Treeful Tuesday

Giant Christmas tree of ever-changing colors under the cupola at Galeries Lafayette.

 

It's in the bag

 Two bags from Christian Dior's uplifting spring collection.

 Dior

Le Village Royal

25 rue Royale 75008

Perfume me

 

 

"Shall I perfume you?"

In France, perfume is such an integral part of the culture that it’s a verb. 

The offer for a light misting was coming from the exuberant Versailles-born Christian Louis, whose charming shop nestled under a Place des Vosges archway is my personal favorite small Paris parfumerie, worth a visit on its own. With its copper stills and colors of the Côte d'Azur it exudes a feel of bygone days mixed with a touch of a miniature Willy Wonka factory. It is, simply, a realm of beautiful scents, all created by Louis, holder of the prestigious title and position of one of France's rare Master Perfumers. Louis, whose workshop is in Grasse, will carefully scope a newcomer up and down and expertly match one of his creations to their "type" - reciting the ordained perfume's essential essences with passion (“orange peel, black pepper, wild rose, tuberose!”). And he's never wrong.

France has been the Oz of beautiful fragrances for centuries. Its most iconic brands - Guerlain, CHANEL, Nina Ricci, Fragonard, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Sisley, Hermès, Jean Patou, Miss Dior - are known the world over. Yet every year, a new crop of débutantes enter the market, making the choices seem endless. Where to start? Most find it easier to play it safe and stick to the classics.

 

But Paris affords the luxury of under-the-radar smaller, still exclusive parfumeries that take the time to fix you up with a scent that’s uniquely you. Or help you choose a one-of-a-kind gift. And when you finally settle on The One that will endear you to your loves and loved ones' memories forever, as perfumes tend to do, don't forget to say, "Parfumez-moi!" - BPJ

 

  

Worth discovering:

 

Parfums et Senteurs du Pays Basque

Christian Louis Parfums

18 Place des Vosges 75004

 

 Frédéric Malle


37 rue de Grenelle 75007 

 

Jovoy Parfumier
4 rue de Castiglione 75001
 
Serge Lutens
142 Galerie de Valois 75001

 Annick Goutal

12 Place Saint Sulpice 75006

 

L'Artisan Parfumeur

32 rue du Bourg Tibourg 75004

 

Marie-Antoinette

5 rue d'Ormesson 75004

 

Discover the secrets of perfume making:

 

The Alchemist Atelier

36 rue Étienne Marcel 75002

 

Create your own perfume:

 

Le Studio des Parfums

23 rue du Bourg Tibourg 75004

Sapin de Noël

Galeries Lafayette's gigantic suspended Christmas tree spans the length of two floors.
 

Holiday shopping

Le Bon Marché's Dior window display.

[Bring your passport if spending 176 euros or more at any one store on same day for airport de-taxe refund of up to 15%, even on items on sale]

Blur of lights

Frenzy of traffic and shoppers on the grands boulevards as stores stay open later for the holidays.

Boulevard Haussmann

- Printemps -

- Galeries Lafayette -

Bear windows

This year's Ralph Lauren holiday window display.

Ralph Lauren
173 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006

Get Rihl

Whimsical tote bags by Barbara Rihl flirt from a shop window on a side street in the fashion district.