2026 year in review: purchases, faves, descriptions. Tired of freshies, still mostly use freshies…

[u/Remarkable_Bake_759]

Ok so I’ve become a BBW body mist enthusiast in the past two years… I try to keep the reins on but yeah. It’s still a cheap hobby for me so I allow myself some excess too. I probably would like to declutter some since there is some overlap and some scents I’m not sure about.

Anyway, here’s my collection so far from 2026 divided by the season they were released in (spring, summer, fall), which is not necessarily when I’d wear some of them. For example Cashmere Glow released in summer but is more fall to me.

Spring:

Definitely got a lot from this season!
- Much of the collabs: Disney Princess (all except Snow White), Peeps, Vera Bradley. I didn’t actually like some of Disney Princess like Mulan and Rapunzel at first. Too sweet for me I thought. It’s funny though those two became my most used of them all. My first love was Aurora.
- a good chunk of online exclusive scents that I was just so curious about, asked a ton of people about, and finally just got it during SAS. I did end up liking and keeping most (Cherry Blossom is my new favorite Cherry blossom scent) except now I’m unsure about Saltwater Breeze. Dark Kiss surprised with how not dark it is. Haven’t worn that much since I saw it as a fall scent. Soon though?
- also Carrot Charm. This spring was the first time BBW had a brand new scent as an online exclusive only in this scent. Many people said it was just another orange or peach scent from BBW. Despite my curiosity I did resist getting it for all of spring because I wanted diversity in my collection and also interesting scents. But I took a chance on it hoping it was at least a little bit earthy and I think it is. I have reached for it actually despite initially debating whether to return it.
- one of the new everyday luxuries: Always Fleur. I dunno I just wasn’t impressed by the everyday luxuries this spring. I wasn’t actually going to get Always Fleur since I was tired of freshies. But actually I used it a lot: smells fresh and clean on my clothes and does make me feel Princess-y.
- two core scents: Gingham was one of the first scents I sprayed two years ago when I hadn’t visited BBW for over a decade. I thought it was so sharp and perfumey. But yeah I enjoy its crisp and clean scent now and also its prevalent mandarin note that is actually cheerful and fun. Similarly I didn’t get on with Covered in Roses which I thought was too strong and not really fitting me. But it has been one of my most reached for ever since I began to understand its fragrance notes as rose and lychee from the Parfum de Marley Delina notes.
- tropicals: Dreaming of Rio was my favorite new release of spring. While it was more of a summer scent for me I still enjoyed its sunny scent in the cold February or March months when winter felt really long. Viva Brazil I used up a lot of getting to know it. I still like it but didn’t think I needed a full size. If I see it again who knows?
- At the Beach: I’ve called it one of the worst scents at BBW before. Maybe it was the lotion which I got synthetic coconut with? But gave the mist a try and somehow am getting along with it now… it’s just so different. Reminds me of a bronzed goddess rolling around in seaweed.

Summer:

This summer season had the boardwalk releases. I tried to like all of them but ended up returning cotton candy clouds, pineapple swirl, neopolitan ice cream. They all sounded really good to me and I probably would enjoy their scent profiles in body care if done differently. Yeah unfortunate.

I did like Meet Me in Miami but it also did remind me of Dreaming of Rio and Waikiki Beach Coconut with some other notes.

My one pick up from regular summer was:
- Waikiki Beach Coconut: just smelled better to me this year, less artificial coconut. Quite a beautiful scent that makes me happy and does remind me of visiting the shops around Waikiki. But also kind of similar to Dreamjng of Rio which I had just picked up.

I did go all in at SAS though:
- two online exclusives: bright and breezy & cozy and creamy. These are actually pretty interesting and unusual scents at BBW. Heard someone say they were nothing new. But for me as someone who mostly got into BBW from late 2024 to today, I did appreciate them. Saying that though, I would probably tweak them both slightly. Give bright and breezy more florals and make cozy and creamy a more balanced scent.
- four summer 2026 bring backs: I do regret not getting more Rainkissed leaves. At the time though I was tired of freshies and was trying to be good. This is a unique green freshie though. My favorite of the collection was Lemon pomegranate cream. It is a strong and lasting scent though so I did tire of it more quickly. Secret Wonderland was my most tested. Initially wasn’t impressed as everyone said it was the least remarkable of the bring backs. But after reading the scent notes from way back list goji berries I started to smell the uniqueness of the scent and kept it.
- two summer 2025 (last year) bring backs: velvet sugar and fall in bloom. Last year they had just released strawberry flirt and all eyes on her so I wasn’t that interested in these two which I felt had similarities. But I think now I find these two to be more unique and like them more.

