Are you looking for authentic Paris Souvenirs and gift ideas?
I'm all for non-touristy souvenirs and gifts! I'm sharing all the things and goodies that you shouldn't miss on your trip to Paris.
Tip: Do you have only 24 hours in Paris? Get our 1 day in Paris Itinerary for first time visitors.
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Designer Scarfs
The French silk scarf, known as the foulard en soie in French, is an iconic fashion accessory that came into prominence almost 100 years ago.
You can get an iconic French silk scarf made by one of the great fashion houses in Paris.
Vintage silk scarves are collectors items and rare, but you will most definitely get the latest collections presented by Christian-Dior, Yves Saint Lauren and Pierre Cardin.
Head to the Champs-Élysées designer stores or to the recently renovated 60s style department store, the Samaritaine.
French Lace
French Lace has been around in France since the Renaissance period.
From the handmade Lace, the so-called “dentelle” de Lille in Northern France, to the machine made lace of Calais during the industrial revolution, all are high quality French products.
To purchase true original Dentelle de Calais, visit the Generaldiff store in Paris.
Soaps
I LOVE collecting handmade soaps, and nothing beats French (and also Italian) handmade soaps.
They smell amazingly fresh, and these bar soaps don't dissolve that easily.
French soaps are traditionally made in Southern France, and there is even a town known as Menton, where they make lemon soaps. Marseille is also a prominent soap city.
My sister, recently discovered a dedicated soap shop in Montmartre, Paris. Look out for donkey milk soap, it's super nurturing to the skin and stock up on French soaps on your trip to Paris!
Painting & Supplies
When in Paris, head to Montmatre. This part of town was known as the artist quarters a century ago.
Well-known painters, such as Dali, Picasso, and Toulouse-Lautrec lived here, and today you will still see painters displaying their art pieces or offering their skills on the roadside.
While this feels like a tourist trap, it is actually not.
These artists can produce a portrait of yourself within a reasonable time and the results can vary, but you can choose the artists that you like.
Back in the old town, take a walk along the Seine river, just opposite the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. Here you will find paintings and art works.
One of my all-time favorite stores in Paris for art supplies is La Maison du Pastel.
Here you can get super high quality pastel colors from the oldest pastel manufacturer in the world. They are only open on Thursdays in the afternoon!
Perfume
Back in the day, when washing yourself was not in fashion, and the high society was aiming for ways to smell more “beautiful”, the perfume came to prominence.
Parisians made the perfume what it is today, and designer perfumes can be found everywhere in the world.
Yet, truly unique or pure scents are made in France. The town of Grasse in southern France, is where scents are produced in France.
Many foreign pure scents are imported by french perfume makers from India, Indonesia and other countries, such as true Sandalwood.
You can learn and make your own perfume at the Perfume museum in Paris. Several specialized perfume boutiques can be found scattered in the Le Marais district in Paris.
Skin Care Products
You might have come across a French Pharmacy haul TikTok or YouTube video online.
The world has finally discovered our best kept secret, pharmacy skin care products!
Most Paris visitors head to Citypharma, the largest centrally located pharmacy in Paris, to buy French skin care products for the fraction of the price.
Honestly, this pharmacy tends to be crowded, and you will get the same products in most other pharmacies in Paris. The city has 100s of them!
You will recognize a French pharmacy from afar, thanks to the poison green trippy cross shaped light signboards.
My favorite brand has been La-Roche-Posay and I usually get the Effaclar, which I only use when I'm in a tropical, humid climate.
Second Hand “Brocante” Trinkets
Don't skip visiting a second hand boutique or a traditional flea market when in Paris!
Northern France is known for some of the best flea markets in Europe, and it's a treasure trove.
Second hand shopping is fashionable in this part of the world and the locals believe in sustainability.
Incidentally, many homes of people that have passed away are emptied, and the things are often given away to flea markets
The most well-known flea market in Paris is the Saint Ouen market, but I propose that you head to one of the many Emmaüs instead.
