Sol de Janeiro
- When a member of Gen Z smells good, you can probably thank Sol de Janeiro.
- I'm a millennial and new to the brand, so I tried six of its popular fragrances.
- The best scent, in my opinion, is also one of the brand's most underrated.
Millennials had Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. Gen Z has Sol de Janeiro.
The body, hair, and fragrance brand, founded in 2015, has become a major player in the industry. A 2025 fiscal year report from L'Occitane Group, Sol de Janeiro's parent company, said the brand accounted for 31.6% of the group's sales. The report also described Sol de Janeiro as Sephora North America's No. 1 beauty brand and the No. 1 fragrance brand on Amazon US at the time.
Two Sol de Janeiro products have led that charge. First, millennials embraced the $48 Brazilian Bum Bum Cream after it launched in 2015, turning it into a skincare staple.
Tweens and teens have now become obsessed with the $39 Cheirosa perfume mists, the first of which debuted in 2020. The sprays have become a staple of young people's shopping hauls, holiday wish lists, and what's-in-my-bag videos.
The brand confirmed to Business Insider that its three most popular scents are Cheirosa 62, 40, and 68.
I'm a big fragrance fan myself, but I had yet to try the perfume mists. So I went to Ulta Beauty, purchased a $49 sample set of six Sol de Janeiro scents, and tested them on my skin.
Considering each mist's scent, staying power, wearability, and personal preference, here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.
Sol de Janeiro
If there's one thing I love more than fragrances, it's sweet treats — so Cheirosa 71 should have worked for me.
Sol de Janeiro says the scent is inspired by the iconic Confeitaria Colombo bakery in Brazil, with notes of caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, sea salt, white chocolate, and tonka bean.
When I tried it, the mist smelled more like a gingerbread cookie to me. Then, as it settled, it transformed into something more reminiscent of a graham cracker drizzled with caramel.
Some critics of this scent say it smells like buttered popcorn. I didn't notice that on my skin.
Instead, it reminded me of a holiday hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works. I can appreciate the scent for a moment, but I don't want it to linger all day. It's too strong and sickly sweet for me.
Sol de Janeiro
I'll be honest. I was never that impressed by Cheirosa 62, the scent made famous by the brand's Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.
Sol de Janeiro describes the fragrance as "irresistible and sunny." It's a nod to Brazil in 1962, when "The Girl from Ipanema" was written.
With notes of pistachio, almonds, heliotrope flower, jasmine petals, vanilla, salted caramel, and sandalwood, Cheirosa 62 is exactly that. I'd describe it as summer in a bottle.
That said, it also makes the fragrance seasonal for me. It just doesn't feel right to wear in the fall, winter, or spring.
I also think the notes lend themselves better to a richer, creamier product, like the Bum Bum cream.
Sol de Janeiro
If any Sol de Janeiro scent smells like buttered popcorn, I think it's this one.
This scent is meant to be beachy, as if you were lounging on a hammock with the breeze in your hair, Sol de Janeiro says. It has notes of coconut cream, toasted vanilla, tropical orchid, sandalwood, and praline.
When I first spray the mist, that combination smells like buttered popcorn on my skin. That's not any reflection of Sol de Janeiro. Perfumes smell different on everyone because of their individual skin chemistry.
But I'm not complaining. I actually like the scent. It's decadent, intriguing, and different than anything else in my fragrance collection.
The coconut and vanilla notes come through more as it settles, with florals peeking through. It takes some time, but it eventually transports me to an island.
So while I might not wear Cheirosa 39 every day, I will add it to my perfume rotation.
Sol de Janeiro
The Cheirosa 68 scent was inspired by Brazil's Tropicália Movement in 1968, which influenced the country's art, music, and culture.
It includes notes of dragonfruit, lychee essence, Brazilian jasmine, ocean air, hibiscus, vanilla, and musk.
To me, it smells sweet, sunny, and refreshing. I could see myself wearing it to the beach or for a night out with friends.
Considering my current fragrance lineup, I'll probably wear this on occasion when the weather is warmer. If I were a teen in 2026, though, I'd probably wear this Sol de Janeiro scent every day.
Sol de Janeiro
The famous Carnaval Ball in Rio inspired the Cheirosa 40 perfume mist.
On its website, Sol de Janeiro says it's meant to be sultry and delicate, with notes of black amber plum, crème de cassis, jasmine, Brazilian orchid, vanilla, and musk.
In my experience, each of those notes comes through with a single spray of the fragrance. It's one of the most mature and longest-lasting scents in the lineup I tried.
It also reminds me of my favorite Victoria's Secret scent: Bombshell Intense. Naturally, I have to recommend it to fellow millennials looking to get in on the Sol de Janeiro trend.
Sol de Janeiro
Sol de Janeiro says on its website that this scent should be as liberating as the "energy of 1948, when the bikini was first spotted in Brazil."
Liberating is accurate, but I'd also say this scent is exhilarating. Its notes blend guava nectar, coconut water, orchid, lemon, wild orris, pink musk, and vanilla.
Together, they create a fragrance that's as refreshing and exciting as a poolside drink in the summer. Still, the musk notes make it more versatile than a basic summer scent.
Cheirosa 48 is the Sol de Janeiro mist I'll be wearing year-round.