Reasonably priced and delectably gourmand, the best Sol De Janeiro scents evoke holiday bliss and deluxe spa settings for a fraction of the price of some luxury perfumes. Sol de Janeiro means "sun of January", the time of year when the sun is at its highest in Brazil, so it makes sense that these scents evoke a celebratory spirit and an enduring summery feel.
When the brand first launched in 2015, the Brazilian-inspired Bum Bum Cream had all the hallmarks of a great beauty product; bright, dopamine-inducing packaging, a fun name and is a fantastic body moisturiser. One of the best-smelling body lotions or creams around, it's fast-absorbing, intensely nourishing and even claims to firm skin. Despite these benefits, I was primarily using it (and justifying the cost) because of its incredible fragrance, later turning to the perfume mists. Now, I have one in my bag at all times for an immediate mood boost.
They're still distinctly different and it would be quite easy to tell them apart in a blind sniff test. Some are fruity perfumes, some are floral fragrances while others are gourmand. Often described as summer-worthy, I wear them all year round for an immediate mood boost. As I've tried every single one, here I've shared an in-depth guide to my favourite Sol de Janeiro summer scents, ranked from most loved to least used – which should help you answer the question, which Sol de Janeiro scent is best for me?
The best Sol de Janeiro scents, ranked by our beauty experts
Fragrance notes: Velvet plum, sugared violet, vanilla orchid, whipped amber, sheer sandalwood, fresh vetiver
The brand's newest launch immediately converted me. I was a die-hard 68 fan, telling anyone who loved the famous Cheirosa 62 that they just had to try 68, but the 59 scent has quickly become a favourite and the one I use the most (which is why I deem it the best Sol de Janeiro scent overall). The fragrance takes me back to my childhood in the best way; the sugared violet reminds me of the Parma Violets I so adored.
It's neither sickly sweet nor overwhelming. Instead, the combination of vanilla orchid, sugared violet and sheer sandalwood creates a scent that is as delicious as it is uplifting. I am so in love with the 68 scent, I honestly didn't believe the brand could make anything I deemed better, but this newer scent has totally blown me away. I think it has to be Sol de Janeiro's best scent if you're after something sophisticated. Plus, this gourmand, woody fragrance is scientifically proven to boost your mood. What's not to love?
Reasons to buy: You're looking for something affordable, uplifting and not sickly sweet
Reasons to avoid: You don't like vanilla notes (though they are subtle and sophisticated)
Fragrance notes: Pistachio, almond, heliotrope, jasmine petals, vanilla, salted caramel, sandalwood
This is the scent that started it all – just one spritz imparts that holiday feeling. It's irresistible, sunny, warm and the ultimate expression of Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian spirit. "What I love most about the scent is that it's warm and comforting rather than sickly. To me, the salted caramel is the overwhelming note and feels snug and summery all at once – but it is worth noting that the perfume scent doesn't last as long as the fragrance from the body or hair products," says beauty editor Jess Beech.
This was the first Sol De Janeiro scent I heard about and I understand why everyone is so obsessed with this scent. I've never smelt anything that embodies summer sun quite like it. The Cheirosa 62 range are the only products I use on holiday now and for whenever I need to pretend that I'm on the beach when I'm back in London," says Dionne.
Reasons to buy: You want a sweet, impressively long-lasting scent, or to feel like you're on holiday (or both!)
Reasons to avoid: You prefer crisp, clean scents over very sweet ones
Fragrance notes: Pink dragonfruit, lychee essence, Brazilian jasmine, ocean air, hibiscus, sheer vanilla, sun musk
Blooming and bright, this fruity fragrance will remind you of a garden in Rio. It's inspired by 1968, when the Tropicália movement marked an exciting musical and cultural shift in Brazil. I've worn the Cheirosa 68 cream every single day for over a year and it instantly makes my day better. In my opinion, it's the most expensive-smelling, sophisticated scent in Sol De Janeiro's range. It's not super sweet like the others, and it is not at all overpowering, which is why I always have one in my bag. I fell in love with the Cheirosa 68 scent from the first time I used the skin-plumping body cream because of the jasmine and dragonfruit combination. Combined with a touch of vanilla, it's the best thing I've ever smelt and hands down one of the best affordable perfumes, too.
If you're yet to try any of the Sol scents, 68 is the one I recommend to all my friends. I'll be honest with you, I have the Baracat Rouge body lotion and, other than the shimmer, I can't really tell the difference between that and the Cheirosa 68 cream. It's that good. The mist doesn't last as long as the spray, but I won't leave my house without one in my bag.
Reasons to buy: You want a sophisticated and sweet, but not overpowering, scent
Reasons to avoid: You want a longer-lasting spray
Fragrance notes: Black amber plum, crème de cassis, jasmine blooms, Brazilian orchid, vanilla woods, warm musk
Sweet and delicate, this warm floral fragrance has a touch of sophisticated sensuality, inspired by 1840 when Rio debuted their legendary bailes Carnaval Ball. The mix of fruity and florals is undoubtedly uplifting, and vanilla gives it a dash of extra sweetness, but Jess prefers to use this in the cream version as this scent feels a little young to her. "Thanks to the addition of exfoliating AHAs, which work wonders on the chicken skin on my arms and the bumpy backs of my thighs, the Bom Dia Bright Cream is one of my favourite Sol de Janeiro products because it's a brilliant body exfoliator," she explains.
