It’s gone. If you walk into a Sephora today looking for that specific, teal-accented bottle of Sol de Janeiro 38, you're going to leave disappointed. Most people call it "Coco Cabana," but in the fragrance community, it’s remembered as the scent that launched a thousand Reddit threads. Some people absolutely lived for it. Others? They thought it smelled like buttered popcorn or a movie theater floor. It’s weird how a smell can be so polarizing, especially from a brand that usually makes everyone agree on smelling like a tropical vacation.
Honestly, the history of Cheirosa 38 is a bit of a rollercoaster. It wasn't just another body spray; it was a massive gamble on a scent profile called "Gourmand," which basically means it smells edible. Sol de Janeiro launched it back in 2019, and the drama started almost immediately. They actually had to reformulate it within the first year because the initial batch was so intense it caught people off guard.
The Mystery of the Missing Teal Bottle
What happened to Sol de Janeiro 38? It was officially discontinued a couple of years ago, making it a "unicorn" scent for collectors. When a brand pulls a product that has a cult following, the resale market goes insane. You can still find bottles on eBay or Mercari, but you're going to pay a "nostalgia tax" that is frankly a bit ridiculous.
The scent was built around a very specific profile: Coco de Baunilha. This wasn't your typical, sunscreen-style coconut. It was creamy. It was heavy. It had notes of toasted coconut, buttery praline, and vanilla latte. If Cheirosa 62 (the Bum Bum Cream scent) is a sunny day at the beach, 38 was a rainy afternoon in a cozy Brazilian cafe with a warm coconut cake in front of you.
The "popcorn" controversy is what really defined its legacy. Fragrance chemistry is a fickle thing. On some people, the lactonic (milky) notes combined with the toasted sugar created an aroma that mimicked diacetyl—the chemical used for artificial butter. If your skin chemistry leaned that way, you didn't smell like a tropical goddess; you smelled like an AMC theater. But for the lucky ones? It was the most sophisticated coconut fragrance on the market.
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Why 38 Was Different From the Rest of the Lineup
Most Sol de Janeiro scents follow a predictable path of fruit, floral, and sugar.
- Cheirosa 40 is plum and vanilla woods.
- Cheirosa 68 is that airy, floral "Baccarat Rouge" vibe.
- Cheirosa 59 is sandalwood and violet.
Sol de Janeiro 38 stood alone because it was unapologetically dense. It used top notes of coconut cream that felt almost oily in their richness. The mid-notes were warm vanilla and tropical orchid, and the base was all about toasted praline and sandalwood. It didn't have the "zing" or freshness of the other mists. It was a gourmand lover's dream, or a fresh-scent lover's nightmare.
The Great Reformulation of 2019
Not many people remember that there are actually two versions of the 38 scent. The original launch was criticized for being too buttery. The brand actually listened. They tweaked the formula to dial back the "toasted" aspect and bring forward the floral orchid notes. Fans of the original felt betrayed. Newcomers still found it too heavy. It was a classic "middle child" problem.
The brand eventually replaced the "hole" left by 38 with other seasonal releases, but nothing has quite captured that specific toasted-coconut-latte energy. Cheirosa 87 (Rio Radiance) took over the "coconut" spot in the permanent collection, but it's a completely different animal. Rio Radiance is "solar"—it smells like tuberose and sand. It’s light. It’s bright. It is the polar opposite of the heavy, gourmand embrace of 38.
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How to Find a 38 Dupe Without Getting Scammed
Since you can't just go buy a bottle of Cheirosa 38 anymore, the "dupe" culture has stepped in. People are desperate to find that creamy coconut fix. If you’re looking for a replacement, you have to look for specific notes.
- Kayali Utopia Coco 21: This is probably the closest high-end version. It has that same "creamy coconut" base but adds a bit more white floral. It's more "perfumey" and less "snack-like" than 38.
- Bath & Body Works Coco Paradise: A decent budget alternative, though it lacks the complex praline depth that made 38 unique.
- The "Layering" Trick: Many enthusiasts recommend layering a basic vanilla body mist with a heavy coconut lotion like the OGX Coconut Miracle Oil to mimic that density.
Wait. Don't just buy "any" coconut spray. If you want the 38 vibe, you need to avoid "fresh" coconut water notes. You are looking for "COCO DE BAUNILHA" or "COCONUT CREAM." Big difference.
The Science of Scent and Skin Chemistry
Why did it smell like popcorn to some? It’s all about the molecules. Vanillin and certain lactones can be perceived differently depending on the pH of your skin. If you have "sweet" skin chemistry, the praline notes in 38 sang. If you have "acidic" skin chemistry, the toasted notes turned sour.
This is a common issue with "heavy" gourmand scents. It's the same reason some people think Mugler’s Angel smells like chocolate and others think it smells like dirt. Sol de Janeiro 38 was the Angel of the body mist world. It was bold. It didn't apologize. And in a world of safe, crowd-pleasing scents, that made it a bit of a target.
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Should You Buy a Used Bottle in 2026?
Here is the honest truth: fragrance degrades. If you find a bottle of Sol de Janeiro 38 on a resale site today, you need to be careful. Body mists have a high alcohol content, but they aren't immortal. The top notes—especially that delicate coconut cream—are the first things to go.
If the liquid in the bottle looks dark brown or "ambered," that's the vanilla oxidizing. It might still smell okay, but it's going to be much heavier on the base notes and might have a "boozy" or "vinegary" opening. Check the batch code if you can. If it’s been sitting in someone’s hot bathroom for five years? Pass. It's not worth the $80 someone is asking for it.
Actionable Steps for the 38-Deprived
If you are mourning the loss of this scent, here is how you move forward without breaking the bank or smelling like a movie theater snack bar:
- Check the "Yellow" Line: If you like 38, you probably like Cheirosa 62, but try layering 62 with a pure coconut oil. It adds back that fatty, creamy weight that 38 had.
- Sample "The 7 Virtues" Coconut Sun: It’s a cleaner version of a creamy coconut, and while it's more floral, the dry-down has a similar warmth.
- Join Fragrance Groups: Facebook groups and Discord servers for "Sol de Janeiro Addicts" often have members selling or decanting their old collections at fairer prices than eBay.
- Look for the "Biggie Biggie" Tubs: Sometimes, old stock of the Coco Cabana Cream (which used the 38 scent) pops up in discount stores like Marshalls or TJ Maxx. The cream actually holds the scent longer than the mist.
Sol de Janeiro 38 was a moment in time. It represented a phase where the brand was experimenting with how "edible" a scent could be. While it might be gone from the shelves, its influence is still felt in the "thick" gourmand trend that's currently taking over the perfume world. If you still have a bottle, cherish it. It's a piece of fragrance history that we probably won't see the likes of again anytime soon.
Stop hunting for the teal bottle and start looking for scents that feature "Praline" and "Coconut Cream" as their core. You'll find your new signature eventually, even if it's not the OG 38.