Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
The Original Cheirosa '62 Cult Classic
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Iconic Cheirosa '62 scent that lasts hours on skin
- +Thoughtful cupuaçu butter and Brazil nut oil lipid matrix
- +Guaraná positioned high enough to deliver real topical caffeine
- +Rich whipped texture that still absorbs fast and wears dewy
- +Decade of refinement reflected in formula performance
- +Multiple sizes with the 500 ml jumbo offering strong per-ounce value
- +Leaping Bunny certified and vegan
- +Consistently wins editorial awards and has massive review validation
- −Heavy fragrance load makes it unsuitable for sensitive or reactive skin
- −Contains denatured alcohol alongside the fragrance
- −Premium pricing at $52 for the 240 ml standard size
- −Mica shimmer is polarizing and not for everyone
- −Jar packaging is less hygienic than a pump and exposes the product to air
The full review.
A remarkable thing happened in US body care between 2015 and 2020: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream quietly rewrote the rules. Before it landed, body moisturizers were sold on ingredients and claims; after it, an entire category of scent-first body care emerged, built on the realization that people would happily pay luxury prices for a body cream if the fragrance was good enough to get them compliments in elevators. Every jar of cream with a gourmand note and a celebrity-adjacent marketing campaign released since 2018 owes something to this product. That’s not a small thing to have accomplished, and it matters because a decade of refinement shows up in ways the copycats keep missing.
Sol de Janeiro launched the Bum Bum Cream in 2015 as its flagship product, built around the founders’ Rio-inspired vision of the carioca body-care ritual. The name references Portuguese slang for ‘butt,’ which turned out to be a marketing gift: unforgettable, slightly scandalous, and perfectly aligned with the brand’s playful personality. L’Occitane Group acquired Sol de Janeiro in 2021, and the cream has become a Sephora fixture with roughly 20,000 reviews averaging 4.4 stars. It’s won Allure’s Best of Beauty and been named a holy grail by every major beauty publication at least once.
Scent
The scent is the headline, and there’s no point pretending otherwise. Cheirosa ‘62 is a warm gourmand — pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla, jasmine — composed with enough sophistication that it lands as a proper body-care fragrance rather than a bakery candle. It lasts for hours on skin, which is unusual for a moisturizer, and it pairs with the rest of the Cheirosa ‘62 line (the body mist, the perfume, the hair mist) for scent-layering that has become a ritual for a genuinely massive customer base. Whether you love it or find it overwhelming is a taste question. What isn’t a taste question is whether the scent works the way the brand intends it to — it absolutely does.
Reality
But here’s where the product surprises people who dismiss it as a ‘fragrance with some cream in it.’ The formula does real work. The lipid matrix — cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, Brazil nut oil, açaí oil, squalane, and caprylic/capric triglyceride — is a thoughtful combination that delivers serious emollience without a heavy residue. Cupuaçu butter specifically is one of the more interesting Amazonian ingredients in body care, with a fatty acid profile that rivals shea and studies suggesting comparable occlusive performance. Paired with squalane higher in the deck and phenyl trimethicone for silky spread, the result is a whipped texture that goes on rich but absorbs like a lotion. That’s a harder formulation trick than it sounds.
How to Use
The guaraná seed extract is the other quietly interesting piece. Guaraná is one of the highest natural sources of caffeine in plant material — more concentrated than coffee beans — and Sol de Janeiro positions it high in the ingredient deck, above the cupuaçu butter. Topical caffeine has decades of cosmetic research behind it as a mild vasoconstrictor that produces a temporary tightening and de-puffing effect. The cream isn’t going to lift your glutes in any structural sense, and the brand doesn’t actually claim that — the marketing language is about a ‘tightened appearance’ and a ‘silky feel,’ which is accurate. What you get is a cosmetic refreshing effect that refreshes with each application. Small but real.
Texture
The subtle mica shimmer divides reviewers. It’s fine enough that it reads as a soft glow rather than glitter, and in warm light on bare legs it genuinely looks flattering. Some people love it; some find it unnecessary. It’s worth knowing about before you buy — if you hate shimmer on your skin under any circumstances, this isn’t your body cream.
Common Complaints
The honest conversation is about the fragrance load and the alcohol. The deck lists Fragrance (Parfum) and Distilled Alcohol both, and while the individual allergens aren’t broken out the way they are in the oil formula, the fragrance is substantial enough that anyone with reactive skin, eczema, or perfume contact allergy should patch test carefully — or skip the product entirely. This isn’t sold to the sensitive-skin market, and it shouldn’t be used there. It’s also worth noting that while the coconut oil isn’t positioned high enough to be a major fungal-acne concern, people who flare from coconut-oil derivatives should check with their dermatologist.
