of a mess to pull of sexy,sweet and sure all at the same time. But as it turns out, I can! Unfortunately everyone down the review chain is correct that siliage and longevity is quite poor- which is such a shame because the magic in this bottle lasts about as long as a distant memory but makes you smile just the same.

This feminine fragrance from GAP was released in 2009 and surprised me by the quality. The bottle has nothing special, but what's inside is very good. The fragrance of Close has notes of seawater, almond blossom, and citrus-salty accord, in the output. In the heart, were added notes of jasmine from Madagascar, Freesia, and daphne (genus of plants with more than 50 species), while at the base, we can find notes of sandalwood, vanilla, silky musk, and amber. The scent is extremely delicate, but not soft or weak. It’s feminine, floral, sensual, and gives a good feeling of cleansing with moisturizing. It's like if they had caught a good almond moisturizer and mixed with the musk and its cleaning nuances, along with some more delicate flowers. And the name has everything to do with the product. Close is that kind of scent for the woman who likes to snuggle up with her beloved one, watching TV and exchanging care. It's addictive and who usually try it, wants to buy a bottle soon. If you do the romantic style, who likes cuddling under the covers and not give up a good fragrance, you should try this one.

CLOSE is my signature fragrance now! I saw it in its cute little $5 bottle and bought it on the spot. It smells so warm and feminine...after wearing Eternity, Pleasures, Obsession, and Romance, I was looking for something less "heavy" but yet long-lasting...THIS IS IT! It smells warm, almost like when you take a favorite sweater from the dryer and wrap it around you...my husband loves it, and others do draw near "close" to smell its rich yet subtle fragrance! It lasts all day without overpowering others in a room, and it doesn't smell like an insecticide, like many current fragrances do! And I like that it's not a "designer" or "celebrity" fragrance...it just reminds me of warm coffee with caramel or vanilla stirred in, or that warm sweater from fresh laundry. (By the way, I wouldn't even know it has musk in it!) Thanks to GAP for making such a wonderfully wearable fragrance! Now if only I could layer it with a body creme or lotion in "Close"...:-)

One of the most successful blind buys I had. Decided to purchase it based in fragrantican's reviews and perfume pyramid. This one has skin-scent-but-OH-SO-BETTER! I got salty almond musky-vanillic, with a touch of jasmine. It lays pretty close to skin. I liked it so much I overapplied in order to get more sillage. Not sure if I got, but I noticed the scent quite present (deliciously present) all day long, about 10h, without reapplying. Wearing it I found out Close is, in fact, a scent I've always craved when I smelled it, just couldn't find out what it was. I've smelled it before in stranger women and thought it was an extremely sexy scent, reminding me my own skin smell after good, well-crafted sex. It surely qualifies as a cheap thrill, an inexpensive frag, abundantly available in US an very easy to find online. Will suit both men and women - I guess would smell even better on male skin.

I picked this up at Ross, never trying a Gap scent before. I looked this up (on Fragrantica) and tried to quickly scan the reviews. Based on the notes listed, this seemed like it would be something I'd like. I can say with all my heart, YES it is! I think this is probably the first time in quite a while that I can actually pick up nearly all the notes. I get almond, vanilla, floral, and a tiny bit of musk. I'm not really getting the salty notes, but that's okay! This smells delicate while still being strong enough to get noticed. It's very soft in a way that there are no sharp edges to it, no one note that stands so far out that it stabs someone in the face. If you're a fan of soft vanilla (and doesn't want "foodie" vanilla), warm, yet mild nuttiness and just a faint whisper of musk and floral, then this is definitely for you! Love it!

I love this. I bought it based solely on the reviews here, and while I wish it had a more almond or vanilla smell on me, it is very soft and cozy. I get some of the salt and water notes when first sprayed, and it has more sillage than my heavier perfumes, which I find interesting. For instance, I have to spray multiple times with my beloved Cocoon or Chaos to be able to smell myself, but with this I was eating dinner after about an hour of wearing and kept getting lovely soft musky wafts of myself. The only negative was a bit of "wet dog" smell about 20 minutes into wearing, but that quickly disappeared and it mellowed nicely. I think it will be better during warmer weather or layered with a scent that has more vanilla. I have always loved Gap scents and wish I'd bought more Om and Dream since they are now going for hundreds on ebay.

Wore this in high school and absolutely loved it. People would ask me all the time what I was wearing, and I'd always lie and say it's just my soap/body wash etc so I could keep this a secret, hehe. On me, it really does smell like soap (think Dove classic, or Ivory classic), mixed with a beautiful sparkling grapefruit and powdery almond/lilac. I also get a lot of salt, but it's really nice. It's as if you went swimming at the beach, got salt all over your skin and just baked in the sun for the rest of the afternoon. That salty, summery, ocean and suntan lotion vibe. Sillage was next to nothing after 2 hours but it stayed on for a good while, at least the whole school day. I would buy it again if it weren't discontinued. Timeless, classic and perfect every day daytime fragrance. Perfect for the office or just going to run errands.

