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Can Aldi’s £2.99 new body mist replace my everyday Sol De Janeiro scent?
The scents are the perfect mood-boosting pick-me-ups
Daisy Lester
Thursday 15 August 2024 14:06 EDT
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Instantly transporting you to warmer climes, Sol De Janeiro’s viral cheirosa body mists are the ultimate summer scents. From the deliciously sweet Brazilian crush 62 (the same scent as its cult bum bum cream) to the new 59 delicia drench, the beauty space has the brand to thank for the resurgence of body mists.
The grown-up sister to the sprays you spritzed in the PE changing rooms at school, Sol De Janeiro’s range is both affordable and actually good. A day-to-day substitute for your favourite luxury fragrance, the body mists set you back £24.99 for 90ml with devotees (myself included) describing the scents as a holiday-in-a-bottle.
Brightly coloured and perfectly travel-sized, the mists have garnered more than 50 million views on TikTok and rave reviews across the board. The ultimate marker of a viral brand, they’ve also inspired myriad budget alternatives, from Marks & Spencer to Zara.
Now, true to form, Aldi has brought back its sell-out body mists that are being hailed as an affordable alternative to Sol De Janeiro’s cheirosa range. Whether it’s a fragrance inspired by baccarat rouge 540, a bond-building treatment that rivals Olaplex or a £14.99 hair dryer the spitting image of Dyson, Aldi is the place for bargain beauty alternatives.
The latest addition to the roster, Lacura’s tropical essence body mist comes in three scents and costs just £2.99 per bottle, saving you more than £20 on Sol De Janeiro’s scents.
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Sol de Janeiro’s latest perfume is set to be the scent of the summer
How we tested
Since a mini-size Sol De Janeiro Brazilian crush 62 landed on my desk a few weeks back, I’ve been using it most days as a stand-in for my expensive fragrance. The fresh, sweet scent is perfect for hot summer days and boasts impressive staying power. So, I wanted to see how the Aldi range fared. Assessing the scent notes, staying power and packaging, here’s my verdict on Aldi’s Lacura tropical essence range.
Aldi Lacura tropical essence 32, pistachio and salted caramel
- Best: Summer body mist
- Size: 90ml
- Scent notes: Pistachio, almond, salted caramel, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, musk
- Why we love it
- Holiday-in-a-bottle
- Travel size
- Affordable
- Take note
- Very swee
A bargain alternative to Sol De Janeiro’s Brazillian crush cheriosa 62 scent, Aldi’s tropical essence 32 features an instantly recognisable numbered design, as well as a clear bottle, coloured formula and travel-friendly size (90ml).
The scent is described as pistachio, almond and salted caramel, but I struggled to pick up any notes of pistachio and almond. The salted caramel, however, perfectly balanced the woody notes of sandalwood and musk. Jasmine and vanilla are there for a fresh kick, and the scent is almost an exact match for cheriosa 62.
It’s quite sweet, so it’s maybe one to avoid if you don’t like anything too sickly. For £2.99, I wasn’t expecting much in regard to staying power, with the scent lasting around just an hour before it needed a top-up. As with all of the supermarket’s Specialbuys, the scent is available in-store only.
Aldi Lacura topical essence 28, jasmine and dragon fruit
- Best: Sweet scent
- Size : 90ml
- Scent notes: Jasmine, hibiscus flower, ozone, lychee and dragon fruit, vanilla, musk
- Why we love it
- Mood-boosting floral and sweet scent
- Take note
- Staying power could be improve
- Could be too sickly for some
Aldi’s Lacura tropical essence 28 scent has a floral base of jasmine and hibiscus flowers and there are notes of lychee and dragon fruit. The scent verges on being too sweet, so it’s another one to avoid if you’re not one for sickly scents.
The staying power of this mist isn’t that strong. But an initial generous spritz does have a mood-boosting effect, with the sweet and floral notes embodying a summer feeling – just make sure you have it in your bag for a top-up.
The 28 fragrance is available to buy in your local Aldi middle aisle.
Aldi Lacura tropical essence 70, jasmine and amber
- Best: Light, refreshing scent
- Size : 90ml
- Scent notes: Blackcurrant, pear, vanilla, jasmine, freesia, patchouli, caramel, amberwood
- Why we love it
- Refreshing
- Affordable
- Take note
- Staying power not that strong
Rivalling Sol De Janeiro’s after hours body mist, Aldi’s Lacura tropical essence 70 is a light and refreshing scent that shares similar fragrance notes. Sharper aromas of blackcurrant and pear are balanced with sweet notes of vanilla, jasmine and freesia, while a hint of caramel and amber wood gives it an extra fresh kick.
It’s not as sweet as the other scents in the range, so it’s great for those after a muskier evening scent or something a bit more subtle. Again, the staying power isn’t as strong as premium sprays, but for just £2.99, you can spritz it to your heart’s content.
The new scent is available in your local supermarket.
The verdict: Aldi Lacura tropical essence
As with most budget versions of premium beauty buys, they’re never quite as good, but Aldi’s Lacura tropical essence range is impressive given the price. Evoking a summer feeling with its sweet, floral and refreshing scents, I was impressed. But, of course, the staying power could be better. That said, for £2.99, a (very) generous spritz of the body mist serves as a perfectly adequate mood-boosting pick-me-up – just prepare to top it up throughout the day.
Looking for more summer fragrance suggestions? Ouai’s St Barts hair and body mist is a must-try