9 Non Touristy Souvenirs from Paris (Made in France)
Did you find yourself walking endlessly looking for non touristy souvenirs from Paris but ending up going back to your hotel empty-handed?
Yes, I know it can be frustrating not to be able to find one thing that will remind you of Paris.
While a fridge magnet or Eiffel Tower keychain may seem like typical souvenirs, they actually make the best souvenirs, holding a unique memory of your time in Paris.
But have you ever wondered what else you can bring back home? Something different, something fancy, something local, or rather something French?
Well, here are some of my souvenirs from France ideas that could solve your “Paris what to buy” questions!
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1. French Artisanal Soaps
French artisanal soaps make the best souvenirs from Paris. They’re compact and convenient to pack in your luggage, and more importantly, they’re biodegradable and free of petroleum-based by-products.
Make your way to Maison de Fabre Paris. This boutique offers a variety of soaps for different uses, including showers, laundry, and even plants! Each has its own uses and benefits.
My personal favorite is their olive soaps!
Psst. Let me tell you one trick. You don’t actually have to use soap in the shower. Sometimes, I just put them on my table because scented bars work well to freshen up any room in my house. 🙂
Fun Fact: In order for a soap to be the authentic Savon de Marseille, it must be 100% natural and contain 72% vegetable oil, particularly olive oil!
Practical Information – Save This For Later
- Location: Fer A Cheval – Boutique Souvenirs Paris
- Prices of Savon de Marseille start at €5.5
- Website : www.maison-du-savon.com
Do you have extra time to kill in Paris? This Parisian atelier workshop will teach you how to make soap the right way. At the end of the fun atelier, you get to bring back your own 500g soap, a unique and personal souvenir made by yourself!
2. Kitchen Towels
The best souvenir from France, in my opinion, so far is a kitchen towel.
These are not your typical Parisian souvenirs, but these kitchen towels are unique and worth considering. While they may be regarded as old-school, like a mommy kind of thing or what we call ‘mak mak’ (mother’s) stuff in Malaysia, these kitchen towels are convenient and come in handy.
It’s lightweight, has a purpose, and it’s cute! The kitchen towels come in various colors and designs. All you have to do is pick the ones that fit your kitchen or your mother’s kitchen. It makes a good gift for your mother-in-law too 😉
They’re light and inexpensive. If you’re looking to buy in bigger quantities, hunt for these kitchen towels in the morning market. The best time to visit is early in the morning when the market is just opening. You could get a reasonable price.
I usually get mine at the morning marché of Cours Mirabeau Aix en Provence, but you can also find similar unique souvenirs in several shops across Paris.
After hunting for some shops, up and down the metro, across La Seine and back, from one store to another, here are three boutiques de souvenirs Paris where you can find various designs of cute Parisian kitchen towels:
- La Vaissellerie
- 📍92, rue St-Antoine, 75004 Paris, France
- Passage Jouffroy
- 📍10-12 Bd Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France
- Le Bon Marché
- 📍24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris
Psst! Looking at where to buy linen goods (towels, sheets) in Paris as well? You can check out Galeries La Fayette, BHV Marais or at Le Bon Marché.
3. Local Tote Bags
Nothing can go wrong with tote bags. Most of the French brands are eco-friendly and make one of the best Parisian souvenirs of all time. They’re also long-lasting, user-friendly, and meant to be used in the long run.
You can also consider getting a reusable shopping bag as a souvenir from Paris. They are lightweight, cheap, simple, easy to pack, and cute. Reusable shopping bags are available at Monoprix or some fancy ones from BHV.
I have a few at home, some from Fragonard and some from supermarkets. All can be used at all times, whether for groceries, a quick run to the shop, or to carry things from one place to another.
I got mine from Marseille for the Fragonard bag, but you can easily head to any Fragonard boutique in Paris to get the design you like the most.
These fancy bags are definitely non touristy souvenirs from Paris you can flaunt back home 😛
4. French Perfume & Candles
The French can never be separated from two things. First is haute couture. The second is perfumery.
France is well known for its savoir-faire in perfume-making. While you can buy fancy luxury perfumes and spend hundreds of euros, I recommend my all-time favorite perfume from Fragonard – Belle de Nuit.
Managed and currently run by three sisters, Fragonard was founded in Grasse, just a short distance from where I lived. The perfumes are made using local flowers and plants from the region.
When I first received a gift from my French boss, it was this set of 4 mini perfumed soaps from Fragonard. The moment I opened it, and j’avais un coup de foutre. Their smell transported me back to the South of France, to the vast area of lavender fields. It was a brief moment of pure joy.
