25 French Gifts for the Francophile In Your Life

Parisian candlemaker Cire Trudon was founded on Rue Saint-Honoré in 1643, and has been developing its signature fragrances ever since—it even provided the scents for the royal court of Louis XIV (you can, in fact, buy a wax bust of the former king to burn at your leisure) before outliving Marie Antoinette and going on to provide candles for our favorite celebrity homes. Each candle is still handmade in the brand's Normandy factory, too. You can't get more authentically French than that.

There’s a reason you’ve seen Veja sneakers on nearly every Parisian: Not only are they well-made and sharply designed shoes, but they are ethically produced from Brazilian and Peruvian organic and regenerative cotton and Amazonian wild rubber from small cooperatives. Go classic with a pair of leather Campos or V-10s or a little bit more unique with the Wata II, made from Brazilian rubber and recycled polyester with a tear-resistant mesh that will keep the shoe looking great wear after wear.

Ever fantasized about opening a business in France? Read this first. Jane Bertch co-founded La Cuisine Paris 15 years ago, but only this year did her many fans learn about how the beloved cooking school came to be. Bertch put her entrepreneurial tales into this heartwarming and insightful memoir, tracing her unexpected journey to Paris, her career shifts, and all the lessons in life and business she has gleaned along the way.

Even if a night in Paris is physically out of reach, you can bring home her spirit with Guerlain’s latest addition to its L’Art & La Matière collection. Patchouli Paris evokes the city's sensuality by night. Created by Guerlain perfumer Delphine Jelk, the scent was drawn from the image of lovers wandering along the Seine and through the hilltop streets of Montmartre, illuminated by neon lights. What does Paris at nightfall smell like? The earthiness of patchouli balanced with powdery and woody iris.

Known as France’s oldest tea importer, Mariage Frères was founded in Paris by the Mariage brothers Henri and Edouard in 1854. Your France-loving friend will enjoy the sweet aroma of the loose tea leaves as they steep and mimic the atmosphere of the famed Frères tea room in their own home.

What are the cool fashion kids wearing these days? Salomon, the Annecy-born shoe brand known, first and foremost, for its trail-running sneakers. In recent years, the 70-year-old label has become a favorite among streetwear and gorp-core enthusiasts, along with sneakerheads, for its chunky, maximalist designs and serious comfort with models that also happen to be functional and long-lasting.

Even if you can’t get to Paris to peruse the hand-painted homewares and scarves at Martin Montagut’s Left Bank cabinet of curiosities, you can bring his spirit to you. The bohemian artist and illustrator’s deep affection for the French capital comes to life in this hand-blown glass. Each piece is unique and can be used as a water glass, a pencil holder, or a small vase.

Since launching her brand in 2021, the French-born makeup artist who goes by Violette has become the queen of accessible French beauty. Among the cult favorites are a unisex roll-on fragrance, a dry shampoo with a built-in brush applicator, liquid eye paints that replace the average eye shadow, and tinted lip balms. Her newest innovation, Bisou Jelly, is a sheer balm-lipstick hybrid that you’ll want to always have on hand for a little extra shine and a subtle pop of color.

Sneak a peek into any French home cook’s pantry, and you’ll find a container of this fleur de sel, hand-harvested from the salt marshes in the Camargue, a wilder part of the South of France. Use this as finishing salt on roasted vegetables, grilled meat dishes, or even sprinkled lightly on top of homemade chocolate mousse.

Who better to glean French life lessons from than the antiques and design entrepreneur Ajiri Aki, who has lived in Paris for nearly 15 years. The Madame de la Maison founder’s first solo book is an ode to the good life à la française, full of practical ways to infuse beauty and special moments into your everyday life, wherever you live.

A piece of Le Creuset cookware is a statement piece for anyone’s kitchen—but even more so if they’re that person who visited France once and came back thinking they were the next Julia Child. This classic cast-iron Dutch oven comes in an array of colors with fun names like Truffle, Marseille, and Palm, and is perfect for cooking, say, a rich cassoulet at your next dinner party. Not that you have to stick to French cooking, though. In need of some recipe inspiration? Look no further than this list of our favorite cookbooks.

The Breton shirt is so timelessly, stylishly French that we once wrote an entire story dedicated to the history of it—and everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Jean Paul Gaultier has worn the traditional striped sailor top since Coco Chanel set the trend in 1913. There's no shortage of options to buy, but no one designs the shirt quite as well as French atelier Saint James, which has been making them for 130 years. You can choose from a range of color options, but we love the classic navy and white combo.

