A Sweet Pastry In Paris

I was lucky enough to find this one one the grey market at a rather reasonable price and snatched it up as a blind buy. With the mixed reviews here I wasn’t sure I was taking the best risk but I’ve been on the hunt for a buttery gourmand scent and just went for it. I am happy to report that not only did I not get scammed on the grey market, I also absolutely adore this scent. At the opening, A Sweet Pastry in Paris does start out as sort of sickly artificial lemon, floor cleaner citrus. However, after giving the scent a minute to sit and develop, that initial artificial lemon, saccharine sweet vibe totally dissipates and turns into a buttery, sweet gourmand scent. As far as gourmands go, this is definitely “edible”, almost a photorealistic rendition of freshly baked shortbread or croissants with a rich, buttery lemon-vanilla curd. The staying power on this is also remarkable- I could smell it well after 10 hours after first application. I’ll definitely use sparingly, as I can see this one become cloying with a heavy hand (not to mention I probably won’t ever be able to get my hands on another bottle, unless Zara does us a solid and brings this whole collection back!). A really stunning buttery citrus gourmand if you can get your hands on it! ps - I definitely recognize the comparisons to Lira by Xerjoff but neither is a dupe for the other (the Xerjoff DNA in Lira really keeps it more perfume-y where this one is more of a sweet, edible gourmand).

This is one of Zara's gems. Most of their fragrances are pleasant but have pretty poor performance and smell a bit cheap. But they always come out with a couple fragrances that are quite a bit better than their price point. I was disappointed and suprised Zara discontinued this one so quickly. A Sweet Pastry in Paris smells like a lightly sweet lemon cake. It's a linear fragrance, so you will smell like a yummy snack the whole time. The lemon is sweet and a little creamy and with just a hint of tartness and a teeny bit of the bitterness from lemon zest that keeps if from being overly sweet. I have been pleasantly suprised with the performance, it lasts 6-8 hours with moderated projection for about 4-5 hours then becomes a skin scent. It's a fragrance I can wear all year. The gourmand elements make it a bit warm and cozy in the cooler weather while the lemon keeps a light and refreshing summer gourmand. This is a very good budget alternative for Xerjoff Lira. It doesn't have the depth and complexity, but has all of the lemon cake goodness. Lira is the cake you get at a fine dining restaurant infused with complex/interesting flavours while the Zara, is the cake you get at the local family restaurant that is straightforward sweet lemony goodness.

For the price, this exceeded my expectations. It captured not simply lemon, but the lemon curd; it got the meringue - not the torched marshmallow but the whipped, sweetened raw egg whites. I caught wifts of saltiness somewhere, and then the baked pastry dough, which at times is a traditional cookie tart base, others a light airy wafer. The bright citrus opening can be harsh (teensy reminder of Pledge even), but that mellows out quickly and before you know it the lemon softens. Then you get the meringue (gone too soon alas), and the floury baked dough. In the end that too will part and you're left with a soft, creamy lemon, delicately dusted with icing sugar with a small dollop of vanilla whipped cream on the side. What a surprise this was. I picked this up despite thinking that I don't really want to smell like a lemon dessert. I am still undecided on that front to be honest. But at this price point (and I can't stress this enough), this one is too good to pass up. It's just such a fun, feel-good scent that's not asking to be taken so seriously. Amazing.

I bought this gorgeous gourmand last september, unsniffed in Oslo, and than went on the other side of the country before I opened it, and boy, if I knew what was inside that special bottle, I should have bought 2 bottles, eh no, make that 3, because it's that good, and inexpencive ;p I haven't been to Paris, or France yet, but, I was an au-pair-girl in England, and, this perfume smells exactly as the best ever lemon cheescake I've ever tasted; at a pastry in Kingston-on-Themsen south of London. -The smell inside that pastry turns your head off - the bakery is heaven, and this perfume smells as the cake I bought; the fresh lemon is there, and lots of vanilla, and cream, and with a dash of strawberry jam, there is notting better in the whole world I guess, for more than 30 years I have been trying to copy that cake - but - now I got this perfum - and / but - of cause I want to visit that pastry again sometime :D

