Purchasing Perfume in Paris
 

Is it worth purchasing perfume in Paris, rather than paying the exhorbitant prices in our (U.S) department stores or in our perfume outlets? Can one find better savings at the airport duty-free shop? <P> <BR>Merci pour vos conseils :-)

I bought a lot of perfume at the CDG/Orly duty free shops and also in the US. I don't think the perfume is cheaper at duty free. Actually, I can't think of one thing that is cheaper to buy in Paris vs the US. I take that back. You can buy wine and Armagnacs cheaper in france (not necessarily in Paris).

There are at least two good places in Paris to buy perfume. <BR>One is Les Halles Montmartre,85 rue Montmartre. I have not shopped there but they are know to discount heavily. <BR>The other where I have shopped often is Michel Swiss,16 rue de la Paix, 2nd floor.They also carry a small assortment of scarves and other gift items. Michel Swiss is very professional and quite used to tourists. If you buy a number of items and reach some magic number of francs (I don't know what it currently is) they will offer an additional discount. They are very good about arranging for VAT refunds direct to your credit card. I usually write down what my preferred perfume items cost at home, including sales tax, and then compare the Michel Swiss price. They do not carry Guerlain which has exclusive rights in their own shop in Paris. <BR> <BR>Some duty free shops in the airport usually offer good prices, especially tempting since you're leaving and might want one last splurge, but they don't always have all the specific products I want. <BR>

In a word - non! <BR> <BR>For the absolute best prices, check out New York City's 17th Street where several stores sell the bottles used by department stores to spray unwary shoppers. You'll save 50% vs. department stores and about 1/3 vs. Paris. <BR> <BR>Sole reason to look in Paris, however, is to find the fragrance(s) unknown or yet to be introduced here. Visit Caron on the rue Montaigne - it's a stunning store with a number of unusual fragrances....as is Creed (in the 16th). <BR>

I don't know if you're interested in name brand perfumes or any kind of perfume, but I found a pure rose perfume that I've wanted since Roses Roses by Avon was discontinued (boring I know but I love roses). Anyway you can find some really interesting perfurmes at the perfume factories and interesting tours too! The one I got was from Fragonard, I can't remember what the address is but I've been to two different perfume factories on different tours of Paris and each had interesting perfumes to sell. Have fun Paris is great! <BR>

Many years ago I stopped at a shop called "Raoul et Curly", 47 Ave de L'Opera - fantastic prices and every French perfume and beauty product available. After that, I continued to order from them while I was stateside. I haven't ordered or visited them in some years, but if they are still there, I would certainly check them out. As a matter of fact, this shop was recommended to me by a salesperson I met at the Givenchy shop in London. <BR>