At that instant, I fell in love, and I am still in love with their collections. It’s definitely one of the few unique French souvenirs that will make you happy!
What I’ve bought and tried – Favourites!
- Candle – Mon Gingembre
- Room Diffuser – Reve de Provence & Reve de Paris
- Mini Perfumed Soaps – Flower Soaps
Practical Information – Save This For Later
- Location of Museum: Musee du Parfum (Free Entry)
- Boutique Locations
- Website: https://www.fragonard.com
Let me know in the comment if you’d like to get perfumes that will make you smell like a français!
6. Sprinkle of Truffle
What else can be good apart from wine, delicious charcuterie, and artisanal cheese? Of course, it’s truffles. They’re a taste of luxury that’s surprisingly affordable enough to purchase as souvenirs Paris, making you feel like you’re bringing a piece of French culinary excellence home without breaking the bank.
Although truffles can be found anywhere in the world, they are primarily found in European countries like France, Italy, and Spain. The largest truffle areas are in the Southeast and Southwest of France!
The scent, aroma, and taste of truffles will enhance any meal, tuning it from 0 to 10.
Practical Information – Save This For Later
- Location of Truffle Boutique that I went to: Signorini Tartufi Paris Rosiers
- Restaurant: Artisan de la Truffe Marais
7. Bookmarks/Book
Who doesn’t love books? If you do, high five. If you don’t, it’s okay. We’re going to be friends anyway.
Head over to Shakespeare & Co. for some book hunting. Both English and French books are available. While you’re at it, you could purchase a tote bag!
Find your pleasure browsing through the bookstore, and I’m sure you’ll find a book that catches your soul.
If you’re lucky, you will spend enough time. If you are unlucky, you will be drowned with the number of books you want to bring back home! 😛
In addition, museums in Paris have a wide variety of bookmarks available in their gift shop, and they cost absolutely peanuts! You will not be disappointed with bookmarks.
Bookmarks are one of the few cheap things to buy in Paris that are worth every penny!
8. Table Mat
One of the affordable non touristy souvenirs from Paris would be the table mats. It is considered to be one of the cheap souvenirs Paris that last a long time. You will be forever remembered of Paris, from breakfast to dinner.
There are plenty of designs to choose from, whether you want the same ones or mix and match them according to your preferences.
Plus, it is easy to clean. Just use a warm cloth or wet wipes to wipe the germs away—it’s as easy as ABC.
9. Jewellery
One of the habits I’ve picked up during my travels is buying jewelry, whether it is a nice dangling pair of earrings, a beautiful bracelet, or a jaw-dropping necklace.
You can find unique finds at the local market, brocantes for vintage pieces, and exquisite choices right up at Boulevard Haussman.
I love that each piece reminds me of a place that I’ve visited before. There is definitely a story behind each piece. 😉 Plus, it is easy to bring around when you go traveling, keeping the lovely memories close to you wherever you may go.
If you love wearing jewelry, then this could solve your problem of what to buy in France for souvenirs.
5. French Handbags
France is known for its haute couture, expensive high-end taste, and impeccable fashion designer handbags. But let me tell you that you can get little handbags at a reasonable price, and they make you look stunning in whatever outfit you put on.
They make the best Parisian souvenirs!
Whether it’s winter, summer, or the tropical season all year round, the local brands are one of a kind. From Polene to Poeme, you will be blown away by their collections and beautiful colors.
French handbags are slightly on the higher end of pricing, which is why I kept them at the very last point of this article. It wouldn’t be fair to consider French handbags as a cheap purchase. But they are definitely an affordable alternative to Chloé or Louis Vuitton.
I succumbed to Polene once, even though I was accompanying a friend to buy one. I didn’t need it, but I went out of the store with Numero Sept in textured burgundy. Mon dieu! Brace yourself, girls!
Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap for my non touristy souvenirs from Paris. I hope that one of France’s souvenirs from the list above has caught your eye.
Most of the proposed items are the ones that I usually get for myself or as gifts to bring back to Kuala Lumpur.
They’ve proven to be valued more than small keychains and magnets, and to top it off, and I’d usually get repeated orders for kitchen towels and perfume because people love them!
Whether or not the price of the souvenirs above matches your budget, I can reassure you one thing. You should only leave Paris WITH souvenirs! 😉
So, what are the best souvenirs from Paris that you have received or that I’ve missed out on? Share your best souvenir shops in Paris that you think will be worth checking out.