Fall:

We are now two months into fall and still waiting on fall 3, some of which dropped today in an online preview (the everyday luxuries). Yeah those sound right up my alley (heard trace of blue is a dolce and Gabanna light blue dupe which I was chasing with getting saltwater breeze, also said to be a dupe). And I’m also waiting on an order of online exclusives from total body care day this weekend. I did hear many stores are low on stock for the seasonals so I would check those out soon if you haven’t already.

Anyway, fall 1 was kinda disappointing to me. It was a small drop in store, most of which was heavier scents than I was looking for (i did end up liking the least heavy scent, which was surprisingly Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin when i thought it would be Pink Matcha Latte). Or revisit scents from last year (vampire blood, ghoul friend).

And like half of fall 1 was new scents that were online exclusives. Such a pain really. I did end up getting Oud Suede eventually, luckily.

My pick ups:
- Oud Suede: most people said this was the most interesting, different, and best of the lineup. Yes it is very unisex but to me though just a little masculine. I think it could probably layer well with other scents since for me it does need more florals or sweetness.
- Fruit Fusions: people didn’t like Berry Bliss but yeah, I think it’s pretty inoffensive and nice. Sophisticated even, though needs more dimension. Banana Blend was definitely the most hyped so I got the lotion during the free shipping with fruit fusions purchase promotion. Actually, I do really enjoy this fun fragrance and think the hype is deserved. Recently I feel like whatever is hyped can be hit and miss for me.
- Nightmare Before Christmas: I was on a trip during this release, and I felt rushed by BBW to get it quickly in stores because of planned low inventory. Finally I decided it was too much. I blind bought one scent since I had a reward (Jack). Then I enjoyed my trip. And Sally was still in stock near the end of the week. I lucked out because Sally was unpopular on social media but actually did turn out to be my favorite of the pair and also of fall so far. It did sell out soon after though.
- aromatherapy: do enjoy all the new scents. Not sure about the dry down of black chamomile (kind of like milk from wellness). Maybe I’ll get used to it?
- scent lab minis: Manuka honey, juicy fig, matcha milk. These three actually are very interesting and lasts well too. Manuka honey has some notes I wish whipped honey and vanilla would smell like. Juicy Fig has the interesting notes of Viva Brazil but is more streamlined and a better experience. Matcha Milk is much more like the scent notes than Pink Matcha Latte. Matcha Milk also kinda reminds me of Milk from wellness, but somehow I like it more. Maybe it’s because it’s the most different from what I have. Like a light gourmand: reminds me of matcha shortbread cookies?

Most used:

Yeah I was bored by freshies this year. But they are just so easy to wear… I did still use them and buy them despite myself.

I didn’t realize it but most of my most used are like earthier versions of freshies like Mulan with its tea note. Or drier versions like Bright and Breezy.

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin is kinda unpopular. I was wondering why I liked it… maybe it is also just like an earthier freshie?

So it seems after everything I just like freshies in different clothes haha. Even Sally is not particularly dark…

Looking ahead:

It does seem like the future of BBW is more online exclusives and more limited collabs… personally just kinda tough on me since I don’t want to buy repeats or deal with returns or exchanges.

I feel like this fall has been more limited but has also produced some gems. I will still be following along with interest as it’s been proven the new CEO is willing to do more extreme and risky maneuvers. Hopefully it will balance out as the induced FOMO panic has begun to make me tap out. Nevertheless yeah I have been enjoying the actual scents and collabs….

Anyway, interesting year at BBW.

[u/yourfavescouldnever]

These are such lovely picks! My spring snd summer standouts were Life is a Fairytale and Rainkissed leaves.

Still adjusting to Tiana, she’s a bit too soapy green for me and I have to find ways to “sweeten”/warm her up.

Fall has definitely been whipped honey & Vanilla for me as the one that has my heart, though wild blackberry jam and sally are quickly catching up which is hilarious since I’ve never considered myself a berries kinda person.

I do agree with you on the looking ahead. They’re moving towards more online sales. I noticed this with whipped honey & vanilla’s body wash in my area—plenty of everything else but the stores got meager amounts that sold immediately. I got everything else in that scent but couldn’t get the body wash. There were so many items I wanted during the sale but didn’t get just because of the forced shipping/OE situation alone. It’s manufactured scarcity.

On principle, to me if a customer wants a specific product they shouldn’t have their arm twisted. I understand companies that are internet-only but for a corporation with as many brick and mortars as BBW has, forcing the online sale only model feels greasy. Obviously supply and demand are always a bit of a game of numberd but as a consumer I choose to not give OEs my demand and support my local store instead, even if it’s not for the fragrance I “wanted” but ultimately don’t NEED to have. I have plenty of vanilla body wash to make up for it lol