Body oil has always been a staple in my body-care routine—in high school, I swore by Palmer’s Coco Butter and Vasaline’s Cocoa Radiant before latching on to Neutrogena’s Light Sesame Formula. Sure, they were nourishing, but using an oil rather than a lotion or cream instantly made my shower routine feel luxurious. But body oil hasn’t had the best reputation in the beauty industry. Nailing down the right combination has proved tricky, which is why the rise of Brown Sugar Babe’s products, affectionately dubbed “the internet’s favorite body oils,” is so compelling. More than just a nourishing blend, the oils have gained a cult following on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram for their opulent gourmand fragrances.
On more than one occasion, the amber-brown bottles with delicious names like Creme de la Creme (more on this in a minute) have stopped my scrolling dead in its tracks. And it’s not just me. Thousands of users have flocked to social media to sing the praises of the body oil brand. While each of Brown Sugar Babe’s body oils is composed of an enriching blend (avocado, castor, grapeseed, olive and almond oil), it’s the brand’s dedication to creating long-lasting aromas that has the internet shook. Many of the fragrances can last 10 hours or longer if doubled up with the matching perfume.
Fragrance isn’t just part of Brown Sugar Babe’s oils—it’s the defining component. “Brown Sugar Babe exists because I started creating products for myself, mixing fragrances that I liked and then sharing them with friends and family members,” says Maekaeda Gibbons, founder and perfumer behind the brand. The combination of heady and luscious gourmand scents, enduring aromas and teasy monikers has put Brown Sugar Babe on the map, but the community of devoted creators has made them a household name in the beauty industry. “We hit the jackpot in finding like-minded people all across the globe who enjoy the intersection of skin care and fragrance,” says Gibbons.
As a beauty writer, I’m not as easily influenced by TikTok’s stream of viral beauty trends. But Brown Sugar Babe’s oils hit a nerve. Ahead, I put five of the brand’s famed oils to the test to see if they lived up to the hype. Keep reading to see the results.
Créme de La Créme
Clean and earthy scents have been my go-to for fragrance layering. But I’ve recently come over to the sweet side, and this Créme de La Créme fragrance is a perfect example of why. The blend of vanilla and brown sugar feels organic instead of cloyingly sweet, while musky notes of patchouli help ground the accord. Together they give the fragrance a gourmand feeling that’s more warm and nutty than syrupy. While the fragrance is great on its own, I found this oil to be one of the best base scents for layering perfumes.
Wild Card
Like most people on #PerfumeTok, I was drawn to Wild Card because of the likeness to Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540. The comparison is a tall order, but after wearing it, I understood the hype. The top notes of Wild Card include the same combination of jasmine and saffron that makes Baccarat Rouge 540 so unique. It’s the first scent you smell when using the oil, but as it wears, the warm aromas of ambergris and cedarwood settle in. It even had a similar staying power and lasted through a full day of work plus events when I wore it.
Madam
Dessert fragrances have been trending for a while now, and this blend nails it. It features tart, juicy notes of raspberry that blend nicely with baking scents like caramel, whipped cream and coconut. To put it simply, Madam is the kind of fragrance that starts conversations wherever you go. It’s alluring and interesting while also being pretty and whimsical. Even better? The delicious combination offered a great pick-me-up moment when I caught a whiff mid-day.
It Girl
This oil feels like autumn in a bottle. It’s warm and spicy and evokes the commanding look of a cozy black cashmere turtleneck. The notes are a cool blend of fall aromas—think bergamot, patchouli, amber and vetiver—but it also has a beautiful touch of Bulgarian rose that makes it stand out. It’s the kind of fragrance that you can wear every day no matter the occasion and even use for building your signature scent. Not to mention, it’s inspired by one of our contributing writers Kayla Greaves.
My Tribeca
Like many of Brown Sugar Babe’s body oils, My Tribeca is designed to be unisex. With notes of hazelnut, cedar and moss, it’s the least sweet of the bunch but feels just as luxurious thanks to a touch of cacao and caramel. It also has a much lighter scent than the others, making it a nice option if you prefer clean fragrances. Though I enjoyed it this season, I’m looking forward to wearing it throughout winter for a cozy, woodsy vibe.
