Sol de Janeiro has become a familiar name for younger perfume shoppers. Millennials grew up with brands such as Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, while Sol de Janeiro has developed a strong following among Gen Z through its popular body care and fragrance products.
The company was established in 2015 and has grown into a significant player across beauty. A recent annual report from its parent company, L’Occitane Group, credited Sol de Janeiro with nearly one-third of the group’s revenue. The report also placed the brand at the top of Sephora North America’s beauty rankings and Amazon US’s fragrance category at the time.
I am a millennial who was relatively new to the brand, so I purchased a six-scent Sol de Janeiro sample set at Ulta Beauty and wore each mist on my skin. I considered how each fragrance smelled, how it changed over time, how long it lasted, how easily it fit into my wardrobe and whether I wanted to reach for it again.
Why Sol de Janeiro’s perfume mists stand out
The brand first gained attention with its Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, which launched in 2015 and became a popular skincare product among millennials. Its perfume mist line followed in 2020 and quickly developed its own audience among tweens and teens.
The sprays now regularly appear in young shoppers’ gift guides, seasonal shopping lists and “what’s in my bag” videos. Sol de Janeiro has also identified Cheirosa 62, Cheirosa 40 and Cheirosa 68 as its three bestselling scents.
Those three are natural choices for anyone beginning a Sol de Janeiro collection. However, the best seller is not necessarily the one that performs best on every person’s skin.
My Sol de Janeiro perfume mist comparison
| Mist | My impression | Where it fit in my rotation |
|---|---|---|
| Cheirosa 68 | Fresh, tropical and noticeably warm-weather friendly | Best for relaxed summer outings and evenings with friends |
| Cheirosa 39 | Unexpected, creamy and distinctive once the initial scent faded | An occasional favorite for people seeking something less conventional |
| Cheirosa 71 | Appealing bakery notes that became too sweet for my taste | Enjoyable at first, but not a scent I wanted to wear all day |
| Cheirosa 62 | Sunny, rich and polished, with a clear summer personality | Strong choice for warmer months, though less versatile for me |
Cheirosa 68 delivered the easiest tropical appeal
Cheirosa 68 draws inspiration from Brazil’s Tropicália movement in 1968, a period that influenced the country’s art, music and wider culture. Its ingredient list includes dragonfruit, lychee, Brazilian jasmine, ocean air, hibiscus, vanilla and musk.
On my skin, the result was sweet, sunny and refreshing without feeling as heavy as some of the other sprays. It gave me the sense of being on holiday, and I could easily imagine wearing it near the beach or for a casual night out.
I would not choose it for every day of the year. The warm-weather mood is central to its appeal, so I would save it for occasions when that atmosphere matched the setting.
Cheirosa 39 became more interesting as it settled
Sol de Janeiro describes Cheirosa 39 as a beachy fragrance designed to evoke the feeling of relaxing in a hammock with a breeze overhead. Its listed notes are coconut cream, toasted vanilla, tropical orchid, sandalwood and praline.
My first impression was buttered popcorn. That surprised me because critics have described the mist in similar terms, but perfume can react differently on each person because of skin chemistry.
The opening did not fully convince me. As the fragrance developed, though, the coconut and vanilla became more apparent, accompanied by a light floral quality. The scent eventually created a vivid island atmosphere for me.
That evolution changed my opinion. I liked that it did not remain exactly as it smelled on application. While I would not wear it daily, I would happily add it to my fragrance rotation.
Cheirosa 71 started strong but lost appeal
Cheirosa 71 was inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s Confeitaria Colombo bakery. The fragrance features notes associated with baked sweets: caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, sea salt, white chocolate and tonka bean.
Because I enjoy sweet treats, I expected this to become one of my favorites. Instead, it initially reminded me of gingerbread. As it dried down, the scent moved closer to a graham cracker covered with caramel.
There was a brief period when I enjoyed it, but the sweetness eventually became overwhelming. It also seemed stronger than I wanted a fragrance to feel throughout an entire day. The bakery idea was clever; the result simply did not suit my personal taste.
Cheirosa 62 was polished but seasonal
Cheirosa 62 is Sol de Janeiro’s most recognizable mist and is closely connected to the fame of the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. The brand calls it “irresistible and sunny,” a reference to Brazil in 1962, when “The Girl from Ipanema” was written.
Its combination of pistachio, almonds, heliotrope, jasmine petals, vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood produced a rich summer scent on my skin. It was creamy and sweet, yet still had enough floral and nutty detail to feel polished rather than flat.
I had doubts because so many people already know this fragrance and associate it strongly with the cream. I also wondered whether the notes might work better in a denser skincare format.
After wearing it, I understood the appeal, even though it was not my favorite of the six. The problem was seasonal. Cheirosa 62 captured warmth and brightness perfectly for me, but I did not want to wear it during the cooler months. It suited a defined time and place rather than serving as an unrestricted everyday scent.
The fragrance that deserves a closer look
Sol de Janeiro’s famous mists are the easiest recommendation because the brand’s three bestselling options have broad recognition. Cheirosa 68 is the most straightforward choice for a fresh tropical mood. Cheirosa 39 is more unusual and rewards patience as its scent develops. Cheirosa 62 offers a rich, recognizable profile, although some wearers may find it better suited to warm weather. Cheirosa 71 is the option for anyone who enjoys the idea of a bakery-inspired perfume, provided its sweetness appeals to them.
The surprise of testing a full set is that a less obvious scent may become the favorite. My favorite was not among the brand’s three bestsellers. That is precisely why sampling remains more useful than choosing solely by popularity.
Key takeaways
- Sol de Janeiro’s three bestselling mists are Cheirosa 62, 40 and 68, but popularity does not guarantee personal compatibility.
- Cheirosa 68 felt fresh and tropical, making it the easiest of the sprays I reviewed to wear in summer.
- Cheirosa 39 became more appealing as its coconut and vanilla notes emerged after the opening.
- Cheirosa 71 had an imaginative bakery concept, although it became too sweet for my personal taste.
- Cheirosa 62 was rich and polished but felt limited to warmer seasons.
- A sample set can reveal a fragrance that a shopper would not have chosen based on sales or popularity alone.
Frequently asked questions
Which Sol de Janeiro scents are the brand’s most popular?
Sol de Janeiro identified Cheirosa 62, 40 and 68 as its three most popular perfume mists.
Which Sol de Janeiro mist was the tester’s favorite?
The favorite was not one of the brand’s three bestselling scents, although the supplied facts do not identify the complete ranking of all six sprays.
Is Cheirosa 62 a summer fragrance?
It felt warm and sunny on the tester’s skin, making it especially suitable for summer but less appealing during the cooler seasons.
What does Cheirosa 39 smell like?
It reminded the tester of buttered popcorn at first, then developed into a warmer blend of coconut, vanilla and light floral notes.
Why should perfume mists be tested on skin?
Individual skin chemistry can change how a fragrance develops, making a wear test more reliable than judging a mist from its listed notes alone.