I'm travelling solo to Paris over my Thanksgiving break and would love to bring home Christmas gifts from Paris. Can anyone suggest boutiques/shops that sell soaps/lotions or other cool gift ideas? Thanks much!

Hi carolat,

Without mentioning any shops in particular, if you were to walk down the main street of Ile St Louis, you would find a store the sells soaps and bath products, another that sells jams and different types of olive oils, another for wine, another for cheeses (vaccumm sealed), canned food (foie gras,etc...) I pick up stuff from here because I know I'll be touring around in that area.

Galleries Lafayette is another large department store that would have a wide selection of such items. I think you will also find a lot of neat little strores by walking around in the St Germain area.

Others here are more qualified to give you specific store names...

Thanks Michael_Paris! I order my soap for home from a company out of Provence and was hoping to find it cheaper than what I pay in the States while in the Paris. I'll definitely check out the Ile St Louis.

If you know the company'e e-mail address you might write to ask them where to find their soaps in Paris.

All you have to do is go into just about any French pharmacy; they carry assorted lines of soaps and lotions. Some of the best soap is produced by Roger et Gallet--not inexpensive, but quite wonderful. You can get single round bars in a pretty plastic travel case, as well as boxes of smaller soaps. Their bath gels are also excellent.

The pharmacy where I usually buy soap products is quite close to the restaurant Au Petit Marguery, in the 13th.

Fragonard has a boutique at 196 Blvd. St. Germain in the 6th, and it has lovely soaps, lotions, perfumes, etc.

I actually picked up some nice soaps at the Monoprix (along with chocolates, biscuits and such). I love grocery shopping in Europe!

Two words, Carolat-Annick Goutal, LOVE THESE PERFUMES/Eau des Toilettes 18 Signature Scents-Limited Editions-(the latest-"Des Lys"-wonderful, I just bought it last month)

14 Rue de Castiglione (a BEAUTIFUL perfume store-pinks and purple and rose petals-Goutal's signature-near Rue di Rivoli

Stationery-best of the best- "BENETTON GRAVEUR" Blvd. Malesherbes 75 website in English:
www.bennetongraveur.com/anglais/index_gb.html

Ultra-chic in the Marais for sandals: "K Jacques" 16 Rue Pavees

Also, custom-made flip-flops in the 10th-Canal St. Martin-Fred Pinel's Atelier-Euro 200

Les Archives de la Presse-vintage magazines-15 Rue des Archives

Klorane products not available in US- (particularly hair products-like their excellent, heavy duty mango butter hair conditioner) EURO SANTE BEAUTE, Blvd. St. Germain-33-1-43-29-92-54

bookmarking

carolat - Besides soaps etc., you did ask for other cool gift ideas so I am suggesting you make your way along rue de Rivoli to the Palais Royal (Metro Palais Royal/Musee de Louvre). Inside are many little shops. Find the one that has numrous musical boxes in the window. They sell the most darling little ones playing French tunes(La vie en Rose/Sous le Ciel De Paris/Lili Marlene/I love Paris & of course La Marseill Aise) to bigger more expensive musical boxes.
Makes a great gift and so easy to take back home.
PS: They gift wrap them beautifully as well - no extra charge!