What's a must to buy in Paris?
 

With the shrinking dollar, what's a must to bring home from Paris.
At the airport in Paris last year, we bought truffle oil that I can easily get here. Is there anything that's really more wonderful there and not available here?

Thanks for your input.

No reason you have to buy any souveniers. With the "shinking dollar" shopping is the first thing to cut from my list (and the least painless).

Macroons from Laudree. The only hard thing to do is not eat them all on the plane. If you purchase them the day before you leave they should still be fresh for a few days so they do make great gifts for the family back home.

I agree about the macaroons, but you should remember that you should save them, but they will not last indefinitely. I was too patient with some I brought home once, and they were petrified... But the box is pretty.

French mustards or jams or chocolates from the supermarket are delicious, inexpensive and thoughtful.

Foie gras. French books and magazines. Chocolate bars.

I love to buy the Fragonard perfume which is made and sold only in Grasse and Paris.

Hi T,

I suggest a gold plated, plastic Eiffel Tower that lights up and glows in the dark.

You definitely will not find that in the US.

Enjoy Paris.

((I))

Certain cosmetics I always buy in Paris because they are either unavailable, have fewer choices, or are more expensive in the USA (Yes, even with the shrinking dollar.) I'm not talking about Chanel or Dior. I'm talking producets from the drugstores like Onagrine and Roche Posay. Also, whether you smoke or not, the Eiffle Tour crazy lighters that play the Marseillais and light up and a hoot.

Amora mustard is cheap, available in supermarkets, and very fresh and good. Fleur de Sel is easily available in the US but much cheaper in France; I always bring a few cork-topped cannisters (from Camargue) home for gifts and for my own use. There is not all that much in the way of food items these days that you cannot buy in a large US city.

Interesting, somewhat related, article from the New York Times about macaroons:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/ny...mp;oref=slogin

Confiture at L'Epicerie, 51, rue Saint-Louis-en-I'lle

I agree that fleurs de sel are less expensive in france; I also like to purchase dried herbes de provence there. Madeleines from Fauchon in a decorative tin; not cheap, but individually wrapped to stay fresh, and then the tin makes a nice souvenir. Betjeman and barton tea(can be ordered online from the US, but overseas shipping is costly).

Like other posters said, some cosmetics are cheaper in France, or not available here. Caudalie and Mustela are drugstore/pharmacie brands that come to mind (sold here but cheaper in France even with the weak dollar). These are all indulgences and non-essential purchases, but things I will use fairly often (except the madeleines, which I consume quickly!), and which remind me of my trip.

One of my favorite things to get is Loreal's LNET hairspray. You can't get it in the US or order it online.

You can usually find it in the Parisian supermarkets.

It is the BEST hairspray and an unusual gift.

Also, all my friends loved the chocolate I bought them from Fauchon. Now, you can buy Fauchon chocolate in the US but I don't live near a Fauchon store. It is delicious.

Macaroons from Laduree.

A carnet de voyage from Louis Vuitton.

A CD from Colette.

Thingorjus

<i>I suggest a gold plated, plastic Eiffel Tower that lights up and glows in the dark.

You definitely will not find that in the US.</i>

Ira, I actually have one of those. It sits on my mantel right below my velvet Elvis.

Hi all, myself and 2 girlfriends hit Paris on the 24th April. I am interested in the pharmacy/drugstore cosmetics mentioned above. What are the names of the drugstores and pharmacies in Paris you would recommend. As we are all in our 50's which brands of cosmetics would suit mature skin (lol.) We are staying at Place Des Vogues so we are near some good shopping areas. The girls and I agree we are better to buy some cosmetics in Paris giving us more room in our luggage for other necessities. And lowering the weight. No matter what we pay in Paris it would be cheaper then excess baggage. Given 23kg is our limit. Many thanks in advance.

Lou Lou perfume by Cacharel. They discontinued it in the USA in the late 80's, but it's still available in France. You can buy it online at some designer fragrance outlets as well, but to me it's more fun to buy it in France. I usually find a store that has it and buy every single bottle. It's my favorite and I've been getting compliments on it for 21 years!

I've bought perfumes and Chanel cosmetics at Catherine, a discount store at 7, Rue Castiglione. Someone here will tell you which lower priced brand is reputed to be made in the same factory as Chanel (Bourjois??).

Catherine gives about 20% discount off retail. If you buy enough you qualify for the tax refund, too.

How could I forget Mariage Freres tea??

Bookmarking :-)