The ratio of a macaron shell is heavy on the saccharine side - 2:1 sugar to almonds. This makes them sweet items by nature. So whenever anyone describes macarons as 'too sweet' I have to put my poncey hat on and state 'yes, bad ones are too sweet, good ones are just right' *smug face*. That's the truth. Some bakers will use excessively sugar-laden buttercream, or worse, fondant fillings to save on time/cost/shelf life. Sometimes it's not even butter in the 'buttercream' but tasteless vegetable fat, which really should be re-named 'fattercream'. Another bug-bear - essence. There's an essence for any and every flavour, and to cut further on time/cost some producers will turn to the bottle of flavourless emptiness rather than juice, squeeze, zest, infuse fresh fruit and herbs.