Dupe Pair
82%
Very Similar
Paris Eau de Parfum bottle Paris
Edp Concentration Edp
U Gender M
2010 Year -
££ Price Tier £
Lighting City Eau de Parfum bottle Lighting City

ScentArt

A
Paris
B
Lighting City
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Which Should You Buy?

Our Verdict - Paris
A perfectly balanced violet that's both refined and a bit aloof. Often described as elegant yet distinctly modern, Balenciaga Paris is a beloved, versatile scent that many lament has been discontinued.
Favourite
Our Verdict - Lighting City
Perfume Parlour's affordable interpretation of Balenciaga Paris - a woody fragrance led by Carnation, with powdery depth. The dupe trades some of the original's depth and longevity for a wallet-friendly price, keeping the recognisable character.
Favourite

Scent Profile

Citrus Floral Fruity Green Sweet Warm Woody Earthy Animalic Fresh
Citrus 0% 0%
Floral 34% 35%
Fruity 0% 0%
Green 20% 3%
Sweet 12% 13%
Warm 4% 8%
Woody 22% 36%
Earthy 18% 19%
Animalic 0% 0%
Fresh 22% 10%

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding
Paris EdP
Lighting City EdP

Notes

Only in Lighting City
Carnation 100%
Shared Notes
Violet 28% vs 53%
Patchouli 14% vs 46%
Only in Lighting City
Cedar 100%

Accords

Paris Lighting City
82%
Woody
90%
85%
Powdery
78%
80%
Ozonic
73%
Floral
67%
Aquatic
Amber
66%
Aromatic
54%
51%
Patchouli
46%
Green
Woody shared
82%
90%
Powdery shared
85%
78%
80%
73%
67%
66%
54%
51%
46%

Performance

Paris Lighting City
Moderate (4-6h)
Longevity
Short (2-4h)
Moderate
Projection
Intimate
Moderate
Intensity
Moderate

Season and Occasion Fit

Paris

Seasons

Best For:
Spring
Also Works:
Summer Autumn

A spring fragrance - light, bright, made for the warmer turn of the year.

Occasions

Best For:
Office Date Casual
Also Works:
Formal

Its moderate sillage and elegant, clean profile make it ideal for office and casual wear, projecting sophistication without overwhelming. While versatile, its subtle nature might be less impactful for truly formal events or high-energy sport. Many reviewers explicitly mention it as a work-day go-to.

Lighting City

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter

Reach for it across autumn and winter, where the woody signature sits most naturally; outside those months its softer projection thins out faster.

Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal
Also Works:
Office Casual

This one suits evening and daily settings; the easy, cosy character keeps it versatile for formal rotation too.

Similarity Breakdown

Overall
82%
Olfactory
88%
Notes
93%
Accord
43%
Key Similarities

Both share Woody, Powdery accords and Carnation, Violet notes

Key Differences

Subtle differences in overall composition

Where to buy

Paris
Lighting City
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