<PAGE>
                                 [FACE OF NOTE]

UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED
IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE
& CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED
OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

This Note is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter
referred to and is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other nominee
of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, or any successor
depositary ("Depositary"), as requested by an authorized representative of the
Depositary. This Note may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Note
registered, and no transfer of this security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any person other than the Depositary or a nominee
thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture. Every
security authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, this Note will be a Global Security subject to the
foregoing, except in such limited circumstances.

REGISTERED                  CUSIP No.: 37576GAQ3              PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
No. 016                                                       U.S.$25,000,000

                              THE GILLETTE COMPANY

                             GILLETTE CORENOTES(SM)

                           FLOATING RATE NOTE DUE 2043
<PAGE>
      THE GILLETTE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to),
for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns,
Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on April 2, 2043 (the "Stated Maturity
Date") (or on any earlier Redemption Date or Repayment Date, each as defined on
the reverse hereof, or on any earlier date of acceleration of maturity) (each
such date being hereinafter referred to as the "Maturity Date" with respect to
the principal payable on such date) and to pay interest thereon (and on any
overdue principal and/or interest to the extent legally enforceable) at a
floating rate determined as described herein, until the principal hereof is paid
or duly made available for payment.

      Interest on this Note will accrue for each Interest Period (as defined
below) at a rate per annum equal to Three-Month LIBOR (as defined below), as
determined on the Determination Date (as defined below) for the applicable
Interest Period, minus 0.30%; provided, however, that the interest rate on this
Note for any Interest Period may not exceed the highest rate then permitted
under New York law, as the same may be modified by U.S. law of general
application. An "Interest Period" shall begin on, and include, the immediately
preceding Interest Payment Date (as defined below) (the first Interest Period
shall begin on and include October 2, 2003) and end on, but exclude, the
applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date. Interest on this Note
will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in the
applicable Interest Period and a 360-day year.

      "Three-Month LIBOR" means, with respect to any Interest Period, the rate
for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period, commencing on the first
day of such Interest Period, that appears on Telerate Page 3750 (as defined
below) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Determination Date for
such Interest Period. If such rate does not so appear on the Telerate Page 3750,
the Calculation Agent (as defined below) will determine Three-Month LIBOR on the
basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by four major
banks in the London interbank market (selected by the Calculation Agent) at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Determination Date to prime banks
in the London interbank market for a period of three months, commencing on the
first day of such Interest Period and in a principal amount equal to an amount
not less than $1,000,000 that is representative for a single transaction in such
market at such time. In such case, the Calculation Agent will request the
principal London office of each of the aforesaid major banks to provide a
quotation of such rate. If at least two such quotations are so provided,
Three-Month LIBOR for such Interest Period will be the arithmetic mean of such
quotations, and, if fewer than two such quotations are so provided, Three-Month
LIBOR for such Interest Period will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted
by major banks in The City of New York, selected by the Calculation Agent, at
approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Determination Date for
loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a period of three-months,
commencing on the first day of such Interest Period and in a principal amount
equal to an amount not less than $1,000,000 that is representative for a single
transaction in such market at such time.

      "Business Day" means any day (i) other than a Saturday, Sunday, legal
holiday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by
law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York and (ii)
that is a "London Banking Day", which is defined as a


                                       2
<PAGE>
day on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in U.S.
dollars) in London.

      "Determination Date" means the second London Banking Day preceding the
first day of the applicable Interest Period.

      "Telerate Page 3750" means the display on Moneyline Telerate (or any
successor service) on page 3750 (or any other page as may replace such page on
such service) for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates of
major banks.

      The Calculation Agent will, upon the request of the registered holder (the
"Holder") of this Note, provide the interest rate then in effect. The
"Calculation Agent" will be J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association
until such time as the Company appoints a successor calculation agent. All
calculations made by the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error
shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and the Holder
of this Note.

      All percentages resulting from any calculation of the interest rate with
respect to this Note will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one-hundred
thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point
rounded upwards, and all dollar amounts in or resulting from any such
calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being
rounded upwards).

