Jaqua Foaming Caramel Cappuccino Hydrating Shower Syrup is one of a trio of shower gels offered in the Jaqua Café Collection, along with Soothing Vanilla Latte and Steamy Chai Spice Latte. As far as functionality goes, the Caramel Cappuccino is a well-made product with a pleasingly thick texture and adequate lathering and moisturizing properties, but the real draw is its magnificent fragrance.
"Foaming Caramel Cappuccino" is a slightly misleading title as there is only a faint trace of a coffee aroma; the predominant note is the alluring, mouthwatering smell of real, sweet, deep caramel. I have searched long and hard for an authentic caramel scent in both perfume and bath & body form, but every product I have run across has been too heavy, artificial, salty or cloying. The best I had found previously was Autrepart's French Normandy Caramel & Salted Butter line, but even that I found slightly too heavy and artificial and a bit too salty for my tastes. Not so with the Jaqua; not only is it a warm, true golden caramel scent, but also a very light one — in fact, it is more reminiscent of the scent of golden-brown pizzelles lightly drizzled with caramel than the vat of sticky, syrupy butterscotch that other scents usually evoke.
Though the aroma is quite strong in the shower, the scent fails to linger on the skin afterwards. Disappointing for those who would like to continue the olfactory experience, but very convenient for layering with whatever lotion or perfume you may choose afterwards.
Retails at $16.00 for 8 oz. Available directly from Jaqua, or at a wide range of online retailers including sephora, nordstrom, misikko, glow, and adorebeauty.
Wonderful review, A! I admit that I do not tend to like caramel, but this one sounds very interesting, particularly because it seems subtle.
You know, I've seen this at Nordstrom, but hesitated to buy it because of the coffee. Now that you've indicated that it's a caramel fragrance, I may buy it the next time I see it.
Another good review. Thanks to your last one, I ended up buying POTL's body cream, and I adore it! Thanks for introducing me to it, A!
Hugs!
Wow. Normally I'd kvetch about the lack of coffee, but the caramel sounds so perfect that by the end of your article I'd all but forgotten about the coffee. Definitely will have to drop by Nordstrom and get some. I like the fact that it doesn't linger on the skin. Hate bath gels which overpower fragrances.
Thanks so much Victoria
It's definitely the only subtle caramel I've come across so far and worth a try!!
Hey R!
Glad to know you are loving the POTL!! And definitely open the cap and give this one a sniff the next time you are in Nordstrom — it doesn't smell too radically different dry vs. wet — to see if you might like it!
Honestly, this sleep-deprived-caffeine-addicted college student was initially testing out this product for a coffee fix, and while I was let down in that respect, I did definitely discover a gourmand-treasure!
Great review Anjali! I wonder if this would layer well with New Haarlem.
Oh I'm so glad you reviewed this! I like so many of the Jacqua products. (Their buttercream frosting lotion is my far and away fave, though.) I'm not always so keen on caramel in products for pretty much the same reasons you mention about your own experiences. This sounds wonderful.
One thing I'd mention is that if anyone has a Nordstrom's Rack, please scope out their bath/body/cosmetics section. I've gotten some really great deals on Jacqua there – a set of three of their lipglosses for all of four bucks, for example.
Thanks K! I was having the same thought…will have to try it out soon!
I love many Jaqua products too, for the scent and the very cute packaging! Buttercream Frosting was a little rich for me (although I tried it in the lotion and not the dry-oil form, which I'm very antsy to test!), but their Lemon Meringue Body Butter is one of my favorite lotions ever! I'll have to scope out Nordstrom's Rack for deals
I'm glad to hear it's nicely moisturizing- I really need that in winter but am in the market for new scents. While I'm not interested in caramel, I'm really wanting the Chai Latte one since I'm aaaall about the tea this winter!
I haven't smelled it yet, but the Chai tea certainly does sound good! I just ordered a bottle of Eskander Black Tea & Lemon myself to prepare for winter/fall