• When a member of Gen Z smells good, you can probably thank Sol de Janeiro.
• I'm a millennial and new to the brand, so I tried six of its popular fragrances.
• The best scent, in my opinion, is also one of the brand's most underrated.

Millennials had Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. Gen Z has Sol de Janeiro.

The body, hair, and fragrance brand, founded in 2015, has become a major player in the industry. A 2025 fiscal year report from L'Occitane Group, Sol de Janeiro's parent company, said the brand accounted for 31.6% of the group's sales. The report also described Sol de Janeiro as Sephora North America's No. 1 beauty brand and the No. 1 fragrance brand on Amazon US at the time.

Two Sol de Janeiro products have led that charge. First, millennials embraced the $48 Brazilian Bum Bum Cream after it launched in 2015, turning it into a skincare staple.

Tweens and teens have now become obsessed with the $39 Cheirosa perfume mists, the first of which debuted in 2020. The sprays have become a staple of young people's shopping hauls, holiday wish lists, and what's-in-my-bag videos.

The brand confirmed to Business Insider that its three most popular scents are Cheirosa 62, 40, and 68.

I'm a big fragrance fan myself, but I had yet to try the perfume mists. So I went to Ulta Beauty, purchased a $49 sample set of six Sol de Janeiro scents, and tested them on my skin.

Considering each mist's scent, staying power, wearability, and personal preference, here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.

I wish the Cheirosa 71 mist had more depth.

If there's one thing I love more than fragrances, it's sweet treats — so Cheirosa 71 should have worked for me.

Sol de Janeiro says the scent is inspired by the iconic Confeitaria Colombo bakery in Brazil, with notes of caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, sea salt, white chocolate, and tonka bean.

When I tried it, the mist smelled more like a gingerbread cookie to me. Then, as it settled, it transformed into something more reminiscent of a graham cracker drizzled with caramel.

Some critics of this scent say it smells like buttered popcorn. I didn't notice that on my skin.

Instead, it reminded me of a holiday hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works. I can appreciate the scent for a moment, but I don't want it to linger all day. It's too strong and sickly sweet for me.

Cheirosa 62 is Sol de Janeiro's most famous scent, but it's not my favorite.

I'll be honest. I was never that impressed by Cheirosa 62, the scent made famous by the brand's Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.

Sol de Janeiro describes the fragrance as "irresistible and sunny." It's a nod to Brazil in 1962, when "The Girl from Ipanema" was written.

With notes of pistachio, almonds, heliotrope flower, jasmine petals, vanilla, salted caramel, and sandalwood, Cheirosa 62 is exactly that. I'd describe it as summer in a bottle.

That said, it also makes the fragrance seasonal for me. It just doesn't feel right to wear in the fall, winter, or spring.

I also think the notes lend themselves better to a richer, creamier product, like the Bum Bum cream.

The Cheirosa 39 mist stands out, which I appreciate.

If any Sol de Janeiro scent smells like buttered popcorn, I think it's this one.

This scent is meant to be beachy, as if you were lounging on a hammock with the breeze in your hair, Sol de Janeiro says. It has notes of coconut cream, toasted vanilla, tropical orchid, sandalwood, and praline.

When I first spray the mist, that combination smells like buttered popcorn on my skin. That's not any reflection of Sol de Janeiro. Perfumes smell different on everyone because of their individual skin chemistry.

But I'm not complaining. I actually like the scent. It's decadent, intriguing, and different than anything else in my fragrance collection.

The coconut and vanilla notes come through more as it settles, with florals peeking through. It takes some time, but it eventually transports me to an island.

So while I might not wear Cheirosa 39 every day, I will add it to my perfume rotation.

I feel fresh, youthful, and like I'm on vacation when I wear Cheirosa 68.

The Cheirosa 68 scent was inspired by Brazil's Tropicália Movement in 1968, which influenced the country's art, music, and culture.

It includes notes of dragonfruit, lychee essence, Brazilian jasmine, ocean air, hibiscus, vanilla, and musk.

To me, it smells sweet, sunny, and refreshing. I could see myself wearing it to the beach or for a night out with friends.

Considering my current fragrance lineup, I'll probably wear this on occasion when the weather is warmer. If I were a teen in 2026, though, I'd probably wear this Sol de Janeiro scent every day.

Cheirosa 40 reminds me of my favorite scent from Victoria's Secret.

The famous Carnaval Ball in Rio inspired the Cheirosa 40 perfume mist.

On its website, Sol de Janeiro says it's meant to be sultry and delicate, with notes of black amber plum, crème de cassis, jasmine, Brazilian orchid, vanilla, and musk.