Price
The price is the other reality check. At $52 for the 240 ml standard jar, this is premium pricing by any measure — about triple what a comparable drugstore body cream costs. The 500 ml jumbo at roughly $98 brings the per-ounce math meaningfully closer to reasonable, and for anyone already committed to daily use it’s the obvious purchase. The mini and travel sizes are mostly for sampling or gifting. You’re paying for the Cheirosa ‘62 experience, the brand, and a formula that has been refined over a decade — which, unlike some hype-driven products, actually earns a moderate premium.
Verdict
The verdict is simple: this is what it’s supposed to be. A genuinely iconic scent delivered through a well-built body cream that conditions, absorbs beautifully, and delivers a small cosmetic tightening effect. It’s not the cheapest option, it’s not for sensitive skin, and it’s not a treatment product. For the millions of people who love Cheirosa ‘62 and want their body care to be a sensory experience, it’s the gold standard of the category it created.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Water, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dodecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fragrance, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Paullinia Cupana (Guaraná) Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Butter, Euterpe Oleracea (Açaí) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mica, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa (Brazil Nut) Seed Oil, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Distilled Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylates/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
The formulation here rewards careful reading of the deck. The lipid system is built on caprylic/capric triglyceride, phenyl trimethicone, and cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) butter, with supporting roles from coconut oil, Brazil nut oil, and squalane. Cupuaçu butter has been studied for its fatty acid composition and barrier-supporting properties, with research showing it holds up to four times its weight in water and delivers occlusive and emollient performance comparable to shea butter in some metrics. The combination with phenyl trimethicone — a silky silicone that spreads fast and creates a soft-focus finish — is why the cream wears like a lotion despite its richness.
The guaraná (Paullinia cupana) seed extract is the interesting active ingredient in context. Guaraná seeds contain approximately 2-7.5% caffeine by weight — substantially more than coffee beans — and topical caffeine has a well-documented cosmetic mechanism: constriction of superficial capillaries, reduction of localized fluid, and a visibly tighter and smoother appearance that persists as long as the active is on the skin. Published cosmetic chemistry literature has examined caffeine's effects on cellulite appearance and found modest but reproducible improvements in short-term measurements. Positioned 14th on this deck — above the cupuaçu butter — the guaraná extract here is at a meaningful percentage, not a trace inclusion. The effect is cosmetic rather than structural, which is exactly what the brand's marketing language suggests. Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide humectant action to balance the occlusive butters, and distilled alcohol aids texture and scent projection at the cost of some tolerability for reactive skin.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists generally view Brazilian Bum Bum Cream as a well-built moisturizer with a meaningful cosmetic active, appropriate for normal-to-dry body skin in patients without fragrance sensitivities. Board-certified dermatologists tend to note that topical caffeine is one of the genuinely useful cosmetic ingredients for temporarily reducing the appearance of puffiness and superficial laxity, and that this product delivers it at a concentration high enough to matter. Where dermatologists consistently flag caution is on the fragrance and denatured alcohol content — for patients with eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis history, or a compromised skin barrier, the formula is a hard no, and fragrance-free alternatives like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Vanicream are typically recommended instead. For patients with healthy skin who want a luxurious daily body moisturizer with a sensorial component, most dermatologists don't object to the product, though they routinely remind patients that the cosmetic effects don't replace actual treatment when structural skin issues are the concern.
Where it fits in your routine.
Apply to clean, slightly damp skin after showering or bathing for best absorption. Scoop a generous amount from the jar, warm briefly between your palms, and massage in circular upward motions onto legs, arms, torso, glutes, and décolletage. The formula absorbs within a minute or two, leaving a glowy non-greasy finish and the signature scent that lasts for hours. For full Cheirosa '62 layering, apply the Brazilian Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil underneath and finish with the Cheirosa '62 Perfume Mist. Avoid the face, broken skin, and the eye area. Close the jar lid tightly between uses to preserve the product.
At $52 for 240 ml, this costs as much as luxury European body brands and roughly three times a comparable drugstore cream. The 500 ml jumbo at approximately $98 offers 30% better per-ounce value, making it the smarter choice if you like the scent. The travel and mini sizes cost more for sampling and gifting. The price reflects a decade-refined formula with a real cosmetic active, a genuine ingredient investment in the lipid matrix, and the Cheirosa '62 fragrance. Sol de Janeiro does not charge luxury prices for glycerin-and-water; the ingredient deck is substantive. Whether it is worth the premium over cheaper alternatives with similar mechanical effects depends on how much you value the Cheirosa '62 fragrance.
