Is the Viral Dupe Really Just as Good?
There are few beauty scents more instantly recognizable than Sol de Janeiro’s Cheirosa 62. Warm. Addictive. Comforting in a way that feels like summer bottled up and shipped straight to your door. I call it my happy fragrance. I love putting this one and smelling that happy, sun fragrance all day long.
But as with all cult favorites, the question eventually comes up: Do you really need to pay full price?
Enter MCoBeauty No. 2, a fragrance mist that has gained attention for offering a very similar gourmand profile at a significantly lower cost. Some call it a dupe. Others call it “close enough.” Let’s talk about what that actually means.
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62: The Original Happy Scent
Cheirosa 62 is the scent that built the Sol de Janeiro empire. It’s featured across multiple formats. Most famously in the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. The Bum Bum Cream is the holy grail of scents. Which launched the Hair & Body Perfume Mist. The Mist earned thousands of glowing reviews across retailers. [soldejaneiro.com], [ulta.com], [sephora.com]
Fragrance Notes
Cheirosa 62 is a warm gourmand with clearly defined notes of:
- Pistachio
- Salted caramel
- Vanilla
The result is rich but playful. Just a happy scent of beach and fruity drinks. That is my opinion, may not be yours.
Price & Positioning
The Cheirosa 62 Hair & Body Perfume Mist retails for $39, placing it firmly in the prestige body‑fragrance category. You’re paying not just for the scent, but for brand identity, formulation consistency, and the overall experience.
Longevity & Wear
As a body mist, Cheirosa 62 is designed to be layered and reapplied. It is mood-lifting and noticeable. It does not last as long as an eau de parfum. More of an Eau de Toilette. Light doesn’t hang around all day. Perhaps just long enough to boost your mood.
MCoBeauty No. 2: The Budget‑Friendly Scent Alternative
Then MCoBeauty No. 2 enters the conversation as a clearly inspired‑by fragrance mist. The comparison to Cheirosa 62 from its packaging and similar note structure is hard to miss. As soon as it hit the market you knew what they were going for.
Fragrance Notes
MCoBeauty No. 2 is described with:
- Salted caramel
- Pistachio
The emphasis leans slightly sweeter and more lotion‑like as it dries down, according to user comparisons. [reddit.com]
Price & Accessibility
MCoBeauty fragrance mists typically retail for significantly less than prestige body sprays. The 3.4 oz at my target is $11.99 and the No. 62 is $26.00. Making the price much more appealing to the minimalist luxury enthusiasts like myself.
Longevity & Wear
Reviews suggest that No. 2 opens very similarly to Cheirosa 62, but the nutty warmth fades more quickly, leaving behind a softer caramel sweetness after extended wear. [reddit.com]. I am going to agree with these reviews. That has been my experience as well.
Sol de Janeiro 62 vs. MCoBeauty No. 2: The Real Differences
Scent Accuracy
- Cheirosa 62 maintains its toasted, nutty warmth longer.
- MCoBeauty No. 2 starts strong but settles into a simpler caramel scent
Longevity
Neither product is designed to perform like a perfume, but Cheirosa 62 tends to retain complexity longer, while No. 2 becomes softer and more subtle. Which may lead you to want to put on more at the beginning. Don’t do it. You will be overpowered by the scent.
Experience
Cheirosa 62 feels more layered and intentional. MCoBeauty No. 2 feels easy, casual, and practical. That doesn’t mean the MCoBeauty No. 2, has become one of my go to(s). It certainly has. Yes, I wish there was more of a vanilla scent to it at times. Very few times. I still think MCoBeauty is a very happy fragrance as well. That is why I wear either one of them.
When I mist it in my hair, I can smell it most of the day. As I think it seems to linger in the hair longer. I only smell once in a while. Just nice to smell it out of seemingly no where. This would go for both fragrances.
Now for the:
Mix:Bar
First Impressions: Warm, Familiar, Immediately Comforting
From the first spray, Vanilla Bourbon feels like slipping into a favorite sweater. It opens with a gentle brightness, then quickly settles into something deeper and cozier. The vanilla here isn’t frosting‑sweet—it’s grounded, slightly smoky, and softened by woods. Similar to some the “men fragrances” we all love in candles.
According to MIX:BAR, the fragrance features notes of bergamot, jasmine, apple blossom, Madagascar vanilla bean, and sandalwood, with a subtle bourbon‑inspired warmth woven throughout. [target.com], [mixbar.com]
Clean, Accessible, and Easy to Love
One of the reasons MIX:BAR has resonated so strongly is its balance of clean formulation and accessibility. Does it smell like the other two? No. It is more of like they are distant cousins. Some notes are similar but not the same. This one is deeper.
At $9.99 for a full‑size 5 oz bottle, it also lands firmly in the “luxury for all” category. That is why I included it in here. Hair & Body Mists don’t have to be just No 62. If you enjoy these type of scents that do not linger all day. Explore. There are reasonable cost options out there.
I wanted to make sure that I am doing some posts about affordable luxury. We all deserve to have the feeling of luxury without the price tag.
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