In my experience, each of those notes comes through with a single spray of the fragrance. It's one of the most mature and longest-lasting scents in the lineup I tried.

It also reminds me of my favorite Victoria's Secret scent: Bombshell Intense. Naturally, I have to recommend it to fellow millennials looking to get in on the Sol de Janeiro trend.

I can't get enough of Cheirosa 48.

Sol de Janeiro says on its website that this scent should be as liberating as the "energy of 1948, when the bikini was first spotted in Brazil."

Liberating is accurate, but I'd also say this scent is exhilarating. Its notes blend guava nectar, coconut water, orchid, lemon, wild orris, pink musk, and vanilla.

Together, they create a fragrance that's as refreshing and exciting as a poolside drink in the summer. Still, the musk notes make it more versatile than a basic summer scent.

Cheirosa 48 is the Sol de Janeiro mist I'll be wearing year-round.

Venezuela oil production reaches 1.252 million barrels per day, its highest level since 2019, as Caracas advances an energy agreement with Washington.

Related: Venezuelan Acting President Reviews Progress on U.S. Oil Agreements

Venezuela Oil Production Reaches 1.25 Million Barrels Daily

Venezuela oil production reached 1.252 million barrels per day on Friday, October 23, its highest level since 2019, according to Petróleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA.

Eduardo Lorenzo Pinto Salazar, PDVSA’s vice president for exploration and production, announced the figure during an operational review led from Caracas.

The increase marks a significant recovery for Venezuela’s energy sector, which has faced years of sanctions, underinvestment, infrastructure damage and operational constraints.

Pinto Salazar said the country had “truly broken the limits” that the industry had maintained in recent years. He said the improvement was driven mainly by higher output in western Venezuela.

Production in the western region reached 382,500 barrels per day, according to PDVSA officials.

The company also reported a record output of 115,000 barrels per day at the Petrozamora joint venture in Zulia state. Officials expect production there to rise to 120,000 barrels per day by the end of the year.

The announcement was made during an inspection of oil fields along the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo, in Zulia.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez led the review from Caracas, alongside US Chargé d’Affaires John Barrett.

The two officials monitored the technical progress of projects linked to the Venezuela-US energy agreement signed in August.

The agreement covers the development of 17 oil fields with an estimated 65 billion barrels of proven reserves.

Venezuelan authorities say the accord is based on mutual respect, sovereignty and bilateral complementarity. They say it is designed to attract investment while ensuring that oil revenues support social programs and public services.

The agreement includes eight greenfield blocks in the Orinoco Oil Belt and nine fields in the Maracaibo Basin, according to statements from the Venezuelan government.

Venezuela’s government says the plan could attract more than $100 billion in investment and generate more than $209 billion in tax revenue over 25 years.

The stated goal is to raise national production to more than 1.5 million barrels per day over the life of the agreement.

Venezuela Oil Production Rises in Lake Maracaibo

PDVSA | OPEC

The rise in Venezuela oil production has been concentrated in the Lake Maracaibo basin, the country’s historic oil-producing heartland.

The region has long been central to Venezuela’s petroleum industry, but it has suffered from aging infrastructure, power shortages, maintenance problems and reduced investment.

PDVSA said the recent increase reflects improved operational performance, rehabilitation of wells and stronger coordination with joint ventures.

The company reported that the Bachaquero and Ceuta fields, located in Zulia state, contributed to the recent gains.

Petrozamora, one of the joint ventures operating in the area, reached its highest daily production level to date.

The increase in western Venezuela is significant because the region had been one of the areas most affected by the decline in national output.

Venezuela’s oil industry was once among the largest in the world. The country holds some of the largest proven crude reserves globally, particularly in the Orinoco Oil Belt.

However, production fell sharply after 2017 as a result of US sanctions, capital flight, loss of technical personnel, deteriorated infrastructure and reduced access to international markets.

PDVSA’s output had fallen below 1 million barrels per day in recent years, according to independent estimates and OPEC data.

The current recovery has been supported by agreements with international partners and a partial easing of restrictions on oil operations.

The Venezuelan government says oil revenues must now be directed toward restoring essential services.

Rodríguez said the recovered oil wealth should generate stable and dignified incomes for workers and help reverse the damage caused by years of economic pressure.

She said priority would be given to funding the national electricity system, health care, education and drinking-water services.

The government has emphasized the need to use revenues from industrial recovery to address the needs of communities in oil-producing regions.

Zulia has faced recurring electricity failures, water shortages and deterioration of public infrastructure.