Emmaüs is a non-profit run by the Catholic Church, and French people typically come to these thrift-stores.
We found postcards from the Belle Époque here, original french kitchen pottery and other typical French trinkets. Some of these items were just 1–2 Euros!
Wine and Drinks
France is the country of fine wines, champagnes, and liqueurs. Here is what to get from your trip to Paris.
- Champagne — Pick a classic Champagne sparkling wine such as Moët & Chandon, Veuve Cliquot or Castelnau.
- Crémant — Every other sparkling wine outside the Champagne region is called a Crémant. I recommend a Crémant from Alsace.
- Trendy Rosé
- White Wine — The best white wines are from Alsace. Pick a Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, or Riesling.
- Classic Red Wine — You can't go wrong with a Beaujolais or Bordeaux.
- Crème de cassis — To make Kir cocktails at home, such as the Kir Royale Drink.
- Liqueur d'Orange
- Chartreuse — A green herbal liqueur produced by the Chartreuse monks. Only two monks know the recipe.
- Syrups — from Monin, Teisseire and co to mix drinks.
French Food
We always brought back food from France after every trip.
Dijon Mustard
Avoid the common ones. Go for uniquely flavored Edmond Fallot Dijon-style mustard.
I like tarragon and black currant flavored mustard, but they have so many more flavor options.
Honey
Bee Keeping has a long tradition in France. Look out for honey varieties and honey food products such as candy and Royal Jelly.
My favorite honey varieties are Acacia and Linden. You will find locally produced honey in open air markets and boutiques in Paris.
Tip: Here you will also find beeswax, which nurtures wooden furniture.
Jams and Canning
Homemade jams have a long tradition in France. Every home in rural France prepares jam during the summer months.
Fruits, vegetables, are abundant, and they are also canned and stored for months.
You can purchase homemade jams, which are all natural and prepared without artificial pectin, in local farmer's markets in Paris. Look out for orange marmalade!
OR you can prepare homemade French Jams at home with my recipes. We, my mum and me, have been sharing French Jam recipes for over a decade.
Fleur de Sel
Fleur de sel is the flower of salt that “grows” in the salt fields. It's France's high-quality salt, and it's still harvested the traditional way.
Pick either a fleur de sel from Guérande (Brittany) or Camargue (Southern France). Both are top quality and are best used as a topping for your foods at home.
Fleur de sel is pricier, compared to other salts, because of the quality standards, the texture, the way it is harvested and because it tastes umami. It adds complexity and sophistication to every meal.
Foie gras
Foie Gras is duck or goose liver. This french delicacy is controversial because of the way the animals are fed. Foie gras, literally, means fatted liver.
This special liver delicacy is served on special occasions as an appetizer with crunchy breads.
You can purchase canned foie gras in Paris. Goose liver is mainly from the Alsace region, and the other regions are known for their exquisite duck foie gras.
French Green Lentills
French Green Lentilles are known as Lentille vert du Puy and you will have a hard time finding them outside of France.
These are fantastic cooked with sausages to make a one pot french green lentil meal.
You can purchase the green lentils from the Puy region in all grocery stores in Paris.
Crème de Marron
Crème de Marron is chestnut spread and this ingredient is mainly used in Christmas rolls, aka the Bûche de Noël.
Clement Faugier is the most well-known brand in France, selling this unique creamy chestnut spread.
BUT I recommend asking for this special ingredient in food boutique stores and markets because artisanal versions always taste better.
Sweets & Treats
- Dragée Amande — Almonds coated with a smooth sugar layer. These are gifted for weddings (white) or on a birth (blue or pink).
- Nougat — A sweet made of whipped egg whites, honey, and nuts. Buy only soft, freshly made ones!
- Biscuit Rose — Pink biscuits from Reims, the unofficial capital of the Champagne region, are served with Champagne.
- Macarons — Colorful Macarons from Paris.
- Pate de Fruit — Fruit jelly.
- Les Anise de Flavigny — Little bonbon sweets, that come in different flavors, sold in cute looking tin boxes.
