A fragrance lover has shared her thoughts on the Primark dupes for the Sol de Janeiro sprays – which she said were worth buying, even if they didn’t have the strongest scent
Primark has once again made waves on the high street with products nearly identical to their fancy counterparts. One of its body sprays is back in stock, and it’s been turning heads for its likeness to a designer brand. TikToker Sinead Baldev, known for her product reviews, exclaimed, “Primark has done it again” with their take on Sol de Janeiro’s fragrance line—and you could snap up the entire four-piece collection for less than the price of a single 90ml bottle of the genuine article.
Sinead revealed her struggle to find the dupes initially, as they had “gone viral on TikTok” and were “sold out” across all Primark stores. Consequently, she was ecstatic when she finally managed to secure them.
She revealed snagging the 100ml versions of the fragrances at a mere £3.50 each, highlighting that “tiny little bottles” are also available for just £2 in some branches, making them ideal for travel.
Kicking off her showcase, she presented ‘Bali Blush’, a ringer for Sol de Janeiro’s Carioca Crush Perfume Mist, complete with matching packaging.
Testing the original Sol de Janeiro scent first, she described it as “stunning,” before giving Primark’s version a go to compare the aromas.
Sinead observed that the two fragrances bore a remarkable resemblance, although she noted the branded one was naturally “a little bit stronger.”
She confessed her amazement, saying, “I’m shook”.
Then, she raved about Sol de Janeiro Beijos De Sol, saying it’s just like Primark’s ‘Fiji Fiesta’. “Primark, come to the front, because why am I spending £28 on this? £3.50. £3.50! They smell the same,” she exclaimed.
Sinead went on to mention that some folks don’t think the Sol de Janeiro sprays linger because “they’re only body sprays”, but she countered: “On me, they actually last. I can smell mine on my clothes the next day”.
She then drew a comparison between Sol de Janeiro 59 and Primark’s ‘Capri Coast’. “I don’t feel like they’re as strong, but they smell the same,” she noted about the Primark versions.
The next scent showdown was with Sol de Janeiro’s iconic number 62 spray, pitted against Primark’s ‘Santorini Sunset’. Once more, she observed it wasn’t as potent, “but it does smell like it”.
“If I smelled any of these in the shop, I would know that they were Sol dupes. Primark has done it […] “If you do not have them, I am going to tell you to run and do not walk,” she advised.
Sinead declared that even if they “did not last” she wouldn’t “give a damn for the sake of £3.50,” since you can simply respray them as much as you like while chilling by the pool this summer.
For those pondering over ‘dupes’, it might be wise to do your homework before splashing out, and decide if shelling out for the original is really worth it for you.