Is Cosmic Rainbow C4 the Same as Skittles C4?

January 11, 2026 •

4 min read

In early 2025, C4 Energy's parent company, Nutrabolt, discontinued its official Skittles and Starburst flavor partnerships. This led to the introduction of a new, mixed-fruit flavor called Cosmic Rainbow, causing confusion among long-time fans who loved the original Skittles C4. While Cosmic Rainbow replaced the Skittles flavor in the product lineup, they are not the same product.

Quick Summary

Cosmic Rainbow C4 replaced the discontinued Skittles flavor in C4's lineup but features a distinct, though similar, fruity candy taste. Though closely associated due to the rebranding, the two are not identical in flavor or formulation.

Key Points

Not the Same: Cosmic Rainbow C4 is a distinct, in-house C4 flavor, not an identical replacement for the discontinued Skittles C4.
Rebranding: The change occurred in early 2025 when C4 ended its flavor licensing agreement with Skittles.
Flavor Differences: Many users report that Cosmic Rainbow has a different taste profile, with some finding it sweeter or more citrusy than the original Skittles flavor.
Brand Strategy: The move allows C4 to control its own branding and flavor development without external licensing constraints.
Packaging Change: The easiest way to tell the difference is the packaging; Cosmic Rainbow uses C4's own branding, not the Skittles logo.
Mixed Reviews: While the new flavor is enjoyed by many, some long-time fans of the original Skittles flavor miss the old version.
Product Line Evolution: The shift from Skittles to Cosmic Rainbow is part of a broader evolution of C4's flavor lineup.

C4's Cosmic Change: From Candy-Branded to In-House

When C4 Energy announced its flavor lineup changes, it marked a significant shift in its product strategy. Moving away from licensed candy collaborations like Skittles and Starburst, the company developed its own in-house, candy-inspired flavors. The transition created a direct lineage between the popular Skittles C4 and the new Cosmic Rainbow, but consumer feedback confirms that the two are distinct products with noticeable differences in taste and composition.

Why the Change from Skittles to Cosmic Rainbow?

Several factors likely contributed to C4's decision to shift away from licensed flavor partnerships.

Brand Independence: By creating its own flavors, C4 gains greater control over its product branding and marketing without relying on another company's intellectual property.
Formula Flexibility: Licensing agreements often come with specific constraints. By developing its own profile, C4 can adjust ingredients and flavor intensity as it sees fit to improve or evolve the product.
Customer Feedback: C4's brand evolution is often guided by customer feedback and market trends, allowing them to refine and improve popular flavor profiles. Reviews from longtime users suggest C4 specifically aimed to improve upon the Skittles flavor with its new Cosmic Rainbow blend, even though some consumers prefer the original.

Cosmic Rainbow vs. Skittles C4: A Direct Comparison

The most significant differences between these two C4 flavors lie in their taste profiles and the perception of their overall balance. While both are fruit-punch-style beverages, the specific blend of fruity notes and their intensity varies.

C4 Flavor Comparison Table


Feature	Skittles C4 (Discontinued)	Cosmic Rainbow C4 (Current)
Flavor Profile	Mimics the specific taste of Skittles candy, a mix of defined fruit flavors.	A vibrant blast of mixed fruit, a more general "rainbow candy" flavor.
Taste Experience	Highly authentic to the source candy, praised for its accurate replication.	Sometimes perceived as sweeter or having a more citrusy/lemonade finish.
Availability	Discontinued; only available from old stock at certain retailers.	Widely available in C4 Energy's current product line.
Legal Status	Required a licensing agreement with Mars, Inc. (the owner of Skittles).	In-house flavor developed by Nutrabolt; no licensing required.
Consumer Reception	Widely beloved, but some found the flavor profile slightly artificial.	Mixed reception; many enjoy the new version, while some loyal fans miss the original.
Ingredients	Standard C4 formula with a Skittles flavor blend.	Standard C4 formula with a new, in-house blend of fruity flavors.

The Rebranding Transition and Consumer Reaction

The rollout of Cosmic Rainbow was met with a mix of excitement for a new flavor and disappointment from fans of the original Skittles collaboration. The confusion was compounded by retailers often updating product pages to show the new Cosmic Rainbow flavor while keeping old reviews for the Skittles version. This has led to some consumer frustration, with many feeling misled or simply missing their favorite original flavor.

Some users on social media and product review pages have noted significant differences, with some finding Cosmic Rainbow to be overly sweet compared to the more balanced Skittles version. Others, however, prefer the new in-house flavor, suggesting it has a more authentic or improved candy profile. This divergence of opinion highlights that while the new flavor was intended to replace the old, it did not achieve a 1-to-1 replication in the eyes of all consumers.

How to Tell the Difference on the Shelves

For consumers navigating the change, the key is to read the packaging carefully. The old Skittles C4 cans explicitly feature the candy brand's logo. The new Cosmic Rainbow cans feature C4's standard branding with the distinct Cosmic Rainbow name. If you encounter an older can of Skittles C4, it's likely from remaining stock and is not the same as the Cosmic Rainbow you'll find on most shelves today. The flavor and formulation in these cans, while similar in concept, are definitively different.

Conclusion: Not the Same, but a Clear Successor

So, is Cosmic Rainbow C4 the same as Skittles C4? The definitive answer is no. Cosmic Rainbow is C4 Energy's new, in-house mixed fruit flavor that was specifically developed to replace the discontinued Skittles version after the official partnership ended. While the two flavors share a similar candy-inspired, fruity theme, their precise taste profiles and formulations are distinct. For fans of the original, Cosmic Rainbow is the closest option, though many agree it is not an exact match. Ultimately, the new flavor represents C4's strategic pivot towards greater brand control and flavor innovation.

A Quick Reference to C4's Flavor Evolution

Initial Partnership: C4 releases a successful, licensed Skittles flavor.
Partnership Ends (Early 2025): The licensing agreement with Mars, Inc. concludes, and the Skittles flavor is discontinued.
New Flavor Introduced: C4's parent company, Nutrabolt, introduces Cosmic Rainbow as the in-house replacement.
Mixed Reception: Consumers give mixed reviews, noting similarities but also key differences in taste compared to the original Skittles flavor.
Brand Independence Achieved: C4 continues to expand its own unique line of candy-inspired flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Cosmic Rainbow is not just a re-labeled Skittles C4. It is a newly developed, in-house flavor created by C4's parent company, Nutrabolt, after the licensing agreement with Skittles ended.

C4 changed the flavor because its partnership and licensing agreement with Skittles came to an end. The company then chose to develop its own mixed-fruit, candy-inspired flavor to replace the popular product.

Look at the packaging. The old cans of Skittles C4 explicitly featured the Skittles candy branding and logo. The new Cosmic Rainbow cans feature only C4's branding and explicitly say "Cosmic Rainbow".

Many customers report that the taste is similar but not identical. Some describe Cosmic Rainbow as slightly different, with variations in the sweetness level or a different balance of fruit notes compared to the original.

While the core performance ingredients like caffeine and Beta-Alanine are consistent across C4 products, the specific flavoring agents used in Cosmic Rainbow are different from those used in the licensed Skittles version. Both remain zero-sugar.

It is unlikely you will find new cans of the original Skittles C4, as the flavor was discontinued in early 2025. Any remaining stock would be old, and Cosmic Rainbow is the new replacement on the market.

Yes. Alongside the Skittles change, C4 also phased out its Starburst flavors, replacing them with new, in-house versions like Strawberry Blast.