Just received this in the mail. I was looking for an alternative for devotion and unfortunately I like devotion more! I think this is more lemon heavy and airy versus devotion. The initial blast smells like fruit loops and the dry down is light and fluffy vanilla. There is a subtle gourmand crust like note in the dry down as well. It reminds me of a few things...vanilla and dreamy glazed from pink, pink sugar creamy sunshine and it's super similar to iced lemon pound cake. If you like any of those you'll like this. Also if you like the Taraji p. Henson indulge me mist you'll probably like this as well. Edit : I've had this for a week now and I'm really starting to like it. It's already getting stronger. It still doesn't remind me of devotion...it's more linear, but there is an addictive quality to this that makes me want to reach for it often. Perfect gourmand for spring and summer!

Version 2025. is NOT a new version/reformulation. Thanks God my favorite gourmand is back!! l do have and love Devotion too but they are not dupes, just same genre of sweet and tart lemony gourmands. If you love one you'll love another one too. Version 2025 is not a 'new' perfume or 'Barbie with a lemon' as l see in some of the reviews. It is the same version as the first one, my old bottle is definitely not identical to new one because it is old and juice is so much darker, vanilla is stronger while you get much more lemon in the opening of the new one. As you go to the dry down they are pretty much same. To be honest compared to the new one the old one seems a bit off. So yes, in my opinion the new one is the same version as the old one was, all differences l get are because of ageing. Now l can finally finish my bottle when l have 3 more backups!

This is the lemon fragrance I have been looking for, it's perfect for satisfying the sweet tooth my nose has developed in recent years. I find this perfume to be sweet AND salty. It opens with a very bright fresh yellow lemon, which is citrus but still sweet...very sweet actually. The intensity quickly fades into a creamy lemon meringue scent before turning into a salty doughy skinscent. The fresh zesty lemon opening and the salted dough drydown are my favorite parts of the fragrance. The meringue thing is nice, but it's "been there, done that" when it comes to gourmands. The notes of rising puff pastry dough are a unique touch and its what makes this perfume special .

I like it. Just as advertised: smells like a buttery lemon pastry. The opening is quite harsh and borders on detergent lemon but mellows out quickly. In the middle the lemon gets infused with almonds making it more powdery and less hard candy like. Pudding like creamy ness is revealed in the base. And yes it is sweet. My tolerance for sweet is rather particular. floral/sweet, patchouli/sweet, oud or woody /sweet is a no go. Some pure sugar sweet scents are however very well received. This perfume teeters on the edge. We will see if it gets over my limit after prolonged wear. Edit: the more mellow almondy pudding like base has me hooked. can't seem to get enough of it.

I was so sad when I couldn't get "Lemon Pie" from Zara, becouse I discovered it so late thet it was already sold out. It's a shame. But I got this now, and absolutely love it!!! My type of fragrance, absolutly sweet gourmand. I think the title perfectly describes the scent. "Sweet pastery", I don't know how these notes createing the "pastery" vibe but they creates it. I think it's more like "raw pasta", becouse I used to taste it while my mother was kneading, when I was a child. I have a sample of Lira, but they are not similar (maybe the vibe, if this kind of similarity counts) but this is more sweeter then Lira, and has a stronger cookie base scent.

I think some of the reviews are a bit harsh ! I actually think this is a great lemon gourmand ! like one of the better ones I’ve smelt and I really enjoy wearing it . The pastry note is really well blended and I usually hate that note . I didn’t like jany from sora dora because of that but this one is really nice and great longevity too! Definitely worth it especially for the price . The lemon used is similar to Akro bake but this has a more buttery pastry vanilla dry down with lemon at the forefront of the fragrance ! I give this one a 8/10 !