L/Uniform, a French label co-founded by Jeanne Signoles and her husband, Alex Signoles, one of the children of Jean-Michel Signoles, who took over the Goyard trunk and leather goods company in 1998, has made its mark on local fashion with its line of functional, chic bags. Satchels, messenger bags, tote bags, shopping trolleys, and travel bags are made from beautifully crafted canvas (linen and cotton or just cotton, depending on the color), produced by hand in Carcassonne, and have the benefit of being completely washable, as well as water- and stain-resistant.

The easiest route to French decorative and lifestyle inspiration is through the books of Vincent Farrelly and Jean-Baptiste Martin, the co-founders and art directors of the Parisian brand Antoinette Poisson. The duo, whose domino prints have been featured in collaborations with Gucci, Diptyque, and the Château de Versailles, has just released this new sumptuously photographed book that looks at entertaining throughout the seasons and decorating their historic townhouse on the French Atlantic coast.

Since the launch of her brand eight years ago, Charlotte Chesnais’ jewelry has become instantly recognizable for its unexpected forms and sculptural designs. Beloved by in-the-know Parisians and leading ladies like Zendaya and Nicole Kidman, Chesnais’ wristlets, entwined rings, earrings, and pendant necklaces come in silver, vermeil, and gold.

Well-cut basics made from durable materials are fixtures of the French wardrobe. That includes knitwear, the object of affection for Tom Lehman and Rémi Lacquintaine, the creators of sustainable brand Tricot. The duo’s three-ply sweaters are made from 50 percent recycled cashmere and 50 percent virgin cashmere (for the curious shopper, the recycling process is laid out in full on the brand’s website) and come in a variety of styles and colors.

One of the most recognizable French brands in the world? Louis Vuitton. In Louis Vuitton: Trophy Trunks, readers are able to peruse the custom-made trunks that house the most notable trophy titles in the world, from the French Open to the FIFA World Cup. We’re also able to see glimpses into the historic moments that made these pieces legends in their own right.

The first Laguiole knife was crafted by a villager in 1829—since then, Laguiole has been one of the most trusted French cutlery brands. With durable Sandvik stainless steel, it is the easiest way to open up one’s favorite French wine.

The new collection from Officine Universelle Buly, the old-world beauty and grooming brand founded by Victoire de Taillac and Ramdane Touhami, is a stroll through the most bucolic and abundant French gardens of yesteryear during a harvest. Inspired by 18th and 19th century botanists, this set of water-based fragrances, natural body oils and lotions, and hand soaps nod to the aromatic wonders of herb and vegetable gardens nurtured across France with combinations like redcurrant and Peruvian tomato, Andean verbena and Ulu basil, Caribbean sweet potato and afghan carrot, or Indian cucumber with Syrian mint.

To achieve that elusive “French girl beauty” look you need to have the right products—most of which can be found in pretty much any pharmacy across France (and, ahem, on Amazon). Avène is one of the brands behind those products, and its bestselling Thermal Spring Water face mist has become a must-pack for anyone battling dry or irritated skin after a long-haul flight, or is simply in need of a pick-me-up on a hot day. Plus, it comes in a handy travel size, too.

What would you be doing on a trip to France? Eating. What’s one French confection readily available stateside? Chocolate, thankfully. Under the guidance of Nicolas Cloiseau, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France), La Maison du Chocolat has mastered everything from luscious ganaches and pralines to unexpected savory flavors, all of which are available online and make excellent French gifts. For a wide range that appeals to all palates, start with the 60-piece signature set.

It was only a matter of time before Ormaie, the all-natural unisex perfume brand, extended its line to plant-based soaps, refillable candles in stunning porcelain vessels, and now travel-size 20ml refillable fragrance bottles with glass ampoules. The ethos remains the same: plastic-free, beautiful design, and high-quality scents developed by the best noses in Grasse that look, smell, and feel divine.

Contributing to a friend's Airbnb fund is a no-brainer: it helps make their trip planning easier, and you give them an excuse to gawk at the many beautiful apartments found across Paris and imagine they're a character in Amelie. If they need a little guidance over where exactly to stay on their next visit, we've rounded up our favorite Airbnbs across the city, including a wallet-friendly spot near the Sacré-Coeur and a character-filled two-bedroom in the Marais. No matter who you've bought the gift card for, there's something for everyone.