jane

Im visiting Paris and amongst sightseeing plan to shop. I live in London and would like to know if it is cheaper to buy perfumes/cosmetics from Paris or would it be more expensive

xxx

I find they're slightly cheaper than the US. Not only that but some brands are manufactured in the US but the ones in Paris are made in France specifically.

Eye Spy

I second xxx's post. I find the prices in Paris to be cheaper than in the US and UK. Authentic French brands are cheaper in France, and many of the large department stores (Galeries Lafayette/Printemps/La Samaritaine/Au Bon Marche always seem to have specials. And you'll see parfumerie everywhere with special offers in the windows if you look. If you use French skin care products (like Clarins), you would be better off purchasing them in France. There is one caveat: brands like Chanel seem to be about the same price anywhere in the world, whether you're talking about clothes, cosmetics or men's Chanel ties.

Celine

Jane, write down the prices in the UK of the items you would like to purchase.
If they are cheaper in Paris, then buy.

Over the holidays, the Marionnaud shops (branches all over the city) had a special discount of 15 % on everything.
But I fear, that's over now.
Anyway, a good place is to buy, next to the Marionnaud stores, are the Sephora shops.
Several branches in the city (Champs-Elysees, Rue de Passy, etc.).

parfum

I'm not sure whether perfume is cheaper in France than the UK. Why not try comparing prices via the Internet? For example, Marionnaud is a well-known French chain of perfume/beauty shops, and their online store gives prices for many of the most popular fragrances. Go to http://www.marionnaud.com/home/f_boutique.htm , under "recherche par marques" click "Parfums", and then click on "parfumerie feminine" for women's perfumes, "parfumerie masculine" for men's, etc.

kate

Sephora prices are the same all over the world, no bargains there.

If you go to Galleries Lafayette or the store that sells only one perfume such as Chanel, you will get it for a little less.

French perfumes & cosmetics can be less, like Roc beauty products, and Clarins, but then Lancome I believe came out to be the same as Bloomingdales in NYC.
Since the pound is so high to the USD, you will probably get a bargain in France, isn't the Pound worth more than the Euro?

Celine

It's possible, Sephora has the same prices all over the world.
However, they happen to have special deals from time to time. Depends, what exactly you're looking for.

Nick

Depends on the perfume. My wife uses Lou Lou and is allergic to most others. Its a lot cheaper in Heathrow than anywhere on the continent and much easier to get - popularity of brands varies across Europe. Just do what Celine suggests.

buffy

Are the Marionnaud stores similar in setup and selection to Sephora? I haven't been to Paris for about 12 years and am heading back soon and am trying to get shopping ideas for small gifts for co-workers (and myself!). Also, is anyone familiar with a perfume brand called Molinard?

elaine

At #16 rue de la Paix, second floor, is
Michel Swiss, a reliable place to shop for discounted perfume and gifts. An even better place to buy perfume in my opinion is Catherine, 6, rue Castiglione, in the first arrondissement, near the Intercontinental hotel. Excellent discounts on perfumes and some cosmetics: The owner knows her business and knows how to persuade eager customers to buy just a little bit more, but she is entirely charming and friendly, and generous with little perfume samples which are nice for stocking-stuffers. In addition to the store discounts, she is adept at helping you with the VAT refund process.

gsh

My two sisters & I each bought different perfumes in Paris & we found the prices at Catherine's significantly cheaper than in the U.S. This is a fabulous shop, easy to find, near Charlotte's (where you MUST have hot chocolate. Catherine's is small, owned & run by a woman and her family (daughter, sister, cousins), with incredible personal services in helping the shopper to select the best scent for that individual. We had a blast!