I went shopping in the Gap with my daughter the other day, and tried Close. I wanted to buy it immediately! My daughter told me to wait until we finished browsing to see if I still liked it. I absolutely did! Close is subtle and makes me feel like I'm clean, and have a secret... a scent about me that people will notice, but won't cause them to think that I'm wearing anything, just that I'm clean. I usually go easy on colognes, choosing to spray the scent in the air and then walking into the mist. With Close, I spray directly onto my skin and clothes. I can't pick out almonds or saltwater like so many others have. I smell a flower with something just a bit different from the floral, making it unique to me. The one drawback is that it seems to wear off quickly.

I found a 1.7 ounce bottle at TJ Maxx, and boy do I wish I'd found the 3.4 ounce bottle. This stuff is amazing. This is now a "love" for me. Not many perfumes enter that category for me. In it's own way, I like it as much as some of my much more expensive perfumes like Dior's Hypnotic Poison. Price doesn't always equate to greatness, as witnessed in this Gap treasure of a fragrance. Update: I'm going to have to stock up via ebay, because I haven't seen any more of these at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. They get the other Gap fragrances, but they are nowhere near as good at Close is. This is easily in my top 10, maybe top 5. I just love it, for all year, and it's just addictive. This perfume makes me feel like it was created just for me, I love it that much.

This is literally heavenly. There is no man on earth that could dislike smelling this up close, and you can really spray it on lavishly. I picked this up at Marshalls as an afterthought after blind buying SJP Lovely, and found that Lovely was overrated and everything I was looking for was here instead. I would honestly pay $100 for this if it was in a designer brand's bottle, it's that good. It just... smells like you need a really big kiss and embrace. You can spray it on your linens and clothes too, and they will not have that awful overly floral scent and it'll fade away rather quickly. Bring the bottle with you, it doesn't have good longevity or sillage. I am in love. Saltwater, vanilla, and almond, what more could you want?

I got a small sample of this and it kind of grew on me. First time I tried it I thought it smelled like a cleaning product. But then I tried it again on a different day and I liked it, as I wore it I smelt the almond and salty notes. It does smell clean but I don't think it's fresh. It really stays very close to the skin and has little projection but I could see myself wearing this on days I don't want to wear anything more remarkable. It doesn't seem to offend my nose or give me any allergies which is kind of rare.. On the down side the lasting power is so week on me! Maybe if I spray it on my clothes and hair it might linger for a little longer... All in all, I might be getting this in the future!

This is a perfect scent when you don't have time... to do your hair (so it ends up in a messy bun), to do your make-up (so it comes down to mascara and lip gloss), or to match your clothes (so you grab your favorite jeans and hope that the high heels will yet again save the day)... When you have no time to think - that is when you take gap close and spray it all over. Can't go overboard, no worries, it's really soft and smells just like a body lotion after a shower and will make you feel sort of, uhm, "well put together" (in spite of everything, in my case ;-)).

Very delicate and light. It is not my usual cup of tea, I usually prefer very sweet and loud perfume, but this is lovely. Definitely a skin scent but it lasts pretty long on clothing. It is fresh and calming. I get a lot of almond and vanilla and citrus and salt water as well as the musk. I actually love the fact that it isn't very sweet. This was only 10 bucks for 1.7oz and I am really pleased to have something unique like this in my collection. I use it a lot after showers because it is so clean. Good scent.

Despite the fact I'd prefer gourmand most of the time, I always find myself come back to this in the end. It's inoffensive and kind of calming. I use it every time I have to interact with people, the smell give them the impression as if I'm trustful and adorable. I don't recognize the vanilla note but only musk, flowers and citrus. It would be perfect if it would last longer, after 3-4 hours and it became a skin scent, which indeed people have to come "closer" if they want to smell you.

One thing to note is that the newer tall and slim 60mL and 15mL flacons (with the matte brushed silver caps) do NOT have the same scent as the older "teardrop" flacons at all. More of a linear citrus white musk scent with none of the powdery almond that makes this fragrance so uniquely special. If you pick one up and you like the notes here make sure it is the original in a teardrop shape, they come in 50, 100 mL spray and 10mL splash.

I bought this smell today and I fell in love with it! For me it's smells like Beach Walk Replica. But not that plastic like Beach Walk. At first, it's very citric. Just for 20 minutes. Then it turns on salty-clean-a bit sweet-beach fragrance. It's totally good for beach. And after few hours its still clean-sweet Love it!