Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home from Paris (Traveler Sourced)

Forget the plastic Eiffel Towers. Travelers say the best Paris souvenirs are the ones they use every day – Duralex glasses, Monoprix totes, Diptyque candles, or a flea‑market brooch.

Here’s the full list of what’s actually worth packing.

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Photo: @29paris.com_official

1. Food & Drink

  • Macarons from Ladurée or Pierre Hermé, with their decorative boxes you’ll keep long after.
  • Marrons d’Ardèche chestnut spread in small 100g packs (perfect for carry-on).
  • Wine – cheap supermarket bottles for picnics or small producers’ vintages to ship home.
  • Bordier butter, vacuum-sealed at Le Bon Marché or Lafayette Gourmet.
  • French cheeses, jams, and spreads, including Christine Ferber jams, pistachios near the Pompidou, and pistachio & feuilletine spreads from Maison Bremond.
  • Foie gras cans from Franprix.
  • Salted caramels from Jacques Genin.
  • Spices and salts like fleur de sel, Piment d’Espelette, and unique blends from Epices Roellinger or Compagnie Française des Poivres et des Epices.
  • Mustard at Maille’s flagship, with refillable crocks.
  • Tea from Mariage Frères (Marco Polo blend is a classic). Their Art Deco teapots are collector pieces.
  • Chocolate mousse from Chapon, Nestlé Dessert chocolate bars for baking, and Cote d’Or chocolate.
  • Chartreuse and other liqueurs, often cheaper in France.
  • Truffle potato chips, croissants, baguettes stuffed with ham and salted butter, and gourmet snacks from supermarkets.
  • Macarons from Jean-Paul Hévin and chocolates from La Chambre aux Confitures.

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2. Fashion & Accessories

  • Repetto ballet flats, a Paris icon.
  • Raffia or straw tote bags with leather handles, chic and long-lasting.
  • Silk and satin scarves from Montmartre fabric streets, Diwali, or museum gift shops.
  • Berets from Laulhère, beautifully made even if rarely worn by locals.
  • Hats from Monet Garden shops or vintage finds at Les Puces flea market.
  • Jewelry – Les Néréides floral pieces, Chance boutique rings, Notre Dame rosace pendants, vintage brooches and earrings from flea markets, or unique handmade designs.
  • Handbags – Fauré Le Page clutches, Fleuron handbags, Louis Vuitton with VAT savings, and Courreges ensembles.
  • Coats and trench coats from Paris boutiques — trench coats, cashmere coats, and Balzac Paris sweaters.
  • Armorlux marinière sweaters for a true French touch.
  • Leather gloves from ACABA Gantier.
  • PSG gear (jerseys, sacoches, bags).
  • Eyeglass frames from local opticians, many handmade.
  • Paris-themed gym bags from Galeries Lafayette.

3. Art & Decor

  • Original and antique art: engravings, lithographs, watercolors, oils.
  • Paintings from Montmartre, often bought while watching the artist at work.
  • Framed prints from Seine-side stalls, mass-produced but charming.
  • Picasso show posters from kiosks near the Louvre.
  • Figurines from museum shops like The Thinker at the Rodin Museum.
  • Antiques from Vanves flea market: mirrors, snuff boxes, plates, brooches, tapestries, vintage silk scarves.
  • Porcelain by Marie Daâge, hand-produced in Limoges.
  • City silhouette steel cutouts from La Mouette Rieuse.
  • Ceramic dachshunds from Montmartre or glass figurines from Tuileries Christmas markets.
  • Ceramic trays inspired by Paris metro tiles, collabs like Deja Vu Paris × Normandy Ceramics.
  • Christmas ornaments from Marin Montagut, Louvre, or flea markets.
  • Antique newspapers and books, such as a 1947 Queen Elizabeth wedding edition from Montmartre bookshops.

4. Household Items

  • Duralex glasses, iconic in French schools since the 1950s.
  • Saber cutlery, customizable in Rue des Quatre Vents.
  • Opinel bread knives from La Grande Epicerie or BHV.
  • House number signs from BHV.
  • Jacquard tea towels, napkins, and tablecloths from Monoprix, Galleries Lafayette, or Le Jacquard Français.
  • Reusable tote bags from Monoprix, Merci, BHV, Picard surgelé (seasonal), Shakespeare & Co., and even bakeries.
  • Mini whisk brooms and crumb collectors from Marché Alegre shops.
  • Louise Carmen journals with embossing.
  • Watercolor sets from Charvin, the oldest art school in Paris.
  • Purple pillows from local shops, doubling as protection for fragile souvenirs.
  • Leather wine carriers from Marais boutiques.

5. Perfumes & Beauty

  • Perfumes from Fragonard (especially Fleur d’Oranger line).
  • Diptyque candles, including Rue Duphot exclusives.
  • Custom perfume workshops at Molinard or Bienaimé.
  • Musée du Parfum near Opéra, for scents tied to Paris.
  • Officine Universelle Buly: engraved combs, calligraphy-wrapped gifts, and Buly skincare.
  • Roger & Gallet perfumes and bath products from pharmacies.
  • Panier des Sens hand creams.
  • French sunscreens and pharmacy skincare, highly praised.
  • Papier d’Arménie incense strips sold in pharmacies.

6. Books & Stationery

  • Books from Shakespeare & Company with stamped logo.
  • Museum pencils, collected one per visit.
  • Postcards — new, or antique from Saint Ouen flea market.
  • Scrapbook collages of tickets, guides, and postcards.
  • Louise Carmen journals, Mélodies Graphiques stationery, Clairefontaine or Rhodia notebooks, and Séyès ruled paper.
  • Board games like the Louvre Monopoly edition.

7. Quirky & Unique

  • Tattoos at Walkin Tattoo or other Paris studios.
  • Wooden shields, helmets, and historical toys from the Conciergerie and Musée de l’Armée.
  • Vintage LIP watches (sometimes found at flea markets).
  • Model cars: Renault, Citroën DS, or 2CV.
  • Friendship bracelets from Sacré Coeur steps and fabric roses near the Eiffel Tower.
  • Le Chat Noir posters.
  • Pink dice from Montmartre board game shops.
  • Velib bikes turned into art pieces (one traveler painted theirs gold).
  • Cobblestones from construction sites, sometimes painted as keepsakes.
  • Merde shop souvenirs in Montmartre: mugs, stickers, notebooks.
  • Tonic syrup from Lord de Barbès.
  • Pylones umbrellas, colorful and quirky.
  • Bathrobes from Galeries Lafayette, everyday reminders of Paris.
  • Children’s clothes from Monoprix.
  • Incense and fragrances from unique boutiques.
  • Library cards for digital collections at Paris libraries.
  • Marcel Travel Posters puzzles and Tour de France keychains.
  • Souvenir dice, quirky trinket boxes, vintage fabrics, and flea market jewelry.
  • Oddball finds: Eiffel Tower figurines, Eiffel Tower dildos sold near Moulin Rouge, even antique newspapers.