Honestly, the beauty world has a short memory. Trends cycle through TikTok like wildfire, leaving a trail of empty plastic jars and "dupe" videos in their wake. But then there's Sol de Janeiro 39 limited edition. Even though it’s officially been off the shelves for a while, people still talk about it with a weirdly intense level of nostalgia.
It’s just coconut, right? Not really.
If you weren't there for the original launch of Cheirosa '39, also known as the Coco Cabana Cream, you missed a bizarre moment in fragrance history. It wasn't just a product launch; it was a polarized debate that split the Sol de Janeiro fanbase right down the middle. Some people smelled a tropical vacation, while others—quite loudly on Reddit—insisted it smelled like buttered popcorn or even toasted corn nuts.
👉 See also: Why Braids in the Front Curly Hair in the Back is the Best of Both Worlds
The Evolution of the 39 Scent
When Sol de Janeiro first dropped the Coco Cabana Cream in 2019, they were riding high on the success of the original Bum Bum Cream. They wanted something that felt like a "moisture magnet." The fragrance profile for Sol de Janeiro 39 limited edition was built on coconut cream, toasted praline, and tropical orchid. On paper, it sounds like a dream. In reality, the first batch was a scent bomb that lingered for hours.
The brand actually listened to the feedback. It’s rare for a company to pivot that fast, but they reformulated the scent to tone down the "popcorn" notes and lean harder into the creamy, gourmand coconut. That’s the version that most collectors are hunting for today. It’s a sophisticated take on coconut that avoids that synthetic, sunscreen-heavy smell you find in cheap body sprays.
What made 39 different from 62 and 68?
Sol de Janeiro has a very specific DNA. Cheirosa 62 is the pistachio-caramel icon. Cheirosa 68 is the floral, airy sister. But Sol de Janeiro 39 limited edition was the moody, edible one.
It was heavy.
If 62 is a sunny day at the beach, 39 is a humid night at a beach bar with a drink that’s mostly coconut cream. It had a buttery depth that felt cozy rather than refreshing. This is probably why it has such a cult following now that it's discontinued. It fills a gap in their lineup that nothing else—not even the newer Rio Radiance or the 59—quite hits.
Why did they discontinue it?
The business of beauty is brutal. Brands often retire scents not because they are "bad," but because they need to make room for the next viral hit. Sol de Janeiro is a master of the limited drop. By pulling the 39 line, they turned a polarizing product into a rare treasure.
You can still find bottles on resale sites, but the prices are honestly ridiculous. We're talking $80 to $120 for a spray that originally cost a fraction of that.
The "Limited Edition" status of the 39 mist often pops up in seasonal sets or anniversary bundles, but it hasn't returned as a permanent fixture. Fans keep checking the website every summer, hoping for a "vault" release. It’s a classic marketing play. Scarcity creates demand. If everyone could buy it at Sephora tomorrow, the obsession might actually die down.
Breaking down the scent notes
Let's get technical for a second. The top note is coconut cream. That’s the first hit you get, and it’s thick. The mid notes are warm vanilla and tropical orchid. This is where the sweetness comes from. But the base note—the toasted praline—is what caused all the trouble.
- Coconut Cream: Rich, fatty, and sweet.
- Toasted Praline: The culprit behind the "popcorn" rumors.
- Tropical Orchid: Adds a slight floral lift so you don't just smell like a bakery.
- Sandalwood: Provides a woody finish that grounds the sweetness.
If you’re lucky enough to find a bottle of the Sol de Janeiro 39 limited edition mist, try layering it. It’s incredible when paired with a basic vanilla perfume. It adds a nutty, tropical layer that makes a $300 fragrance smell even more expensive.
The Search for the Perfect Dupe
Because 39 is so hard to find, the hunt for a replacement has become a hobby for some. Some people point toward Hollister's Festival Nites or Victoria’s Secret Coconut Passion, but they aren't quite there. They lack that specific "toasted" quality that made 39 unique.
The closest thing you might find currently is layering a heavy coconut body butter with a caramel-scented perfume. But for the purists, nothing beats the original blue bottle.
Making the most of your collection
If you have a bottle of Sol de Janeiro 39 limited edition hiding in the back of your vanity, check the color. Fragrances with high vanilla content tend to turn dark over time. This is totally normal. It doesn't mean it's "expired," but the scent might have become more concentrated and "syrupy."
Store it in a cool, dark place. Don't leave it in your bathroom where the steam from the shower can degrade the fragrance oils. If you treat it like a vintage wine, it'll last another couple of years.
The Future of Sol de Janeiro 39
Is it coming back? The brand is famously tight-lipped. However, they’ve seen the engagement numbers on their social media posts whenever 39 is mentioned. It’s the "bring back the Choco Taco" of the beauty world.
While they focus on new launches like the Cheirosa 76 or limited summer collections, the 39 scent remains a powerful piece of their history. It proved that Sol de Janeiro could do more than just "sweet." It showed they could do "complex," even if it took a reformulation to get it right.
To get that 39 vibe without the eBay price tag, look for body oils that list "toasted" or "roasted" coconut as a note. Most modern coconut scents are too "green" or "watery." You want something that smells like it was left in the sun for a bit too long.
Check the ingredient labels of potential replacements for Coumarin. This is the compound that often gives fragrances that hay-like, nutty, or toasted scent. It’s the secret sauce in the 39 formula that created that love-it-or-hate-it popcorn effect.
Keep an eye on the Sol de Janeiro "Passport to Paradise" sets. They've been known to sneak discontinued favorites into these travel-sized bundles. It’s usually the easiest—and cheapest—way to get your hands on a 30ml bottle of the 39 mist without selling a kidney.
The best way to experience Sol de Janeiro 39 limited edition today is to stop looking for an exact replica and start experimenting with "toasted" gourmand profiles. Look for indie perfume oils that specialize in "coconut milk" and "burnt sugar." You might find something that captures the spirit of Coco Cabana without the 2019 drama.
Wait for the annual Sol de Janeiro "Rewards" sales or their "Birthday" events. They often reward loyal customers with access to older scents or "limited" quantities of retired mists. Sign up for the email list, even if it's annoying, because that's where the 39-reappearance announcements will happen first.
Don't buy partially used bottles from unverified sellers. There’s a huge market for fake Sol de Janeiro products now, especially on marketplaces where "discontinued" items fetch high prices. If the liquid looks too clear or the packaging has typos, it’s not the real deal. The authentic 39 liquid has a slight tint and a very specific, heavy scent that’s hard to forge.
Focus on building a scent wardrobe that prioritizes those warm, lactonic notes. Whether 39 returns permanently or stays a ghost of beauty-past, its influence on the "creamy coconut" trend isn't going anywhere.