The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Lorenzo Pazzaglia founded PAX in Fano, Italy, in 2021 with no formal training in perfumery, only the instincts of a self-taught creator. On an eighth birthday, he wanted to give his daughter Sveva something lasting, not a toy destined for a shelf. Sugar Kisses was the answer: a Gourmand Extrait de Parfum built from the inside out, designed to carry a single moment forward through time. Pazzaglia's background as a chef surfaces here in the precision of edible notes and the willingness to make something that smells undeniably, deliberately delicious.
For Pazzaglia, gourmand perfumery is not about mimicking food but about capturing sensation. Sugar Kisses pairs bitter orange with heliotrope and frangipani to keep the opening from becoming cloying, then layers dark chocolate and cocoa blossom with coconut and dates to create a heart that feels simultaneously sweet and grounded. Hazelnut and tonka bean add textural complexity, while the drydown of benzoin, brown sugar, and rum keeps the base warm and long-lasting. The result is a fragrance that leans into sweetness without apology, designed for those who want their skin to smell like a gift.
The evolution
The fragrance begins with bitter orange cutting through a cloud of milk chocolate and heliotrope, giving the opening a citrus-tinted sweetness that feels almost refreshing. Frangipani's fleeting floral presence prevents the chocolate from becoming heavy too quickly. As the top notes fade, dark chocolate and cocoa blossom take over the heart, amplified by cream and tonka bean's sweet depth. Hazelnut and dates add a roasted, sticky richness that makes the heart feel like a confectionery counter. The drydown transitions to caramel and brown sugar, warmed by rum and benzoin, before settling into white musk and toffee for a soft, lingering finish.
Cultural impact
Sweet Oriental and gourmand fragrances occupy a specific corner of niche perfumery, the territory reserved for those who want scent to feel like an experience rather than an atmosphere. Sugar Kisses sits in that tradition, but Pazzaglia pushes further into edible territory than most. Community reception reflects this: strong opinions on both sides. Those who love gourmand fragrances rate it among the best of the category, the caramel/toffee realism, the cocoa butter warmth, the natural sweetness without synthetic flattening. Those who don't want sugar in their fragrance have made their position equally clear.