      The Company will pay interest in arrears on January 2, April 2, July 2 and
October 2 of each year, commencing January 2, 2004 (each, an "Interest Payment
Date"), and on the Maturity Date. The interest so payable, and punctually paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, subject to certain
exceptions described herein, be paid to the person in whose name this Note (or
one or more predecessor Notes, as defined on the reverse hereof) is registered
at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a
Business Day) preceding such Interest Payment Date (the "Record Date"). Any such
interest payable that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any
Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date ("Defaulted Interest") shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder of this Note on the close of
business on the related Record Date and, instead, shall be paid to the person in
whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a special record
date (the "Special Record Date") for the purpose of payment of such Defaulted
Interest to be fixed by the Trustee hereinafter referred to, notice whereof
shall be given to the Holder of this Note by the Trustee not less than 10
calendar days prior to such Special Record Date or may be paid at any time in
any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided for in the Indenture.

      Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of
this Note due on the Maturity Date will be made by the Company in immediately
available funds, upon delivery of payment instructions by the Holder hereof, at
the office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York, which is currently the corporate trust
office of the Trustee located at, 153 West 51st Street, New York, New York
10019, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or at such other paying agency
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Company may determine.
Payment of interest due


                                       3
<PAGE>
on any Interest Payment Date will be made by the Company in immediately
available funds to the Holder of this Note on the Record Date upon delivery of
payment instructions by the Holder hereof.

      If any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date falls on a day
that is not a Business Day, then such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to
the next Business Day, unless such next Business Day falls in the next month, in
which case such Interest Payment Date will be accelerated to the preceding
Business Day.

      If the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the
required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, shall be
made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the
date such payment was due, and no additional interest shall accrue with respect
to such payment for the period from and after the Maturity Date, as the case may
be, to the date of such payment on the next Business Day.

      Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth
on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall have the same force and
effect as if set forth on the face hereof.

      Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit
under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


                                       4
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Gillette Company has caused this Note to be duly
executed.

                                    THE GILLETTE COMPANY

                                    By: /s/ Gail F. Sullivan
                                       --------------------
                                         Name:  Gail F. Sullivan
                                         Title: Vice President and Treasurer

                                    ATTEST:

                                    By: /s/ Carol S. Fischman
                                       ---------------------
                                         Name:  Carol S. Fischman
                                         Title: Deputy General Counsel
                                                and Assistant Secretary

Dated:  December 1, 2003                                        [Corporate Seal]



TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

This is one of the Securities of
the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

By:  /s/ Eva Aryeetey
    -----------------
        Authorized Officer


                                       5
<PAGE>
                                [REVERSE OF NOTE]

                              THE GILLETTE COMPANY

                             GILLETTE CORENOTES(SM)

                           FLOATING RATE NOTE DUE 2043

      This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities (the "Debt
Securities") of the Company issued and to be issued, from time to time, under an
Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2002, as amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, including as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of August 23, 2002 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and J.P.
Morgan Trust Company, National Association, successor to Bank One, N.A., as
trustee (the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference
is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of
the Debt Securities, and of the terms upon which the Debt Securities are, and
are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series of Debt
Securities designated as "Gillette CoreNotes" (the "Notes") for purposes of the
Second Supplemental Indenture to which reference is made above. All terms used
but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Indenture or on the face hereof, as the case may be.

      This Note is issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum
denominations of U.S.$1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

      This Note will not be subject to any sinking fund and, unless otherwise
specified below, will not be redeemable or repayable prior to the Stated
Maturity Date.