I get the hype now and I'm glad Zara brought it back so those who missed out before could experience it. I love the whole vibe and the bottles in this series, wouldn't mind if they restocked the others for a bit🙏 Starts with a blast of citrus which shortly disippates and from then on lingers in the background. At the same time the smell of a buttery and custardy pastry becomes stronger and stronger. I'm curious how it develops in time as I only just got mine. Fairly long lasting, moderate projection, absolute bargain for the price.

I've had this for a year now and it's definitely gotten stronger. The opening smells like rice crispy treats or fruity pebbles. I also think it smells like a key lime torte. It's also buttery so it reminds me of those thumbprint cookies with the lemon curd . The dry down smells like pure Caramel and vanilla. The dry down reminds me of vanilla bean Noelle or the eos lotion. Lasts a long time and can smell it the next day! This is definitely nothing like devotion or Victoria... It's a lot more gourmand!

Agree with those below that say the initial spray is horrendous. I had an associate in Zara spray it on a tester for me(they'll do it if you ask!) and initially got sharp synthetic lemon cleaner. But while walking around the store I began to pick up sugar and a warm buttery aspect to it. Smells just like a baked lemon pound cake to me. Needless to say that I bought it that same day and have been wearing it daily ever since. I like sweet scents so this is a love for me.

Such a gourmand smell ! Excellent for the ladies that want to turn heads everywhere they go. It lasts up to 5 hours on my skin, however the sillage is enormous. It starts as a lemon and sugar cane bouquet, and after some minutes the vanilla enters the show. Incredibly delicious and well combined, the notes are such a great mix, mostly for the cold weather but I love wearing it even in the summer because it’s not a strong smell, but a sweet and fresh cookie fragrance.

Received this today. First spritz....lemon air freshner....but that tone changes quickly. Then comes lemon danish with icing..then for it's completion...the dry down...I get lemon merangue pie..with the toasted merange top. I also smell....sweet "yeast"...??? I know, weird...lol. I really am enjoying this "different" scent for what it is....a guilty pleasure.... Will be great to wear as a sleep scent....and daily very casual days. Bravo ! Natalie Lorson.

I got a decant of this last year and i loved the smell so much i nearly teared up. I’ve been loving gourmands lately and this smells like such a delicious lemon pie with a yummy buttery crust!! It’s got a nice sillage and great lasting power. I see how it might not be everyone’s cup of tea as the lemon note feels a little artificial, it’s a very sweet candied lemon smell, but i really like it as it balances the strength of the buttery lactonic notes.

My favourite guilty pleasure! It smells like a Spanish magdalena pastry. Not the most natural smelling perhaps, but if you're after a sweet, lemon pastry gourmand scent at a great price, look no further. As a bonus, it actually lasts, too! I didn't think I would like this fragrance (blind buy, can't go wrong at that price), and I ended up loving it on cold winter days. Such a great release from Zara! No wonder though, they picked a great perfumer.

It's an addictive homewear juice... dont wear this out of the house and dont wear this when you are hungry it can give you stomachache . But after a good diner spray your hands your pajamas and your pillows hug yourself and have the sweetest dreams! Its is very very very sweet in a very eatable way. Is like you just baked a lemon-something.I love it but i am sure that its not that ok to smell like this in public.

As an avid lemon hater in perfumes until recent this is a love. Opens up screechy with a zesty lemon but soon dries into a delicious lemon puff pastry still with the zest for the price no complaints and layers so well with devotion and other vanilla fragrances. This is one you give a chance and again for the price I don’t get the complaints. Zara and Nathalie did well with this one

I am back with this because i have to say sth to the company.... oh Zara...WHY are you doing this??? i really can NOT understand! You ask and pay Nathalie Lorson to create for you...you are selling for 16 euros for just one season and then you discontinue??? WHY??? people reselling your stuff on ebay for hundreds of $ !!! Please ....give this gem back to the world!