A Nostalgic Look Back at the Iconic GAP Perfumes That Ruled the ‘90s and Where to Find Them Today
If there’s one store that you could rely on to have all your basics and keep you looking stylish in the 1990s just as much as now, it’s GAP. The brand has been around for decades, and we don’t think it will be going anywhere anytime soon. It probably gives you nostalgic memories of roaming your high school halls in the GAP sweatshirts and their classic denim, and unlike many other trends of the ‘80s and ‘90s, there’s a high chance you still wear their basics today. But their comfy clothing isn’t the only thing GAP was known for; their perfumes were also a hot commodity. If you grew up in the ‘90s, you know that everyone wanted to get their hands on GAP’s addictive fragrances like Dream, Heaven and Grass (truly the scent of nostalgia). While most of their stores don’t sell these perfumes anymore, there actually are a few select places you can still find them. Here, we give you the rundown on all things GAP perfume from where to buy it, what made it so iconic, what they smelled like and more.
Why were GAP perfumes so popular in the 1990s?
With every decade, there are always those “it” trends and products that everyone was wearing or searching for. From Maybelline’s Kissing Glosses of the ‘70s to banana clips from the ‘80s, there were those few products that just swept the nation by storm. For the ‘90s, that “it” beauty trend was the GAP perfumes.
Part of why the GAP perfumes were so popular is because they were accessible. They weren’t necessarily cheap, but they weren’t considered luxury or “high end” fragrances — they were a good middle ground. They were also a higher quality than the $5 body sprays, but they were overall pretty affordable. This made it easy for a large number of people to get their hands on the fragrances.
Why were the GAP perfumes discontinued?
GAP hasn’t completely left the fragrance game; they still have perfumes available, but they aren’t the OG scents of the 1990s. Some of the most popular ‘90s GAP perfumes were Dream, Heaven, Grass and Om, all of which have been discontinued today in most GAP stores.
While we don’t know exactly why GAP discontinued their original perfumes, it could just be due to the ebb and flow of the brand’s catalog. Every brand probably has a best seller from the past that they don’t sell anymore today, which is especially common in the beauty space. As trends come and go, products also come and go, and more room is made for new products and launches.
Are GAP perfumes still available?
The original GAP fragrances like Dream and Heaven are not available to purchase in regular GAP stores today — but fear not, they actually are still available elsewhere.
The OG GAP perfumes are available at select GAP Outlet stores, and they went viral on TikTok once people started finding them at their outlets. Many ran to snag them up before they were sold out, eager to scratch that ‘90s perfume nostalgia itch.
They also are available on Amazon! GAP sells the iconic perfumes on Amazon, most of which are less than $40 (and have fast shipping, one of the biggest perks of the online retailer). That way, if you don’t live by a GAP Outlet or your location is out of stock, you can easily get it delivered right to your door. (But let’s be honest, going in person to find it at your GAP Outlet would make those nostalgic feelings just that much stronger!)
However, there’s a caveat: Many reviewers say the perfumes, even the OG scents, have been reformulated and don’t smell exactly the same as the ‘90s ones — but you’ll have to just decide for yourself.
What do the GAP perfumes smell like?
If you never got the chance to smell the GAP perfumes or just need a refresher of what they smelled like, keep reading.
What does GAP Grass perfume smell like?
To put it simply, GAP’s Grass perfume smells like… well… grass (but in a good way). Remember the smell of fresh cut grass in the spring with the flowers starting to bloom all around? That in a bottle is essentially what GAP Grass smells like. It has a touch of sweetness to balance out the grassy scent, and overall, it’s a very clean, fresh-smelling fragrance. If this is a scent that sounds right up your alley, many reviewers point to Demeter Grass Cologne Spray as a close scent to GAP’s OG Grass fragrance.
What does GAP Dream perfume smell like?
GAP Dream is a floral scent with a touch of citrus, a very fresh and clean perfume. It has notes of freesia, orange flower, jasmine and more. Some actually say that the Bath and Body Works Linen & Lavender scent smells very similar to GAP Dream, but unfortunately as of now, it’s not available in a perfume or body mist.
What does GAP Heaven perfume smell like?
GAP Heaven was another wildly popular scent from the retailer, and it can be described as light, airy, fresh and a bit citrusy. It has notes of green leaves, lemon, orange blossom, jasmine, musk, sandalwood and moss, among others. It’s a great daytime perfume and doesn’t smell too strong or overpowering. A lot of perfume blogs talk about scents that are similar to Heaven, but many of the dupes are also discontinued; one that is still available though (warning that it is pricier though) is Leila Lou By Rosie Jane. So if you need a GAP Heaven fix, it might be worth a try or heading to your local Sephora to check out.
For more on our favorite scents, click through these stories:
“I Tried the Viral Pheromone Perfume to See My Husband’s Reaction — Did It Really Work?”
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