      Redemption and Repayment

      This Note will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company on
any date on or after April 2, 2033, in whole or from time to time in part in
increments of U.S.$1,000 (provided that any remaining principal amount hereof
shall be at least U.S.$1,000), at the prices set forth in the table below,
together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption
(the "Redemption Date"), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning
April 2 of each year set forth in the table below, on written notice given to
the Holder hereof (in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture) not more
than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date; provided,
however, that the Company will be obligated to pay the interest installment due
on any Interest Payment Date occurring on or before a Redemption Date to the
Holder of this Note on the Record Date preceding such Interest Payment Date. In
the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note of like tenor in a
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of principal hereof and
otherwise having the same terms and provisions as this Note shall be issued by
the Company in the name of the Holder hereof upon the presentation and surrender
hereof.


                                       6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 REDEMPTION PRICE
                                                                                 (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD                                                              PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
BEGINNING APRIL 2,                                                               NOTE)
------------------                                                               -------------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
2033..........................................................................            105.0%
2034..........................................................................            104.5%
2035..........................................................................            104.0%
2036..........................................................................            103.5%
2037..........................................................................            103.0%
2038..........................................................................            102.5%
2039..........................................................................            102.0%
2040..........................................................................            101.5%
2041..........................................................................            101.0%
2042 and thereafter to, but excluding, the Stated Maturity Date...............            100.5%
</TABLE>

      This Note will be subject to repayment, in whole or from time to time in
part in increments of U.S.$1,000 (provided that any remaining principal amount
hereof shall be at least U.S.$1,000) by the Company at the option of the Holder
hereof on the dates and at the prices set forth in the table below, together
with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date of repayment (the "Repayment
Date"); provided, however, that the Company will be obligated to pay the
interest installment due on any Interest Payment Date occurring on or before a
Repayment Date to the Holder of this Note on the Record Date preceding such
Interest Payment Date. For this Note to be so repaid, the Trustee must receive
at its corporate trust office not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days
prior to the applicable Repayment Date, (1) such Note with the form entitled
"Option to Elect Repayment" hereof duly completed or (2) a telegram, facsimile
transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange or a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial
bank or trust company in the United States setting forth: (A) the name of the
Holder of such Note; (B) the principal amount of such Note; (C) the principal
amount of such Note to be repaid; (D) the certificate number or a description of
the tenor and terms of such Note; (E) a statement that the option to elect
repayment is being exercised thereby; and (F) a guarantee that such Note to be
repaid will be transferred to the DTC account of the Trustee not later than the
fifth business day after the date of such telegram, facsimile transmission or
letter. Exercise of such repayment option shall be irrevocable.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   REPAYMENT PRICE
                                                                                   (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                                   PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
REPAYMENT DATE                                                                     NOTE)
--------------                                                                     -------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>
April 2, 2004.................................................................               98%
April 2, 2005.................................................................               98%
April 2, 2006.................................................................               98%
April 2, 2007.................................................................               98%
April 2, 2008.................................................................               98%
</TABLE>


                                       7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   REPAYMENT PRICE
                                                                                   (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                                   PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
REPAYMENT DATE                                                                     NOTE)
--------------                                                                     -------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>
April 2, 2009.................................................................               99%
April 2, 2010.................................................................               99%
April 2, 2011.................................................................               99%
April 2, 2012.................................................................               99%
April 2, 2013.................................................................               99%
April 2, 2014 and April 2 of every third year thereafter, commencing April 2,
2017..........................................................................              100%
</TABLE>


      In the event of repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note of like
tenor in a principal amount equal to the unrepaid portion of principal hereof
and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as this Note shall be issued
by the Company in the name of the Holder hereof upon the presentation and
surrender hereof.

      General

      If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the
Notes may, and in certain cases shall, be accelerated in the manner and with the
effect provided in the Indenture.

      The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance of (i) the entire
indebtedness of the Notes or (ii) certain covenants and Events of Default with
respect to the Notes, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set
forth therein, which provisions apply to the Notes.

      The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities at any time by the
Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of Debt Securities at the
time outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions
permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series, on behalf of all of the
Holders of all Debt Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the
Company with certain provisions of the Indenture with respect to such series.
Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any
series, in certain instances, to waive, on behalf of all of the Holders of Debt
Securities of such series, certain past defaults under the Indenture and their
consequences with respect to such series. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder shall be conclusive and binding upon the Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Note and other Notes issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange heretofore or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of
such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

      No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of
the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in
respect of this Note at the times, places and rate or formula, and in the coin
or currency, herein prescribed.

