The Story
Why it exists.
Close To My Heart was conceived as a scented extension of Bella Freud’s iconic sweater slogans, each phrase stitched onto garments like a quiet mantra. In 2016, perfumer Azzi Glasser translated the phrase into scent, centering tuberose absolute, her signature floral, wrapped in bright neroli. The name reflects the intimate, almost whispered promise of a garment pressed close to the skin, turning a simple statement into a wearable narrative.
If this were a song
Community picks
Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
The Beginning
Close To My Heart was conceived as a scented extension of Bella Freud’s iconic sweater slogans, each phrase stitched onto garments like a quiet mantra. In 2016, perfumer Azzi Glasser translated the phrase into scent, centering tuberose absolute, her signature floral, wrapped in bright neroli. The name reflects the intimate, almost whispered promise of a garment pressed close to the skin, turning a simple statement into a wearable narrative.
Choosing tuberose as the heart anchors the fragrance in a bold, almost theatrical femininity, while the addition of May rose softens the edge, creating a duality of strength and delicacy. The cool‑mossy chypre opening, a rarity in modern florals, introduces an earthy counterpoint that prepares the skin for the deep, resinous oud and black musk that linger long after the flowers fade.
The Evolution
At first spray, a crisp burst of tuberose absolute and sparkling neroli greets the senses, like fresh petals brushed by a morning breeze. Within ten minutes the heart unfurls, revealing jasmine’s creamy sweetness intertwined with the soft, powdery allure of May rose, adding a subtle romantic glow. As the composition settles, the unexpected cool‑mossy chypre base emerges, grounding the bouquet with earthy patchouli and damp forest moss. Soon after, the depth of agarwood (oud) and sandalwood surfaces, lending a smoky, woody warmth, while black musk wraps everything in a velvety, animalic finish. The drydown persists for eight to ten hours, leaving a lingering trail of moss‑kissed oud that whispers on the skin long after the floral top has faded.
Cultural Impact
Wearers often remark that Close To My Heart announces itself with a striking tuberose‑neroli flash, then settles into a moss‑laden, oud‑rich drydown that lingers long after the wearer leaves the room. Its strong sillage and eight‑plus hour longevity have made it a favorite for evening events where a memorable, confident scent is desired.
The House
United Kingdom · Est. 1990
Bella Freud is a British designer who moves fluidly between fashion, interiors, film and fragrance. Since the early 1990s she has built a label that values narrative as much as material. Her perfume collection, launched in the mid‑2010s, reads like a series of character studies, each bottle framing a story that mirrors her work in clothing. Recent collaborations with heritage houses such as Penhaligon’s show how the brand translates its sartorial sensibility into scent, offering collectors a tactile extension of the Bella Freud aesthetic.
If this were a song
Community picks
The fragrance feels like a late‑afternoon garden turning into a twilight forest, bright, floral beginnings that settle into deep, woody resonance.
Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