This is the Sol De Janeiro scent I use the most during the summer months. While the Cheirosa 62 is very much a "summer in the sun" type fragrance, 40 feels more "summer at home". It has a gorgeously balanced sweetness that isn't overpowering and is balanced out perfectly with the plum and musk. Plus, it's the scent I found that lasts the longest.
Reasons to buy: You want to gift a Sol De Janeiro scent (this is the one I imagine most would enjoy)
Reasons to avoid: You want a distinctively sweet, summery scent with a beachy feel
Fragrance notes: Leite de coco, warm sand, solar tuberose, ylang ylang, creamy vanilla, amber essence
The Cheirosa 87 is inspired by 1987's "Summer of the Cans", a highly influential event that prompted parties, music and art. "I'm all about holiday nostalgia and there is something about this floral fragrance that made me feel like my Out of Office was on, my hair was salty and my toes were in the sand. I'm also an absolute sucker for anything that smells of tuberose (Tubéreuse is my all-time favourite, only-burn-on-very-special occasions Diptyque candle).
"This, combined with a touch of coconut and amber, for me, evokes the feeling of a warm summer evening," says Jess. "The fragrance itself isn't too strong, which does impact the staying power, but I like the fact that it's more low-key as I can find intense scents quite headache-inducing when the temperatures heat up."
Reasons to buy: You love tuberose and want a low-key scent
Reasons to avoid: You want something more potent
Fragrance notes: Caramelised vanilla, sea salt, toasted macadamia nut, white chocolate, tonka bean, coconut blossom
An amber gourmand fragrance inspired by Brazilian muse Leila Diniz who, in 1971, celebrated her bikini body at eight months pregnant on the beaches of Rio. "Summer isn’t for everyone and I’d say that this Sol de Janeiro scent is the most 'autumnal' of the bunch," says Jess. "At first sniff, it’s the original Cheirosa 62 on steroids. It’s got the same caramel and vanilla notes but with the intensity dialled up to max. The closest thing I can liken it to is caramelising sugar when it’s just starting to catch on the bottom of the pan, or when someone’s taken a blow torch to a crème brulée in a fancy restaurant. There are more dessert-worthy gourmand notes, too, with toasted macadamia nut and tonka bean, while coconut blossom and sea salt add a sprinkle of the beachy feel you’d expect from the brand."
It is more of a fall fragrance than what I look for day to day, but I love how completely different this is from the rest of the collection. If you had only smelled the brand's iconic 62 or summery fragrances, you wouldn't guess this was a Sol scent. It's totally different and the nutty notes come out for me the most.
Reasons to buy: You love a gourmand fragrance that smells good enough to eat
Reasons to avoid: You don't like nuts or caramel (the nutty note comes through strongly)
Why are Sol de Janeiro scents so popular?
My obsession with Sol de Janeiro scents started with the (now iconic) Bum Bum Cream – which I later learnt is pronounced "boom boom". I instantly fell in love with the fragrance and, in turn, had to get my hands on all of the best Sol de Janeiro scent options.
The perfume mists have more than a billion views on TikTok alone. It's not always the case that something that goes that viral is worth the attention, but when it comes to these perfume sprays, they most certainly are. Why? They smell much more expensive than their price tag, making them a handbag or beach bag essential. Because, despite opting for the best long-lasting perfumes, I always need a little top-up throughout the day.
Are Sol de Janeiro scents worth investing in?
Sol de Janeiro scents are all quite unique, with unexpected notes that set them apart from other affordable fragrances. Aside from Cheirosa 71, I’d say they’re all very summery, which will either appeal to you year-round or not. I personally drench myself in my favourites (Cheirosa 62 and 87) as I optimistically wait to see whether British summertime will make an appearance this year.
Sol de Janeiro's Perfume Mists are popular for good reason, largely because they’re not super expensive (£22 for 90ml or £35 for a generously sized 200ml). To put this into perspective, 100ml of Jo Malone’s popular perfume Pomegranate Noir costs more than £100, while 100ml of Le Labo's Santal 33 will set you back over £200 – and price is a key consideration when choosing the best perfume for you.
These scents are more affordable because they’re mists rather than eaux de parfum, but this means they don’t have the same intensity as long-lasting perfumes. As a result, we found they tend to fade more quickly than other scents. However, the benefit of mist formulas is that they can be used on your body, as well as your hair, without leaving it dry and straw-like.
Something particularly brilliant about the Sol de Janeiro collection as a whole is its fragrance families; you can layer fragrances from different products that have the same scent, such as a body lotion and a body mist, to help increase their potency and staying power. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book for how to make perfume last longer generally.
If you’re strapped for cash and can only afford to invest in one product from Sol de Janeiro, however, I would choose one of their scented body lotions over a mist, only because the lotion is kind of a two-in-one and will leave you both deliciously fragranced and with cared-for skin.
Which Sol de Janeiro scent is best?
Naturally, this answer is heavily dependent on personal preference. But, as detailed earlier in this guide, our beauty expert deems the Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mist the overall best, pivoting from the 62 mist after years of the latter being her go-to. A mix of sugared violet, velvet plum, amber, sandalwood and vetiver, it's not too sickly or overpowering and carries real sophistication.
