I will be on a tour of England, France and Italy in December. Can anyone recommend a great shop where I can purchase perfume, soaps, bath salts, etc. I am looking for something that is really nice, not a Body Shop kind of place. Thanks for your help!

Coral Ann, one of my favorites for bath stuff is LUSH. A very neat aand trendy chain of very wonderful bath products, that can be found throughout the UK and Ireland (and Canada & Australia etc). They have a web site and they have talked about a lot on this web site. <BR> Judy

In France, l'Occitaine (I believe that's the spelling).

In Paris-Sephora on the Champs Elysses..Anik Goutal, L'Occitaine and on the Left Bank-Mariage Frers (sp?), the tea store opened a shop that sells soaps and candles that are tea scented, heavenly! <BR>In London-Neals Yard in Covent Garden- <BR>Penhaligans-they have made and sold perfume since the days of Henry the 8th or something like that, they also are heavenly Happy shopping~ <BR>

If you are in southern France, you can visit the Fragonard perfume factory. They make perfume, soap, creams, etc.(natural ingredients). Buy $100 perfume for $20 if you like the fragrance. I can't remember the city. I think it is St. Paul, near Nice.

In London, consider also Floris (on Jermyn Street) and Jo Malone (on Sloane Street).

Coral Ann: I am going to give you the addresses of the most exclusive perfume shops in Europe. These stores cater to the aristocracy, so they are very chic. In London-Farmacia Limited di Santa Maria Novella-117 Walton St. SW3-2HP. In Paris-Amin Kader-2 Rue Guisarde. In Rome-JF Chitarrini di SMN-Corso del Rinascimento, 47. In Forte Dei Marmi-Filiale di Forte dei Marmi-Via Carducci, 59. In Florence-Profumo Farmaceutica di SMN-Via della Scala, 16n. You will not be disappointed in any of these places if you are truely looking for luxury bath items. Have fun.

I have a comment and a questions. First the comment: Although the LUSH store may look a little like the Body Shop, the products are excellent. They have the best bath "bombs". Some of their products are so natural that they need to be refrigerated, so read the lable. <BR> <BR>Now my question - Do any of you know where the perfumaries that blend custom scents are? I have heard that there is a place in London and several in Paris that will blend your own personal scent.

I thought Jo Malone was on Walton St.? Did she move or open another store? Her Basil and Lime products drive me crazy. I can't get enough......Suzanne, there is/was a shop on Christopher St in New York City that would custom blend perfume. It was called Something Venustis-I can't remember the first word. This place had really great perfume like Creed. There is a place in Florence that is really, really exclusive, but you will have to give me a day to find out the name from my friend in Rome. Im very much into scents, as you can tell.

Neals Yard in Covent Garden has a make your own scent, but there is somewhere else and I cannot remember now-when I do I will write again you can look at nealsyard.com and check it out.C

Coral Ann - it's gotta be Sephora: <BR> <BR>http://www.sephora.com/help/store_directory.jhtml <BR> <BR>They're Europe's biggest, owned by LVMH, and their Champs Elysees flagship store is the best. Plus the service there is superb (even if you're just trying stuff on)! They've got all the European brands you've seen in foreign magazines but have never tried in the flesh. <BR> <BR>Have a beautiful trip =)

Coral: I second the Sephora and Annick Goutal shops. <BR> <BR>However, the MOST beautiful place I have ever seen in my life is the Shiseido shop (Serge Lutens) at Palais Royal (east wing) behind Comédie Française. <BR>An absolutely incredible shop. You feel like on Asian island. It's absolutely worth a visit, even if you do not intend to buy anything.

Coral Ann, I also agree that Sephora is great. And they are very good about returning items that did not work out. We have 2 Sephoras near us in Atlanta, and I purchased a cream that I did not like...no problem at all returning. Their web site is very good too, and they even include a return envelope and postage, if you are not satisfied. My kind of company! <BR>Judy <BR>ps. They announced recently a L'Occitiane will be opening in Atlanta, and I can not wait to try it!

Coral Ann-you are going to smell soo good with all of this great advice we are sending you! Re: Sheseido-they will "create your own scent"-so you really should visit them..and the Sephora on the Champs Elysses is bigger and better than any of the one is the US-

I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I can go to Sephora here in the US. They are all over the place. I was looking for something very exclusive, very unique. I relish scents that are hard to come by. There is nothing worse to me than someone else wearing the same perfume as I. I like John G's suggestions and Nancy who suggested Jo Malone. There has to be some shop somewhere like a little apothecary that only makes "signature scents." Thank you for all your suggestions, however. I really appreciate the time you all are taking to help me. CA

Jo Malone does have shop on Sloane Street. Also, the line has been purchased by Estee Lauder. I know Neiman Marcus carries it,as does Bergdorf Goodman.Other upscale department stores will probably get it soon. Although, it's not that exclusive anymore, her fragrances are still great. <BR> <BR>

Thanks so much, Michelle, I will be heading to NM after work to day to see and smell some Jo Malone.....Carol Ann, the is an apothecary like that in Delhi, India. It is called Gulab Singh Johrimal and it is at 1587 Dariba Kalan. I know you wanted a shop in Europe, but maybe you can write to the shop in India and they can "send" the things you are looking for. Just a possiblity.

The perfumerie in Florence that John G was alluding to is LORENZO VILLORESI, 14 Via dei Bardi. Phone-055-234-11-87. They will custom blend a scent for you.

Thanks so much JohnG and CharB! I love scents as well and am making my store shopping list for London, Paris and Italy!!

Thanks Char but John G already emailed me with the address of Vilarossi 2 days ago but thanks anyway! You were all so helpful.