Paris City Guide: Where To Shop For Gifts And Souvenirs

Paris residents share their fave haunts.

Published: July 11, 2024

Forget generic T-shirts and mascot plushies—there are way better Parisian souvenirs are waiting to be discovered beyond the Olympic buzz. Dive into the city's rich artistic heritage with a delightful stroll through the cobbled streets and their charming boutiques. Here, you’ll uncover a treasure trove of quintessentially French finds from artisanal ceramics to floral-printed linen, bespoke teas and scented candles.

Ditch the generic souvenirs and embrace the true essence of Parisian chic with this essential list of local-approved stores.

ASTIER DE VILLATTE

Created in 1996, this artisanal workshop started with talented artists sculpting ceramics and crockery and designing furniture. The first collections were produced in the Astier’s family basement and sold to ultra- Parisian outlets. Today, there are two multi-faceted stores housing artisanal made-in-Paris ceramics, stationery, and literature published in-house, including a guide “Ma vie à Paris”. They also produce their own exquisite perfumes, skincare, incense, soaps and lotions.

BLOOM

Inside this Indo-Parisian boutique, discover a treasure trove of homeware that will elevate your living space: Luxurious bed linen, elegant tablecloths, and exquisite tableware. Indulge in cozy loungewear and hand-crafted ceramics, and find delightful children's clothing, too.

CONSERVATOIRE DES HÉMISPHÈRES - ART DU THÉ

Photo: Courtesy of Conservatoire des Hémisphère

This apothecary-like tea shop pays homage to rare teas, sourced from far and wide in all their magnificent forms—fragrant, full-bodied, sweet, subtle, woody, sweet, toasted. Beautifully packaged in boxes worthy of being displayed.

DIPTYQUE

Still at the same address, this boutique, which opened in 1961, boasts an instantly recognisable iconography, throughout its store. Their candles such as Figuier and Tubéreuse are must-haves, as well as their fragrances Eau des Sens or Fleur de Peau. To celebrate 60 years, they have launched a new collection Les Mondes de Diptyque inspired by the brand’s archives.

FRAGONARD

Founded in 1926, Fragonard is one of the oldest perfumeries born in Grasse. Provençal at heart, all its collections exude a joie de vivre through their perfumes, soaps, candles. Scents like their Fleur d’oranger are refined and the packaging is delightful. They also offer an art of living range for the home, which includes table linen, crockery and glasses.

LA DROGUERIE

Photo: Courtesy of Textile Tours of Paris

A Parisian haven for DIY enthusiasts since 1975, La Droguerie is a magical treasure trove brimming with inspiration. Think knitting, sewing, jewellery making, and all the trimmings for fashion accessories. It's a veritable Aladdin's Cave, overflowing with beads and buttons in every imaginable shape, size, and colour. From sumptuous knitting yarns and delicate ribbons to quirky badges, a kaleidoscope of fabrics, and an extensive selection of knitting and sewing patterns, La Droguerie caters to every creative whim.

MERCI

An independent concept store offering a myriad of objects, from clothing to home furnishings and kitchenware, as well as beauty and stationery, discover new designers, as well as their in-house brand. Visit the Used Book Café onsite, which offers breakfast, lunch and cakes in an intimate escape lined with literature.

MONOPRIX

The first store to offer make-up samples, Monoprix offers food products, toiletries and fashion at low prices for both children and adults. In recent years, they have also developed Monoprix Maison offering ephemeral collections with big names in decor.

NOSE

Where scent reigns supreme, Nose is an avant-garde beauty concept store dedicated to finding the niche scent that truly suits you. Blindly trust, literally, the team of perfumers to guide you through an olfactory diagnosis which includes a short questionnaire followed by blind-testing fragrances. They also advise on candles and diffusers for your home.

OFFICINE UNIVERSELLE BULY 1803

Relaunched in 2014 by Ramdane Touhami and Victoire de Taillac, Officine Universelle Buly 1803 draws inspiration from the work of 19th-century Parisian perfumer Jean-Vincent Buly, reinterpreting it in a masterful blend of heritage and modernity. The elixirs, balms, oils and other small accessories are now presented in stylish packaging inspired by traditional pharmacopoeia.

TRUDON

Founded in 1643 on Rue Saint Honoré, the candles here are created by hand in workshops in Normandy. Each candle is presented in a customised box with the iconic Trudon emblem. Our favourites include Josephine or Trianon.

For a visual guide on where to go and what to do, see below.