Officials say the increase in production could provide resources to stabilize wages and improve living conditions in the region.

The Venezuelan government has also stressed that oil revenues should be used to strengthen national sovereignty and reduce dependence on external financing.

Venezuela-US Agreement Reshapes Energy Relations

White House fact sheet | Center for Strategic and International Studies

The Venezuela oil production increase comes after the signing of a strategic energy agreement between Caracas and Washington in August 2026.

The agreement grants North American Blue Energy Partners, known as NABEP, concessions to develop 17 oil fields for up to 100 years.

The White House says the deal gives the United States majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan proven reserves.

NABEP has granted the US Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital a 35 percent equity stake in its corporate parent.

The agreement also gives the US Department of State the right to purchase 20 percent of production at cost and a right of first refusal over the remaining 80 percent.

The White House says the arrangement is intended to secure a stable and low-cost oil supply for the United States and to support the replenishment of its Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Venezuelan authorities describe the agreement as a partnership based on sovereignty and mutual benefit. They say it will finance the recovery of the country’s oil industry and generate revenues for social investment.

The agreement has generated debate because of its long-term concessions and the extent of US involvement in Venezuela’s energy sector.

Supporters argue that it could bring much-needed capital, technology and expertise to an industry that requires major rehabilitation.

Critics say the arrangement raises questions about national control over natural resources, transparency and the distribution of benefits.

The full text of the agreement has not been made public, according to international media reports.

The deal is part of a broader shift in relations between Venezuela and the United States after years of confrontation, sanctions and diplomatic tensions.

Washington has said the agreement is intended to secure energy supplies and support Venezuela’s economic recovery.

Caracas has said the accord will strengthen bilateral relations and facilitate investment in strategic infrastructure.

The agreement covers both oil and gas projects and includes plans for the development of new production blocks.

Venezuela’s government says the partnership will allow the country to increase output while maintaining sovereignty over its natural resources.

Geopolitical Context

The increase in Venezuela oil production has implications for global energy markets, regional politics and relations between Latin America and the United States.

Venezuela holds one of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but its output remains far below its historical peak.

A sustained recovery could increase Venezuela’s role in global oil markets and strengthen its position within OPEC.

The country’s return to higher production levels could also affect oil prices, particularly if output continues to rise over the coming years.

For the United States, the agreement represents an effort to secure access to oil supplies within the Western Hemisphere.

The deal could reduce US dependence on suppliers in other regions and strengthen energy security at a time of global market volatility.

For Latin America, the agreement signals a major change in the political and economic relationship between Venezuela and Washington.

The accord could influence investment flows, regional energy cooperation and the position of other countries that have maintained relations with Venezuela despite US sanctions.

It could also reshape debates over sovereignty, foreign investment and the role of multinational companies in the region’s natural-resource sectors.

Venezuela’s government says the recovery of its oil industry is essential to rebuilding the economy and restoring public services.

The country has faced years of economic crisis, inflation, migration and infrastructure deterioration.

The increase in production could provide resources to address some of those challenges, but experts say the impact will depend on how revenues are managed.

The government has pledged to direct oil revenues toward social investment, including electricity, health care, education and water services.

The coming months will show whether Venezuela can sustain the recent increase and move closer to its target of 1.5 million barrels per day.

For now, the country has recorded its highest daily output since 2019, a milestone that could mark the beginning of a broader recovery in its energy sector.

• After college, my best friend and I committed to going on a trip together every year.
• It's been a great way to stay connected and make new memories, even as our lives change.
• Our trips are more relaxed in our 30s than they were in our 20s, but they've all been wonderful.

I'm a firm believer that there are some people in this world you're simply destined to meet and have in your life forever. For me, one of those people is my sorority-Little-turned-soul-sister, Lisa.

After bonding over many things during recruitment sophomore year — including our shared love for Blink-182 and punk rock — we both unknowingly wrote down on the get-to-know-you quizzes for the committee that we hoped to be paired as Big and Little sisters.

We were, and the rest is history. Our college days were constantly filled with plans together, and by graduation, we couldn't imagine embarking on this next phase of adulthood with over 180 miles between us.

She's from the Boston area, while I'm from Connecticut and moved to New York City right after college. So, we agreed to prioritize our friendship and made a pact to spend time together in person every year.

Since graduating in 2015, we've planned a getaway together every summer.

Our trips haven't always looked the same, but they have some constants

Right out of college, Lisa and I looked forward to a few sun-drenched days spent catching up on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

From the Victoria Guest House to the Engleside Inn, we'd book a charming yet affordable place steps away from the beach to spend long days working on our tans, cranking up the tunes, and sipping spiked seltzers.

