Why Gen Z loves Sol de Janeiro: I tried 6 of the brand’s most popular fragrances, ranked worst to best
A brand’s growing reach
Sol de Janeiro, founded in 2015, has become a significant name in body care, hair products, and fragrance. Its rise has spanned generations: millennials embraced the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, while younger shoppers have taken to the brand’s perfume mists.
The company’s parent, L’Occitane Group, reported that Sol de Janeiro contributed 31.6% of its sales in fiscal 2025. The report also identified it as Sephora North America’s leading beauty brand and Amazon US’s top fragrance brand at that time.
Mists attract younger shoppers
The $48 Brazilian Bum Bum Cream launched in 2015 and became a skincare staple. The first of the $39 Cheirosa perfume mists arrived in 2020, and the sprays have since appeared in young people’s shopping hauls, holiday wish lists, and what’s-in-my-bag videos.
Testing six fragrances
The writer bought a $49 sample set featuring six Sol de Janeiro scents at Ulta Beauty and tested them on skin. The rankings considered scent, staying power, wearability, and personal preference. The report describes the ranking process but does not include the individual scents’ positions or the results.
Key points
- Sol de Janeiro was founded in 2015 and sells body, hair, and fragrance products.
- Its parent company said the brand made up 31.6% of group sales in fiscal 2025.
- The brand named Cheirosa 62, 40, and 68 as its three most popular scents.
- A writer tested six mists from a $49 Ulta Beauty sample set.