L’Occitane Group owns Sol de Janeiro, an American skincare and fragrance company that draws inspiration from Brazilian beach culture. A question is circulating on social media: Does Sol de Janeiro support Israel? Despite not having a clear public political position or open support for Israel, Sol de Janeiro’s parent company, L’Occitane Group, has several business endeavors and financial ties to Israel, such as investments through significant shareholders and health projects.
The brand’s operational autonomy is complicated by these indirect linkages, which include participation in Israeli healthcare projects and financiers with investment interests in Israel. Although the brand does not publicly express support for Israel, its parent company’s financial and business ties to Israeli endeavors establish a subtle relationship that some perceive as tacit endorsement. When making judgments on what to buy, consumers who are thinking about ethical positions toward global conflicts should take these indirect corporate ties into account.
Introduction to Sol de Janeiro
Heela Yang launched the American skincare and fragrance company Sol de Janeiro in 2015. The brand, which celebrates body confidence and self-love, is inspired by Brazilian beach culture. Pistachio and vanilla are combined in its trademark aroma to create a distinctive and alluring olfactory experience. The most well-known product from Sol de Janeiro is the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, a popular body moisturizer. The company’s product range has grown to include body mists and perfumes, all of which are filled with ingredients inspired by Brazil and colorful energy.
The L’Occitane Group purchased the bulk of the company in 2021, which aided in the brand’s international expansion. Sol de Janeiro combines high-quality skincare with cultural festivity. Although Sol de Janeiro itself does not explicitly advocate for Israel or encourage it, a thorough understanding requires knowledge of its ownership and investment networks.
Founder and brand origin
The American skincare and fragrance company Sol de Janeiro was established in 2015, and Heela Yang is its co-founder and CEO. She had a prosperous corporate career before founding Sol de Janeiro, spending more than 12 years in marketing leadership positions at Clinique and Lancôme. A pivotal moment occurred when she and her partner moved to Brazil, and she became pregnant. Heela was motivated to develop a business that embraces self-confidence and beauty as an attitude rather than a standard after being enmeshed in Brazil’s welcoming and body-positive beach culture.
Sol de Janeiro was founded with just three products as a result of this concept, and it quickly expanded to become a worldwide body care sensation. Under her direction, the brand has received multiple industry awards and reflects the warmth and vitality of Brazilian culture. The L’Occitane Group purchased the majority of the business in 2021, assisting with its sustainability and international growth initiatives. Heela Yang’s path is one of beauty, creativity, empowerment, and reinvention.
The meaning behind the name
“Sun of January” is what the term Sol de Janeiro signifies. It records the moment in January when the sun reaches its zenith during the Brazilian summer. To express the warmth, vitality, and joyous attitude of Rio de Janeiro, a city renowned for its stunning beaches and bright sun, this name was chosen. The brand wants to make everyone feel warm, energized, and body positive at any time or place during the height of summer. The brand’s name, which emphasizes self-love, joy, and confidence associated with Brazilian culture, shows its Brazilian inspiration.
Signature products and scents
The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, a quick-absorbing body moisturizer with a pleasant aroma and skin-firming components, is Sol de Janeiro’s hallmark product. The brand’s signature fragrance, Cheirosa 62™, embodies a warm, sun-drenched Brazilian beach mood with its blend of creamy pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla, jasmine petals, and sandalwood.
In addition to the Bum Bum Cream, the brand sells body mists, shampoos, scrubs, and perfumes that are scented with this fragrance. Other noteworthy scents are Cheirosa 68, Cheirosa 40, and Cheirosa 87, which are all designed to portray various facets of the Brazilian environment and culture through gourmand, floral, and tropical elements. The brand’s dedication to quality and sustainability is reflected in all of its cruelty-free, vegan, and ethically sourced products.
Brazilian inspiration and body positivity
Brazilian culture, particularly the lively spirit of Rio de Janeiro’s beach lifestyle, serves as a major source of inspiration for Sol de Janeiro. The Brazilian idea of “cheirosa” (meaning “to smell incredibly delicious”) is central to the brand’s culture and represents self-assurance, happiness, and accepting beauty as a daily celebration. Brazil’s inclusive and body-positive attitudes are reflected in the brand’s products, which exemplify “Body Joy” and self-love.
The brand’s hallmark fragrances, such as Cheirosa 62™, are designed to evoke the rich natural diversity and cultural landmarks of Brazil.
Inspired by key years in Brazilian history, each fragrance evokes the essence of samba rhythms, tropical summers, and memorable events like the Carnaval Ball and the Girl from Ipanema. By highlighting sustainability and cultural heritage through projects like turning used packaging into samba instruments for Carnaval, Sol de Janeiro further solidifies its Brazilian history.
Relationship between Sol de Janeiro and Israel
Israel is not directly or openly associated with the 2015-founded American beauty company Sol de Janeiro. Inspired by Brazilian beach culture, Heela Yang co-founded the brand, which is well-known for its body-positive messaging and inclusive marketing. According to Wikipedia, the L’Occitane Group paid $450 million for the bulk of Sol de Janeiro in 2021.
Although there are no known connections between Sol de Janeiro and Israel, some of its investors might have some.
For instance, firms with commercial interests in Israel. However, it has been connected to large institutional investors such as HSBC Global Asset Management, The Vanguard Group, and AXA Investment Managers. These ties are indirect, though, and may not accurately represent Sol de Janeiro’s genuine affiliations or business methods.
Boycott campaign against Sol de Janeiro
As of October 2025, there is no confirmed proof that a boycott effort has targeted Sol de Janeiro because of its political affiliations or commercial endeavors. The company, which is well-known for its beauty products with Brazilian influences, has not been included in the list of businesses that prominent Palestinian-led campaigns have targeted.
However, because of purported indirect ties to Israel, some internet sources have added Sol de Janeiro to more comprehensive lists of brands to stay away from. For example, a 2023 article suggested that Sol de Janeiro, along with other brands like Stila and Wet n Wild, should be avoided by consumers supporting the boycott of pro-Israel brands in the US.
It’s crucial to remember that these statements may be based on conjecture or false information and are not supported by evidence that is readily available to the public. Companies directly involved in settlement construction, military assistance, or other kinds of complicity in Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands are the main targets of the BDS campaign. There is no proof that Sol de Janeiro satisfies these requirements.
Sol de Janeiro does not directly support Israel. The brand has no official ties to Israeli politics or policies. Any alleged connections are indirect through investors. There is no verified boycott against the company. Overall, Sol de Janeiro focuses on beauty products, not political involvement.