At night, we'd head out for bar hopping and dancing to live music until the wee hours of the morning. The next day, we would rinse and repeat.

We initially chose the Jersey Shore because it's an easy ride to perfect summer weather and beautiful beaches. It became our go-to place, though we now switch up locations every now and then.

Fast-forward to more than a decade after graduating from college, and our summer tradition is still going strong — but it looks quite different.

For this year's getaway, we stayed in a charming room at Greydon House in downtown Nantucket, Massachusetts. (We've always taken the aesthetics of our accommodations seriously and became obsessed with B&Bs and boutique hotels early on.)

We brunched at Lemon Press, popped into all of the boutiques (and shopped for Lisa's little ones), enjoyed early afternoon cocktails at CRU (the restaurant's signature Crucomber cocktail was a must), pedaled our beach cruisers past the hydrangea-lined shingled homes, and relaxed at the beach while we gabbed and reminisced.

Although we're no longer partying like it's 2015, we've come to genuinely enjoy an early dinner reservation at an aesthetically pleasing restaurant, plus after-dinner cocktails. A perfect night usually includes slipping into our PJs and streaming a chick flick.

We're also more organized these days, sticking to a well-planned itinerary to ensure our experience is top-notch.

In fact, we both watched "Five Star Weekend" before heading to Nantucket and knew we absolutely had to grab morning buns from Wicked Island Bakery. (If you know, you know!)

Above all, we don't let life get in the way of our friendship or summer tradition

Our lives look very different now that we're in our 30s. Lisa married her high-school sweetheart and is a mom of two, while my husband and I recently purchased our first home and have been tackling countless renovation projects in between doing lots of travel.

It takes true commitment from Lisa and me to carve out time for our tradition amid this hectic stage of adulthood — and it's always well worth it.

We know the importance of prioritizing our time together and start planning our trip in the early spring so we can block off a time that works for both of us in the summer.

While, like fine wine, our getaways have improved in the best way, one thing has always remained the same: We still talk, let our hair down, and laugh until our sides hurt from start to finish.

There's rarely a moment of silence, and when there is, it feels completely natural.

We can go weeks or even months without gabbing and somehow always pick up where we left off. We listen, give advice, and discuss what we both have planned in the near and distant future. We celebrate each other's successes and offer endless support.

Our friendship has grown with us and is incredibly strong; it's exactly what a best friendship should be. Of course, our summer tradition is here to stay.

By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. | The Defender | October 23, 2026

An attorney for seven Dutch plaintiffs in a COVID-19 vaccine injury lawsuit against Bill Gates and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla accused Gates and others of

orchestrating the pandemic to help usher in the “Great Reset,” a global economic, political and social system promoted by the World Economic Forum.

During oral arguments Thursday, attorney Peter Stassen told a packed courtroom that the COVID-19 vaccines were akin to a bioweapon, developed as part of a broader global effort to strip democratic and individual rights.

Speaking outside the courthouse in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, Stassen said Thursday’s hearing “was about publicly telling what is happening in this courtroom and what is the real case. The real case is that COVID-19 was not a disease but was a project.”

He accused Gates and Bourla of participating in that project, which he said was coordinated and undemocratic. He also accused the defendants of using censorship and propaganda to hide their intentions while promoting the COVID-19 vaccines as “safe and effective.”

COVID-19 vaccines were developed and procured as military countermeasures, bypassing the standard development and approval pipeline for such products. By developing the shots as military countermeasures, they bypassed traditional safety regulations, leading to widespread injury, Stassen said.

Stassen said that while this is a civil case, he believes the defendants’ actions constitute serious criminal offenses that violate global treaties and the Nuremberg Code.

For their part, attorneys for the defendants “claimed the shots saved millions of lives and that they were safe and effective,” said Joseph Sansone, Ph.D., a psychotherapist, critic of the mRNA shots and one of the expert witnesses for the plaintiffs.

“They basically said, like a parrot, that all of Stassen’s accusations were either conspiracy theory or based on medical reports that are from people who are not neutral in this case,” said Ido Dijkstra, a Dutch journalist and the editor-in-chief of De Andere Krant, who attended the hearing.

Dutch attorney Meike Terhorst said the defense did not respond to Stassen’s assertions that COVID-19 was a project. “There was no response to that at all, nothing.”

Journalist Penny Marie, who has reported on the case, told The Defender that Stassen’s arguments “mirror what so many people worldwide say and have experienced and investigated.”

