Sol de Janeiro Perfume: Best Scents, Popularity & Controversy

You have probably caught a whiff of that pistachio-vanilla scent on a friend or scrolled past it on TikTok. Sol de Janeiro has turned a single body cream into a full-blown fragrance phenomenon that now drives millions in sales. But behind the gourmand sweetness lies a legal showdown over copycat mists that could reshape how dupe culture works in beauty.

Best-selling scent: Cheirosa 62 · Founded: 2015 · Popularity catalyst: 2020 TikTok viral trend · Fragrance SKUs: 5+ · Price range: $25 – $75

Six key facts about the legal battle and the brand’s bestseller:

What is the #1 Sol de Janeiro scent?

Sol de Janeiro’s best‑selling product page lists the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and the Cheirosa 62 fragrance mist as the brand’s most popular items. Cheirosa 62, with its vanilla, pistachio, and salted caramel notes, is the signature scent that launched the line. Its gourmand profile – warm, sweet, and nutty – sets it apart from more floral or citrus‑dominated competitors.

What is the nicest smelling sol in janeiro?

• Cheirosa 62 – pistachio, vanilla, salted caramel – the universal bestseller (Sol de Janeiro best sellers page).
• Cheirosa 68 – floral with vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine – a lighter, everyday option.
• Cheirosa 71 – warm macadamia nut, coconut, vanilla – cozy and beachy.
• Cheirosa 40 – fruity blackberry, vanilla, amber – sweet and playful (launched 2023).
• Cheirosa 59 – deep caramel, vanilla, sandalwood – a newer long‑lasting variant.

The choice ultimately depends on personal preference between warm and floral profiles.

Why are Sol de Janeiro perfumes so popular?

The brand’s rise is a textbook case of TikTok‑fueled virality combined with a unique product position. The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream – a firming body cream with a distinctive scent – became a cult hit on social media around 2020. That same fragrance was bottled as Cheirosa 62, and the cross‑sell between the cream and the mist created a loyal, repeat‑buying audience.

How did TikTok boost Sol de Janeiro’s popularity?

• Influencer “haul” and “self‑care” videos featuring the Bum Bum Cream and Cheirosa 62 generated millions of views.
• The brand’s bright, tropical packaging made it highly Instagrammable and TikTok‑friendly.
• User‑generated content of the product’s texture and scent helped it spread beyond traditional beauty advertising.

The gourmand scent category – sweet, edible‑smelling fragrances – has grown steadily since 2020. Sol de Janeiro occupies the sweet spot between body care and perfume, letting shoppers layer the cream with the mist. This cross‑selling strategy, supported by inclusive marketing (the brand celebrates different body types), has kept repeat purchase rates high.

The legal challenge underscores the risks of viral success.

What is the lawsuit against Sol de Janeiro?

The headline lawsuit is not against Sol de Janeiro – it is filed by Sol de Janeiro against Australian beauty brand MCoBeauty. The dispute centers on eight alleged dupes of the Cheirosa body mist line. Sol de Janeiro argues that MCoBeauty’s packaging (bottle shape, color‑coded labels, rounded metallic caps, bold typography) constitutes protectable trade dress that has been infringed.

What is the Sol de Janeiro scandal?

• Sol de Janeiro filed its original complaint in the Southern District of New York in November 2024 (The Fashion Law).
• An amended complaint on November 25, 2025 widened the case from four mists to eight (No. 0 through No. 7) (The Fashion Law).
• Claims include trade dress infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition under the Lanham Act (TheTMCA court document).
• Sol de Janeiro also invokes FTC endorsement guidelines, alleging MCoBeauty curated misleading consumer reviews (NewBeauty).
• MCoBeauty moved to dismiss the amended complaint on January 27, 2026 (BFV Law).

“Sol de Janeiro says MCoBeauty marketed its products as smelling ‘exactly like’ Sol de Janeiro’s body mists, and that the packaging was deliberately copied to confuse consumers.” The Fashion Law, legal and fashion industry publication

The outcome will likely influence how beauty brands approach packaging design.

What is the most popular selling perfume right now?

Three products dominate the women’s fragrance bestseller lists in 2025. The mix shows that gourmand and floral scents still lead, but the dupe controversy is now part of the conversation.

Cheirosa 62 #1 Sol de Janeiro · Chanel No. 5 classic floral · YSL Black Opium coffee‑vanilla · Dior J’adore floral bouquet · Carolina Herrera Good Girl almond‑cocoa

The pattern: gourmand scents are strong across the board – sweet, warm notes that feel comforting and get compliments. Cheirosa 62’s advantage is its lower price point ($25–$38 for the mist) and its pairing with a popular body cream.

Is Sol de Janeiro not popular anymore?

Online search data and social mentions suggest the brand remains deeply popular, but some controversy fatigue may be setting in. The lawsuit has generated both negative and positive attention – negative for the legal battle itself, but positive for keeping the brand in the conversation. New product launches (Cheirosa 59 in 2024, the return of a discontinued scent in 2025) indicate the brand is still investing in growth.

Has Sol de Janeiro maintained its TikTok-driven hype?

• The brand’s TikTok hashtag (#soldejaneiro) has over 1.5 billion cumulative views as of early 2026.
• New launches still generate influencer haul videos, but the peak virality of 2020–2022 has moderated.
• Retail availability has expanded: the brand is sold at Sephora, Ulta, Space NK, Boots, and Lookfantastic.

Despite controversy, the brand’s loyal fanbase remains strong.

Timeline of key events

• 2015 – Sol de Janeiro launches with the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.
• 2020 – Cheirosa 62 and the Bum Bum Cream go viral on TikTok; sales explode.
• 2021 – L’Oréal acquires Sol de Janeiro.
• November 2024 – Sol de Janeiro files lawsuit against MCoBeauty for trade dress infringement (The Fashion Law).
• November 25, 2025 – Amended complaint adds four more allegedly infringing mists (The Fashion Law).
• January 27, 2026 – MCoBeauty moves to dismiss the amended complaint (BFV Law).

The timeline shows a brand that moved fast from startup to acquisition, then faced the classic challenge of success: copycats.

What we know for sure – and what remains unclear

“Sol de Janeiro alleges that MCoBeauty curates and moderates online reviews while hosting false or misleading ones, a practice that Sol de Janeiro says violates FTC endorsement guidelines.” NewBeauty, beauty industry magazine

For shoppers in Canada and the US, the choice is clearer than ever: buy directly from Sol de Janeiro or authorized retailers like Sephora to ensure you get the authentic scent, or risk buying a dupe that may not smell the same and could be caught in a legal dispute. The implication for the beauty industry is that trade dress protections are becoming as important as the formula itself.

For a closer look at how these mists perform on skin, readers can turn to this in-depth Sol de Janeiro perfume review that evaluates longevity and user experience across the range.

Frequently asked questions