      As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
and herein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security
Register of the Company upon


                                       8
<PAGE>
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of
the Company in any place where the principal hereof and premium, if any, and
interest hereon are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder or by his or her attorney duly authorized
in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes having the same terms and
provisions, in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof
and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued by the Company to
the designated transferee or transferees.

      As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
and herein set forth, this Note is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Notes in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof but otherwise having the same terms and provisions, as requested by the
Holder hereof surrendering the same.

      This Note is a Global Security. If the Depositary has notified the Company
that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for Global Securities
or has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended at a time when it is required to be so registered to act
as Depositary or an Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing with respect to Global Securities, the Company will issue Notes in
certificated form in exchange for each Global Security. In addition, the Company
may at any time elect, in its sole discretion, not to have Notes represented by
a Global Security and, in such event, will issue Notes in certificated form in
exchange for such Global Security. In any such instance, an owner of a
beneficial interest in a Global Security will be entitled to physical delivery
in certificated form of Notes equal in principal amount to such beneficial
interest and to have such Notes registered in its name. Notes so issued in
certificated form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple of $1,000 and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

      No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

      Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Holder as the owner hereof for all purposes, including receiving payment of
principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest hereon, whether or not this
Note be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any such agent shall be
affected by notice to the contrary, except as required by law.

      THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF
LAW PRINCIPLES.


                                       9
<PAGE>
                                  ABBREVIATIONS

      The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according
to applicable laws or regulations:

<TABLE>
<S>         <C>                                  <C>                  <C>
TEN COM     - as tenants in common               UNIF GIFT MIN ACT            Custodian
                                                                      -------           -------
                                                                       (Cust)           (Minor)
TEN ENT     - as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN      - as joint tenants with right of                          under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
              survivorship and not as tenants
              in common                                               -------------------------
CUST        - custodian                                                   (State)

            Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
</TABLE>

                       ----------------------------------


                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto

Please Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee

--------------------------------

--------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the within Security of THE GILLETTE COMPANY and does hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint                                                  attorney
                       ------------------------------------------------
to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:
      ----------------------------      ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as
written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.


                                       10
<PAGE>
                            OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT

      The undersigned hereby irrevocably request(s) and instruct(s) the Company
to repay this Note (or portion hereof specified below) pursuant to its terms at
a price equal to the applicable percentage of the principal amount of this Note
to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued hereon to the Repayment
Date, to the undersigned, at ___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________.
         (Please print or typewrite name and address of the undersigned)

      For this Note to be so repaid, the Trustee must receive at its office in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently located at 55 Water
Street, 1st Floor, Jeanette Park Entrance, New York, New York 10041, Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration, telephone number: 312-407-7374, not more than 60
nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the applicable Optional Repayment Date,
(1) this Note with this form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" duly completed
or (2) a telegram, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a
national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company in the United
States setting forth: (A) the name of the Holder of this Note; (B) the principal
amount of this Note; (C) the principal amount of this Note to be repaid; (D) the
certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of this Note; (E) a
statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby; and (F)
a guarantee that this Note to be repaid will be transferred to the DTC account
of the Trustee not later than the fifth business day after the date of such
telegram, facsimile transmission or letter.

      If less than the entire principal amount of this Note is to be repaid,
specify the portion hereof (which shall be in increments of U.S.$1,000)
(provided that any remaining principal amount of this Note shall be at least
U.S.$1,000) which the Holder elects to have repaid and specify the denomination
or denominations (which shall be U.S.$1,000 or in integral multiples thereof) of
the Notes to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal of this
Note not being repaid (in the absence of any such specification, one such Note
will be issued for the entire portion of principal of this Note not being
repaid).

Principal Amount
to be Repaid:    $________________                      ________________________

Dated:____________________________


                                       11