The defendants’ legal team did acknowledge that they were “touched” by the suffering of the vaccine-injured plaintiffs. Terhorst said the five living plaintiffs face “immense problems” with their health.

Dijkstra said the presiding judge on the three-judge panel appeared to “support the mainstream narrative,” but “gave the impression that she wanted to understand Stassen’s reasoning.”

Thursday’s hearing stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by seven people injured by COVID-19 vaccines — including two who have since died — against Gates, Bourla and 15 other defendants, including former Dutch prime minister and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the Dutch state, and several Dutch public health officials and journalists.

According to Dutch attorney Meike Terhorst, who is not connected to the case but attended the hearing, none of the defendants appeared in court.

A ruling is expected as early as December but may be delayed until February 2027.

Expert witnesses barred from testifying in person

During oral arguments, Stassen addressed the court’s refusal to allow his team’s expert witnesses to testify in person. Earlier this week, the court limited the witnesses to video statements presenting their arguments.

Defense attorneys attacked the credentials of some of the witnesses. For instance, they claimed that Sasha Latypova — a former pharmaceutical research and development executive — has only a bachelor’s degree and is unqualified to provide testimony on scientific and medical matters.

Latypova disputed the claims, telling those gathered outside the courthouse that she has a “graduate degree from Dartmouth College and 25 years of pharmaceutical R&D and regulatory experience” — including interacting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency and Japanese regulators “on behalf of my clients.”

Catherine Austin Fitts, founder and publisher of the Solari Report and another of the expert witnesses for the plaintiffs, told The Defender that Bourla’s attorneys questioned the credentials of another witness — Mike Yeadon, Ph.D. Fitts said she was “surprised” by their claims.

“Yeadon served as vice-president of Pfizer’s allergy and respiratory research unit and worked for many years at Pfizer. Does Pfizer make it a practice to staff the company with unqualified people in senior positions? Does this explain why Pfizer appointed a veterinarian to be the CEO?” Fitts asked, referring to Bourla.

Terhorst said it is “very strange” for Dutch courts to not allow oral testimony by plaintiffs’ witnesses, as otherwise, “it is not easy to substantiate your claims.”

Despite the limitation, Terhorst said the witnesses bolstered the plaintiffs’ case. “The case is important based on the evidence provided by key witnesses,” she said.

“I think we [gave] a very clear sign to the court that there can be not justice if the court is not willing to look further at this expert evidence, because you can come to a judgment based on truth and a real discussion between the parties,” Stassen said during the press conference.

Vaccine-injured were ‘misled’ about safety of COVID shots

In an interview with journalist Fiona Rose Diamond earlier this week, Stassen said the plaintiffs “felt misled” by the Dutch government and by those who promoted the COVID-19 shots in the media.

“They felt misled by the whole system … And they were misled because they were told that this was a safe and effective vaccine, and in fact, the only way out of [the] crisis,” Stassen said.

At Thursday’s press conference, Stassen added that the plaintiffs sued not just because of their injuries, but because “they want the truth.”

Fitts highlighted the significance of the case, noting that under the Dutch legal system, the vaccine-injured can file lawsuits in response to their injuries — contrasting this with legal restrictions the injured face in the U.S.

“The PREP Act has made it impossible for such lawsuits to be brought in the United States,” Fitts said, referring to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2005. Under the PREP Act, anyone who produces or administers emergency countermeasures, such as the COVID-19 shots, is shielded from legal liability.

Terhorst noted that the vaccine-injured in the Netherlands face other obstacles.

“Vaccine injury is not even recognized in the Netherlands,” she said. She noted that some vaccine-injured people briefly received treatment under public health programs that the Dutch state earmarked for long COVID patients. However, this treatment was later “terminated.”

Terhorst said lawyers for the Dutch state “said nothing” during the hearing about offering compensation to these victims, including the plaintiffs and their families.

This is one of several obstacles the plaintiffs have faced as this case has progressed. Last year, another attorney for the plaintiffs, Arno van Kessel, was arrested “with considerable force,” as part of a nationwide sweep by Dutch police against alleged members of a “sovereign citizen” movement with a “potential intent to use violence” against the Dutch state.

Terhorst said van Kessel spent seven months imprisoned in a high-security prison, lost his license to practice law, is not allowed to leave the country and was fitted with an ankle monitor — which was removed Thursday, in parallel with the hearing.

This article was originally published by The Defender — Children’s Health Defense’s News & Views Website under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please consider subscribing to The Defender or donating to Children’s Health Defense.