marty

I have searched for several years for the wonderful room scent that I smelled in shops in Paris. Finally someone was able to identify it for me. It is Teke and Tonka by Estaban. It is not available at many locations, but I found it at BHV in the perfume section. There is also a Estaban store on Rue Rennes. If you are looking for an ususual gift, this will something no one is familiar with, and it is delicious. It comes in carpet powder, spray, and incense. This past weekend, there were some beautiful scarves just inside the Boulevard Haussman entrance to Galeries LaFayette. They we just 5 euros each. We were so sorry that we did not buy more.

missypie

We did not do much shopping last week because of the exchange rate and time factors. However, if you can find a Monoprix, you'll so pretty well...kind of like a smaller Super Target. They carry a line of very fun and affordable costume jewelry called Bala Booste, and also have pretty scarves and neat make up. They also have a bit of everything else and a large grocery store. They carry Fauchon Products also.

Ziana

marty,
HELP, please, help, I MUST find that smell store and you haven't told district.
And for scarvs please, also address needed.

Thanks a lot

OReilly

Annick Goutal, 14 rue de Castiglione, for wonderful perfumes and soaps.

marty

Marbie: BHV is one of the big department stores. It is at 52 Rue Rivoli across from Notre Dame; take the Hotel De Ville metro stop. Go in the front door of the store and turn right to the perfume. It is on the back side of the last display. There is a Monoprix just up the street from it. Galeries Lafayette is at 40 Blvd. Haussman right behind the Opera. Take the Chaussee D'Antin exit from the Metro. Walk in the door that faces Blvd. Haussman.

marty

One Esteban store is at 44 Rue Rennes. Take the St. Germaine des Pres metro stop and follow Rue Rennes; it is not far up the street.

missypie

Don't go to BHV on a Saturday! We were there last Saturday and it was literally more crowded than stores in Dallas are the weekend before Christmas. Maybe the crowds had something to do with it, but I was not impressed. I was looking for linens, etc., which I had heard were nice and affordable there. 11 euro each for napkins of the variety that I would purchase at Crate and Barrel (the fabric may have been nicer, but you get the idea: casual).

sandypaws3

Every year, I bring home something from the little Café de Flore shop for myself. So far, I have an individual teapot, a creamer, and cup and saucer. I bought small, green handled spoons to go with them, at Monoprix. We brought the kids mustard jars from Maille on Place de Madeleine, and a few jars of mustard to go in them. We bring home the wonderful bars of L'Occitane soap, and I also love L'Occitane's hand cream with Shea butter! Also lots of Côte d'Or chocolate bars from the Grand Èpicerie at Bon Marché. My parents love them!

Best,
Sandy

LoriNY

I always buy a Limoges box from a great little store on the Rue de Rivoli called Marechal. Also, scarves, chocolate, pictures from the bouqinists (sp) along the Seine, and something from the Place du Tetre in Montmartre.

jsmith

We have two sets of 8 glass wine mats with felt bottoms (coasters) from Alain Nicoid, 4 rue de la Paix that we bought in 1958: one set is of the Paris street signs and the other of French regimental flags commemorating Victoire de York-Town 19 octobre 1781.

marcellus

My favorite things brought home from Paris were silk scarves, lingerie, and silk ties for men. I am still pining for a leather backpak I saw in Paris that I did not purchase and have warned my daughter that I will take her to Paris to shop for wedding gowns.. they are to die for.

Leona

LOVE that wedding gown idea, Marcellus. That would be a good reason to go back! (I was there 3 weeks ago & can't wait.)

I brought back wonderful chocolates & marzipan I bought at Jeff de Bruges; and some less expensive bars from Galeries Lafayette, along with a few 1/2 bottles of wine (easier to pack than full bottles). I always buy more than I think I need, & so I have extras for people I forget.

marty

I was in BHV on Saturday, too! It was crowded in some areas, but in some, like perfume, there was almost nobody. I checked out there in just a minute.

Patty

For friends, I'll echo the suggestions of small food gifts. I love going to Fauchon and Hediard. To me food has a broader appeal as gifts vs. little trinkets (which often have more meaning for the buyer rather than the recipient).

BTilke

A few other suggestions (and apologies to previous posters if they already mentioned these and I missed them):
Tea from Mariage Freres. Better than Fauchon or Hediard, IMHO, and the teas are about as good as any I've ever had (MF is hugely . Loose tea or bags (the bags are little muslim bags, not paper).
Candles from Point a Ligne. They are beautiful, very high quality, very decorative (I wouldn't burn them). Come in all kinds of designs,flowers, fruits, etc. Pretty packaging too.
Along the candle line, candles from Diptyque. They have a store on Blvd. St. Germain but they're also sold elsewhere in the city. I think they're still allowed in carryon.
If you have friends who use tablecloths, then one of those little silverplated crumb sweepers (about $20).
Finally, one of the "house" CDs from Colette.

Amy40

A note on gifts for the chocolate lovers in your life... last year I bought an assortment for each of my close friends, all the way from a bag of minis (70% chocolate, low-end grocery store brand but superior to most in the US), to the Marquise de Sevigny brand, and on up to a small box of Debauve & Galais. Hit various price points, bought pretty labels, made sure to avoid things available stateside and wowed my friends with a lovely little pile of goodies. Good bang for the buck.

Also had great last-minute luck (when I gave in to the late-trip guilt of buying nothing for my relatives back home...<big sigh>...) at the mall at the Louvre. There was a store, much like our Restoration Hardware, with many small, inexpensive goodies for the home and garden. Some similar to what we see here, some decidedly different. Nearby, the museum store provided terrific kids books and some interesting, artsy fridge magnets. Sephora (across the hall) also has cute assortments of bath oil shapes in a colorful box. Good for the little girls. Available here, but not with French all over the box! I also took home little resin keychains with the Agatha pooch, but you might want to take that to a dog lover or someone who has been to Paris and knows the Agatha stores.

I also like to check out hardware stores where I have found a stove-top bread toaster (that was for me) and a quirky set of wooden hooks on a rail. Come to think of it...that was for me too.