Roses in Rio, dipped in caramel: my first take on Sol de Janeiro’s Rosa Charmosa

I didn’t expect a beach brand to flirt with rose, yet here we are. Sol de Janeiro has turned the petals neon with Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream, scented with Cheirosa 91. If classic rose is a silk slip, this one is a hot-pink bikini, a little cheeky, a lot more fun than the press copy suggests.

On a quick in-store test, I got a bright pop of passionfruit first, tart and juicy, then the rose unfurled clean and pink rather than jammy. The honey caramel sneaks in as the cream settles, more glaze than fudge, so you get warmth and a glossy hum without sticky overload. It is a rose that smiles, not a rose that sulks.

Texture matters with scented body creams, and this one sits light with a dewy sheen, the kind you actually want under a fragrance on days when perfume feels too loud. Claims of 48-hour hydration are marketing bravado, but 8 to 12 hours of noticeable scent on skin, plus a soft, moisturized finish, is what I experienced. The projection is intimate, a skin-hugging aura that makes sense for a rose that chose Rio over Paris.

Layering notes for the curious:

• With Parfums de Marly Delina, the passionfruit facet plays nicely with lychee-like brightness, taking down the sourness and amping the glow.
• With Mancera Roses Vanille, you will enter dessert territory fast, but if you crave a sugar rush, this cream is your green light.
• With Maison Francis Kurkdjian À la rose, the cream adds body and a flirt of warmth that keeps the floral from reading too prim.

Who should try it? Rose skeptics who think petals equal powder, gourmand fans who want sweet without bakery, and anyone bored of beige body lotion. Who should skip it? If you want a dark, peppery rose or an unperfumed base, this is not your jar.

Practical footnote for the cart watchers, Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream comes in 75 ml and 240 ml, and it is hovering in that familiar Sol de Janeiro price bracket at Sephora. I’ll be reaching for it on gray mornings when I want my skincare to moonlight as mood lighting. Cheirosa, indeed.