26 Great Gifts for the Friend Who's Always Talking About France
The allure of the French way of life is part of what keeps millions of travelers coming to the country each year to experience everything from art and food to fashion and artisan-made goods. Can’t make it to France for a visit of your own? No problem, little French touches can come to you. Below, we’ve compiled 26 French-themed gifts that any Francophile will appreciate. From handcrafted accessories and sleek tote bags to beloved beauty products, we've got you covered with the very best French-inspired gifts.
Need some more inspo? Check out Traveler's Amazon Storefront for even more of our favorite travel gifts.
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Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life by Ajiri Aki
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.
Typology Iconic Facial Routine Gift Set
Cult favorite French pharmacy brands like La Roche Posay, Avène, Bioderma, and Nuxe have a following for a reason (and are readily available now on their own US brand websites and various retailers, including Sephora), but there's another brand that should be on your radar: Typology, a pared back, B-corp vegan line out of Paris that has taken over many medicine cabinets. Formulated with labs in Bergerac, Aix en Provence, and Compiègne, the brand is known for its radical transparency on formulations and its use of only a handful of essential, natural active ingredients. The nine-ingredient face moisturizer, tinted serums, and tinted lip oils are among the bestsellers, but you can decide for yourself with this starter set.
Charlotte Chesnais Round Trip ring
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.
Ormaie Tableau Parisien
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.
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Williams Sonoma Tour de France gift crate
L/Uniform The Mini Press Bag
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.
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Veja Wata II Low Ripstop Kaki Pierre
There’s a reason you’ve seen Veja sneakers on nearly every Parisian: not only are they well-made and sharply designed shoes, they are ethically produced from Brazilian and Peruvian organic and regenerative cotton and Amazonian wild rubber from small cooperatives. The Wata II model, among the newest in the brand’s permanent collection, is made from Brazilian rubber and recycled polyester with a tear-resistant mesh that will keep the shoe looking great wear after wear.
Louis Vuitton Trophy Trunks by Olivier Margot
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.
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Officine Universelle Buly Savon Superfin Parfumé
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.
Mariage Freres International Milky Blue Absolu Silky Blue Tea
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A Year in the French Style: Interiors & Entertaining by Antoinette Poisson
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.
Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 tote bag
Delsey Paris was founded in 1946 after the merger between camera case manufacturers Delahaye and Seynhaeve. A pioneer of French luggage and travel accessories, the company has continued to produce pieces that embody its unmatched style ever since. Made of recycled bottles, the Chatelet Air tote is the company’s way of showing that they are able to produce elegant, sustainable pieces.
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Maison Francis Kurkdjian The Fragrance Wardrobe Discovery Collection for Her
Help your giftee find their signature scent with the Maison Francis Kurkdijan fragrance sets. With sets designed for both men and women, they will be able to experience perfume and cologne shopping in one sitting as they look upon the eight scents provided. With ranges from flowery and sweet to musky and sultry, the ultimate day and night scents can be found inside this box.
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Cire Trudon Madeleine candle
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.
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Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water
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.
Saint James Authentic Breton stripe shirt
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.
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Sagaform wine carafe with oak stopper
One of the best souvenirs to bring back from France is, of course, wine. Preferably the same one you just spent a week drinking in the vineyards of Burgundy. But once you get home, you also need something chic to serve it in, which makes this minimalist carafe from Sagaform an ideal gift for any oenophile who wants to show off everything they know about tannins. In between trips, it's a stylish way to upgrade the wine you just bought from the corner store.
La Maison du Chocolat Coffret chocolate box
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.
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Le Creuset Signature Enameled Dutch Oven
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.
Airbnb gift card
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.
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Tricot recycled cashmere v-neck sweater
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.
Del'ep leather phone case
After working for Chanel alongside Karl Lagerfeld and with Nicolas Ghesquière during his Balenciaga days, Sigrid de l’Epine began contributing her own made-in-France designs to the fashion world: finely crafted, vegetable tanned leather cases to hold your phone, glasses, or keys around your neck. Both elegant and practical, it’s no wonder some of the world’s most well-dressed women, from actress Kelly Rutherford to model-actress Elisa Sednaoui, have added these cases to their wardrobes.
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Marin Montagut glassware
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.
Maison/Made Lemon Balm Biodynamic Hydrosol
If you can’t frolic through the rolling hills of Burgundy you can at least put some of its earthy abundance to work on your skin. This lemon balm from Maison/Made, a small batch skincare atelier with Demeter Biodynamic certification, is an all-purpose hydrosol (the result of steam distillation of the company’s medicinal plants grown on a centuries-old family farm in Burgundy) that targets cellular renewal and repair. It’s the perfect calming before-bed ritual.