- Licorice Pastille — A specialty from the north, especially from Rouen, where they make varieties of Licorice sweets.
- Sablé Breton — Salted butter cookies from the Brittany region.
- Kouign-amann — Heavenly, delicious small cakes from Brittany. They sell them in tin boxes, and therefore they are easily transported.
Baking and Cooking Supplies
I always get cooking supplies when in France because the choice of items is spectacular and the prices are usually cheaper than in the rest of Europe.
If you don't know, I share recipes at MasalaHerb.com, so I always need special baking and cooking supplies for my recipe development.
Fève — The fève, in the shape of a tiny Jesus, is hidden in the Galette de roi, aka the king's cake for the 3 king's day on the 6th January. Recommended by Birgit Müllner.
Madeleine Pans — To make Madeleine shell-shaped small cakes. It's a specialty from the Lorraine region.
Silicon Pans — The best silicon baking pans can be found, hands down, in France! I highly recommend getting a tart silicon pan.
Pastry Fillers and Piping Bags — You will get better quality and choices of sizes in France.
Dutch Ovens — The two best brands are Staub and Le Creuset. Both are originally from the Alsace region. The choice is better in France!
French Pottery
Earthenware and handmade pottery have a long tradition in France. Especially, Southern France is known for its pottery villages and towns.
When in Paris, look out for handcrafted pottery from Albi, Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie and Anduze. These are all famed pottery villages in the Occitanie region in Southern France.
Besides, look out for Terrine Pottery, which comes in various colors. Alsatian food specialties, such as the Baeckeoffe, are cooked in these earthenware pots.
Knifes
If you have ever been invited to a French home for dinner, you will have noticed their French steak knifes.
French steak knifes stand out because of their size and looks, and because of their usability.
One of the most well-known steak knifes that you should try to get on your trip to Paris is laguiole.
These knifes are made in the village of Laguiole in Southern France. Steak pocket knifes are some of their specialty.
If you like to go mushroom foraging, get a French mushroom knife. They are foldable and have a brush on the other hand.
Handmade Baskets
Known as Panier in French, french baskets come in all shapes and forms. These woven wicker baskets are traditionally still handmade by French people.
Back in the day, it was common to prepare baskets in the colder months when farming wasn't possible.
Some of the most prominent french baskets are mushroom baskets, grocery baskets and laundry baskets. Furthermore, look out for picnic baskets and grocery baskets.
You will find newer handmade baskets at a farmer's market and vintage baskets at a flea market.
Non-Touristy VS Tourist Trap Souvenirs
Non-touristy souvenirs and gifts ideas are authentic and traditionally produced in France.
That means, these things are high-quality items. Some are handmade, others are luxury items, some are edible.
A few have the Living Heritage Company Label (EPV) on them, such as the pottery from Albi.
Touristy or tourist trap souvenirs and gifts are things that the locals will never buy.
These are often low-quality, generic mass-produced things, such as simple T-shirts saying “I love Paris” or think of the famed small Eiffel Tower replicas.
FAQs
Where to buy Luxury items?
Skin care products are found in all Pharmacies, and there is always a pharmacy in a hypermarket. For luxury items, visit the respective store in the Champs-Élysées, Galeries Lafayette or Samaritaine department store.
Where to buy food, drink and cooking supplies?
France has supermarkets the size of Walmart, and they are mostly found on the outskirts of Paris. I like Carrefour, Auchan, E.Leclerc and Intermarché. In the city itself, you will find smaller grocery stores. Artisanal foods taste better from local food markets, so I recommend taking a round in a local market, such as the open air market in the Rue Mouffetard.
Where to buy Vintage items?
Vintage secondhand items can be found at flea markets, which are known as Brocante in French, but instead I recommend making a trip to Ëmmaus for a better choice. Ëmmaus collects trinkets and secondhand items, and these are resold for a reasonable price at their various locations. It's a Catholic Church mission. You will find unique things here. We found countless vintage items here over the years for a tiny price. My aunty just came across a copper jam pan and these are priceless.
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