Sure, I love the Louvre and Musée Rodin. I’m also a sucker for Angelina’s hot chocolate and macarons. But when I’m in my favorite city, my very favorite thing to do is shop for the best souvenirs from Paris. Therefore, I have to be strategic: one can only fit so many items in their suitcase, and you have to consider the weight, too. So let’s not waste time with the clunky snow globes that came from China. That is, let me show you the best (and most authentic) souvenirs from Paris, for any budget.
It’s always good to dream (and plan)
You’re probably wondering… why do I need to know this information at the present time? Being that borders are closed and a pandemic continues, I have no hope for travel any time soon. Au contraire, mon ami. While most of us will probably have to wait into the new year to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, that doesn’t stop us from hoping.
And by hoping, I mean for TRAVEL. Call me overly optimistic, but I’m hoping for a collective return to travel next year. Therefore I’m starting to preliminarily plan for such an event. Regardless, isn’t it fun to remember and dream of a time when we could travel abroad, immerse ourselves in cultures we love, and bring home items we will cherish forever? I thought so.
The best Souvenirs from Paris
In either case, dream along with me, and bookmark this page for the next time you are planning a trip to Paris, which I hope is soon. (And if that’s the case, you need to download my FREE printable Travel Checklist!)
Use these suggestions as a guide so that when you are there, it might occur to you to enter a shop you wouldn’t have otherwise considered. Conversely, use my guide as a means to reminisce about your own souvenirs from Paris.
Spices, oils, and teas (oh my).
Spice mixtures, infused or exotic oils, and unique teas have become one of my favorite things to buy when traveling. I love pulling different spice mixtures from my travels out of my cupboard every now and then to sprinkle on some chicken or make into a marinade. It brings back feelings of joy from travel at unexpected moments. What is more simple and pleasurable than that?
Where to find the best spices in Paris
Galeries Lafayette Gourmet
You know you’ll visit here anyway, so head up to the top floor and shop the gourmet food market for treats, gadgets, and yes, spices. A stop here will truly deliver some of the best souvenirs from Paris.
35 Boulevard Haussman
75009 Paris
Tel. +33 (0) 1 42 65 93 68
La Grande Epicerie de Paris
The name says it all – the large “pantry of Paris” is connected to Le Bon Marché, another top department store in Paris. Shop for spices and oils, and so much else. For a guide on how to enjoy this foodie paradise, click here.
38 rue de Sèvres
75007 Paris
Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 39 81 00
For more choices of épiceries fines, go here.
Macaron box(es) from Ladurée make great momentos
Store your treasures in these beautiful boxes which once housed the macarons you enjoyed on rue Bonaparte. Or if you’re like me, store more practical things in them like earbuds and iphone wall cubes. Every time you open it up you will be given a “souvenir” (memory) from Paris.
I’m a total sucker for packaging. Of course it’s a marketing trick to get you to buy, but what can I say I fall for it every time. I love buying little tins of sweets or chocolates in Paris, to savor back in my hotel room or on the train. I then bring the adorable tins home with me and use them for whatever storage I need them for. One such tin I bought in Montmartre full of sea salted caramels… Now the tin houses my hair pins and ties for when I am traveling. Every time I open it up I smile inside. Un souvenir parfait.
Eiffel Tower Keychain - a cheesy yet memorable token from Paris
Super cliché and most definitely made in China (an exception to my authenticity rule), but these keychains are a must. I knew this was as inauthentic as it gets even when buying it, but do you know I still have it on my keyring to this day? They are cheap as can be and symbolic of your love of France. Get one for you and every friend on your list. Required friend shopping: done.
Find them at any tourist shop in any part of the city.
Café au lait bowl
These traditional coffee bowls are beautiful and make a wonderful gift or souvenir. Plus, they are most definitely authentically French. Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, they are the perfect size for ice cream, cereal, or to use as a small serving bowl.
I was first introduced to the boule café au lait by my host mother in Nantes. She demonstrated how to make and then slurp your bowl of coffee and warm milk. Next she showed me how to expertly dip my baguette into the bowl in between sips.
Swoon. Sign me up.
Boule café au lait – a lifetime souvenir from Paris
I was excited to have found one such boule in Amboise with my name beautifully scripted on it. Having a name like Genevieve makes it usually hard to find personalized anything, unless you’re in France.
For an authentic boule café au lait, try searching in any vintage/secondhand shop (brocantes) or flea market in the city (marché aux puces). The ones you find at tacky souvenir shops are probably fabriqué en chine, so if you’re a stickler for authenticity then look elsewhere.
Flea Market Treasures, relics from the past
If you find yourself at a brocante searching for the perfect café au lait bowl, be sure to peruse the stalls for hidden treasures that can fit in a suitcase. You never know what you’ll find- teacups, candlesticks, old frames, the possibilities are endless. Bring something pretty and useful home, and daydream about the history that object has witnessed. I love stuff like that.
Skincare from une pharmacie
One can spend a literal fortune on French cosmetics and skincare. But savvy Parisians and tourists know you don’t have to take home Chanel Beauty from Paris to try some of France’s best skincare brands. All you have to do is look for a pharmacie to discover some wonderful products that aren’t generally sold in the States. That is, until Jeff Bezos brought us Amazon.
For some of the most infamous French pharmacie skincare favorites available on Amazon, click the images below. You’re welcome J
Savon français – an affordable, luxurious souvenir from Paris and beyond
While you’re at the pharmacie shopping for skincare, load up on some savon francais, or French soaps. You can also find handmade varieties at the local markets in any French town. What is it about French soap that feels so luxurious and special? It’s all in the milling process.
The French have perfected triple-milled soaps, which produces a more dense bar of soap that lasts longer than a regular Dove bar. In addition, it makes a milder smelling soap which is more preferable than a highly perfumed one that can irritate the skin.
French soaps are generally made with all-natural ingredients and in delicious scents like lavender eucalyptus, or orange rose.
Using finer soaps reminds me of one of my favorite mantras: “Everyday is all you have. So use the good stuff.” I couldn’t agree more.
Un foulard for all
The foulard, or silky scarf accessory, is quintessentially French. Maybe you thought of this already, but I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t be delighted to receive a silky scarf from Paris. Les foulards are a wardrobe staple in France, with many ways to knot them around your neck to suit your personality. Get one in different textures and colors for each friend on your “must bring home a souvenir list.” They are equally light as a feather and roll up easily in the suitcase. Just be sure to educate the recipients on the different ways to style or accessorize with so lovely an item.
The best Souvenirs from Paris
Even if you can’t visit Paris at the moment (a problem which I hope is over very, very soon), create a Wishlist of items you would bring home if you were able to go. Or, compare these with items you’ve brought home in the past – what would you add/subtract from my list?
Relive past travel moments at unexpected times
Souvenirs are just that – items that give you fond memories of an experience or adventure in your life, and which help you relive those moments. Sure, that could be a simple magnet for your fridge, but I rather enjoy the surprise souvenirs when I least expect them. Like when picking out a scarf for my outfit and choosing the one from that trip to Paris, or pulling out a special tea from Mariages Frères for a break from the day. In this way we can add joy to these moments with your souvenirs, so shop wisely and choose only the best souvenirs from Paris.
À la prochaine-
geneviève
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