Fans of the Cheirosa '62 fragrance. People with normal-to-dry skin who want a thick daily body moisturizer with a lipid matrix and a slight cosmetic tightening effect. Users who enjoy scent-driven body care rituals and layering multiple products in a coordinated fragrance story.
People with fragrance sensitivities, eczema, atopic dermatitis, or a compromised skin barrier. Shoppers wanting a treatment-grade firming product instead of a cosmetic effect. People who dislike shimmer or want a fragrance-free body cream — the mica and the Cheirosa '62 are non-negotiable parts of this formula.
Product details.
Rich whipped cream that melts into skin without a heavy residue
Cheirosa '62 — pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla, jasmine
Signature yellow-and-orange printed jar with a twist-off lid
The scent hits as soon as you open the jar — unmistakably Cheirosa '62, warm and gourmand. The thick cream absorbs faster than its texture suggests. The mica leaves a soft glow, and the scent stays on skin for hours. Expect compliments, whether or not you asked for them.
Daily full-body application of the 240 ml standard jar lasts roughly 2-3 months.
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
Sol de Janeiro launched in 2015 with Brazilian Bum Bum Cream as its flagship product, built around the founders' Rio-inspired vision of carioca body-care rituals. The name references the Portuguese slang for 'butt,' which made it a marketing conversation starter long before the scent went viral. L'Occitane Group acquired Sol de Janeiro in 2021, cementing Bum Bum Cream's status as one of the most commercially successful indie body care launches of the last decade.
About Sol de Janeiro
Established Brand (5–20 years)Sol de Janeiro launched in 2015 with Brazilian Bum Bum Cream as its flagship product and has built a decade-long track record as one of the most commercially successful body care launches in recent retail history. L'Occitane Group acquired the brand in 2021, and the cream has become a Sephora bestseller with tens of thousands of reviews.
Common myths.
Bum Bum Cream will actually firm and lift your glutes.
The guaraná-derived caffeine does produce a mild, temporary tightening effect — that's real cosmetic science — but it won't remodel muscle or permanently change body contour. The cream is a well-built moisturizer with a cosmetic active, not a treatment that reshapes tissue.
The rich texture means it's too heavy for oily skin.
The formula looks whipped but absorbs fast. phenyl trimethicone, caprylic/capric triglyceride, and squalane sit higher in the deck than heavier butters. Most people with oily or combination skin tolerate it well on the body. Anyone fungal-acne-prone should patch test first because of the coconut oil content.
FAQ.
What does Brazilian Bum Bum Cream smell like?
It has the iconic Cheirosa '62 fragrance — a warm gourmand blend of pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla, and jasmine. The scent stays on skin for hours and is the main reason the product has a cult following. It is one of the most recognizable scents in modern body care.
Myth
Does Bum Bum Cream really firm skin?
Reality
Yes, temporarily and cosmetically. The guaraná seed extract sits high in the ingredient deck and provides a meaningful dose of topical caffeine. This caffeine acts as a mild vasoconstrictor to tighten skin briefly. It does not remodel your dermis or change body contour permanently; the cosmetic effect refreshes with each application.
Best for
Is it good for sensitive skin?
Not ideal for
Not ideal. The formula has fragrance and denatured alcohol. It does not list individual allergens, but the fragrance is substantial. People with fragrance sensitivity, eczema, or a compromised barrier should avoid it or patch test carefully.
Best for
Which size is the best value?
Best for
The 500 ml jumbo jar costs roughly 30% less per ounce than the 240 ml standard size. Choose the jumbo jar for daily use. The 75 ml travel size and 25 ml mini work for testing the product or travel.
Not ideal for
Can I use Bum Bum Cream on my face?
Not ideal for
No. This formula targets body care, and the fragrance load exceeds what most facial skin handles. The mica shimmer also targets body application, not facial use. Use it on legs, arms, torso, and décolletage.
Works for
Is it safe during pregnancy?
Works for
The formula lacks retinoids, salicylic acid at active levels, or hydroquinone, making it generally safe during pregnancy. If you worry about fragrance, ask your OB-GYN — and always patch test during pregnancy because skin sensitivity increases.
What the community says.
"iconic Cheirosa '62 scent lasts for hours"
"rich non-greasy absorption"
"subtle mica shimmer looks flattering"
"skin feels soft and nourished"
"signature layering product for fragrance fans"
"expensive for a body cream at $52"
"fragrance is polarizing and too sweet for some"
"jar packaging is less hygienic than a pump"
"contains denatured alcohol and fragrance allergens"
"mica shimmer isn't for everyone"
