The best Sol de Janeiro dupes in the UK give you that iconic caramelised gourmand scent and rich body butter texture without the £50+ price tag. Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Sol de Janeiro went from niche Brazilian brand to global phenomenon in under two years, driven entirely by TikTok. The iconic Bum Bum Cream — that pistachio and salted caramel scent that seems to follow you for hours — sells out repeatedly across the UK. But at £48 for the full-size body cream, it’s not exactly an everyday purchase.
I’ve found the UK dupes that genuinely replicate that experience. Some are impressively close.
Best Bum Bum Cream Dupes UK
The Bum Bum Cream’s signature is threefold: the scent (pistachio, salted caramel, cupuaçu butter), the texture (whipped, fast-absorbing), and the skin-firming caffeine and guaraná complex. Here’s what comes closest.
1. Aldi Lacura Brazilian Butter Body Cream — £4.99
This is the dupe that broke the internet in 2023, and it’s still the closest match on the UK market. Aldi’s seasonal Lacura Brazilian Butter Cream replicates the scent profile with remarkable accuracy — that warm, sweet, nutty caramel note is unmistakably similar. The texture is rich but absorbs quickly. The catch: it’s seasonal stock, so grab it when you see it.
2. Lidl Cien Luxury Body Butter — £3.99
Lidl’s answer to the Bum Bum phenomenon arrives with a similar whipped texture and a warming, gourmand scent profile. Not an exact match, but at £4, if you’re buying it for the daily moisturising ritual rather than the brand name, it absolutely delivers.
3. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Body Cream — £6
Palmer’s is the high street’s closest permanent equivalent to the Bum Bum texture and finish. The cocoa butter base gives skin that same smooth, almost polished appearance, and the warm vanilla-coconut scent has genuine overlap with Sol de Janeiro’s fragrance DNA.
4. Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub Body Butter — £8
Soap & Glory’s body butters have a whipped, fast-absorbing texture almost identical to Bum Bum Cream. The scent family is slightly different — more citrus-forward — but the application experience and skin feel are genuinely comparable. Available nationwide at Boots.
Best Brazilian Joia Shampoo & Conditioner Dupes UK
Sol de Janeiro’s hair care range commands a premium in the UK. For similar results at a fraction of the price:
Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream — £7
L’Oréal’s leave-in treatment delivers comparable conditioning and frizz control to Brazilian Joia at a fraction of the price. The castor oil and hyaluronic acid formula leaves hair with the same glossy, manageable finish.
Best Perfume Mist Dupes UK
Sol de Janeiro’s Cheirosa 71 and 62 body mists (£30+) have become beauty must-haves. These come impressively close:
Aldi Lacura Brazilian Glow Body Mist — £3.99
When Aldi stocks these (seasonal), they’re genuinely the closest scent match available in the UK under £5. A viral TikTok moment for good reason.
Impulse Very Me Body Spray — £2
For the warm, sweet vanilla-gourmand profile, Impulse’s Very Me is a surprisingly close fragrance family at a completely negligible price.
Is Real Sol de Janeiro Worth It?
If you love the brand experience — the packaging, the cult community, the specific Cheirosa scent — yes. But for daily body moisturising? Aldi or Palmer’s will give your skin everything it needs. Save the real thing for a treat.
Charlotte’s Pick
Revive Collagen Premium Collagen — £35
For the body glow angle — collagen from the inside out. If you love the Sol de Janeiro skin-feeding philosophy, ingestible collagen is the next level.
✨ Want the full picture?
The Charlotte Edit: my complete UK beauty guide — routines, ingredients, honest dupes, and a full UK stockist directory. Instant download, £19.99.
What Makes a Good Sol de Janeiro Dupe?
Not every body lotion that smells vaguely tropical counts as a real Sol de Janeiro dupe. The genuine article has a very specific scent profile — that combination of pistachio, salted caramel, and coconut — along with a texture that’s rich without being greasy and absorbs quickly. Here’s what I look for:
- Scent accuracy — The Bum Bum Cream’s gourmand-tropical signature is what people are chasing. A dupe needs to hit that same warm, sweet, nutty note.
- Texture — Not too thick, absorbs within 30 seconds, leaves skin feeling soft not sticky.
- Longevity — The original lasts 6–8 hours on skin. A good dupe should be detectable for at least 4.
- Skin feel after drying — A subtle luminosity without visible shimmer.
More Sol de Janeiro Dupes Worth Trying
Aldi Lacura Brazilian Body Cream
When Aldi releases a Sol de Janeiro dupe, it tends to disappear from shelves within days. The Lacura Brazilian Body Cream (typically £3.99 when available) is genuinely impressive — not identical, but the sweet, caramel-forward scent is unmistakably in the same territory. Stock up when you see it.
Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Lotion
Not a direct scent dupe, but scratches the same itch. The lime, vanilla, and brown sugar combination is sweet and uplifting, lasts well, and the formula absorbs beautifully. Around £6 at Boots and often on 3-for-2. Worth keeping in rotation alongside a closer dupe.
Lidl Cien Brazilian Nuts Body Lotion
Another supermarket hit. Lidl’s Cien range occasionally drops a Brazilian nut-scented body lotion that punches well above its price point (usually under £3). Not always in stock, but worth checking next time you’re in.
How to Layer for Maximum Scent Longevity
Even the best dupe won’t last as long as you’d like if you apply it to dry skin post-shower and walk out the door. Here’s the technique that actually works:
- Pat skin almost-dry rather than rubbing — damp skin holds fragrance better.
- Apply body lotion immediately while skin is still slightly warm from the shower.
- Focus on pulse points: inner wrists, back of knees, décolletage — these generate heat that amplifies scent.
- If you want extra longevity, layer an unscented body oil underneath.
Sol De Janeiro Dupes Uk - Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream actually worth the £48?
For a body cream? Honestly, no — not when the dupes are this good. The original is beautifully formulated and the scent is slightly more complex, but the gap isn’t £40 worth of difference. Save it for a treat or a gift.
Which Sol de Janeiro dupe lasts longest on skin?
In my testing, the Treaclemoon Coco Crazy and Aldi Lacura versions have the best longevity — both lasting 4–5 hours versus the original’s 6–8. Applying to damp skin extends this noticeably.
Are there Sol de Janeiro perfume dupes too?
Yes — Cheirosa 62 (the scent behind the Bum Bum Cream) has been duped by several fragrance houses. Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum isn’t identical but shares the gourmand DNA. For a closer match at lower price, look at Zara’s Gourmand Elixir or Primark’s fragrance range.
Can I use these dupes on my face?
No — body creams (including the original) are formulated for body skin and are too rich and potentially comedogenic for facial use. Stick to body-only application.
Related reading: Sol de Janeiro dupes and budget skincare routine.
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