One of the most hyped products on the shelves and in our feeds rn is the Sol de Janeiro body mist range. Known for their lush, sweet and beachy scents that last all day, it’s no surprise they constantly sell out.
But paying $47-$74 for a bottle of Sol de Janeiro can be killer in a cossie liv crisis. That’s why we looove that OXX Cosmetics (stocked at Kmart) and MCo Beauty (stocked at The Warehouse and Chemist Warehouse) both make a range of fragrances that have gone MEGA viral for being dupes of the big brand body mists for a fraction of the price.
But are they actually any good…and which brand is better?
So, I begin my investigation: Putting two of the most popular dupes in NZ to the test to see how they really compare to the OGs.
Do MCo Beauty and OXX Cosmetics body mists really smell like Sol De Janeiro?
MCo Beauty Fragrance Mists - $22 each
MCo No. 1 (plum, vanilla and musk) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 40
MCo No.2 (pistachio, sandalwood, caramel and vanilla) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62
MCo No.3 (sweet blossom, dragonfruit and lychee) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 68
MCo No. 4 (caramel, macadamia, white chocolate and sea salt) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 71
As someone who usually douses herself in fragrance to make it seem like I’ve bathed in the stuff, I was glad to find these fragrances pack a strong scent in just a few spritzes.
When I gave the bottles an initial sniff, I thought they smelt bang on to the Sol de Janeiro range, but when I actually sprayed them, I found they weren't an exact match - particularly No.1.
But don't fret - while not identical, they do a pretty solid job of matching all of the top notes of their OG equivalent, for a helluva lot less cash.
For about half the price of the equal-sized 90ml bottle of Brazilian Crush, I am SUPER impressed with how long the MCo fragrance lingers. I even caught myself asking ‘what’s that sexy smell’ hours after my first spritz, only to realise it was actually me!
My top pick: MCo No. 4 (caramel, macadamia, white chocolate and sea salt)
OXX Summer Solstice Fragrance Collection - $10 each
OXX Jasmine Sun (floral, vanilla and musk) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 40
OXX Beach Bliss (caramel, almond and vanilla) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62
OXX Pink Tropic (tropical flower, jasmine and musk) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 68
OXX Coconut Waves (coconut, hazelnut and vanilla) - Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 71
If you're aiming for a more budget-friendly option, the OXX Summer Solstice fragrances are a steal for a 150ml bottle. That means more bang for your buck without breaking the bank.
As I’ve mentioned, I love to go all out with my body spray, but if that’s not your style, these body mists are just the ticket to a more subtle scent.
While they might not have the same intensity or exact top notes as their OG counterparts, they still get the job done. For a scent that will last you through the day, I recommend pairing your mist with its matching Body Butter ($10). A bonus for walking around with glowing skin from head to toe!
You might notice - as I did - that the initial whiff smells quite alcoholic, however, don’t let it put you off. After a few uses it begins to wear off and carry a more pleasant scent through with every spray.
Tip: Make sure the spray has dried on your skin so that the alcohol content has evaporated before giving yourself a sniff - you’ll notice the scent is a lot more noticeable than straight after you spritz.
My top pick: OXX Beach Bliss (caramel, almond and vanilla)
MCo takes the crown for killing it with the quality of the scents, but if you want to get your mitts on more product, OXX's got you covered with bigger bottles and a smaller price tag, plus those yummy body butters.
