The Best Souvenirs to Bring Home from France

Get inspired by some of the most unique and practical French souvenirs to bring back from your travels in France. Whether it is for yourself or for someone else. There is something for everyone on this list.

We go to France often so we thought we would share with you what some of our favorite unique and budget-friendly souvenirs to bring back home are. After a lot of trial and error, we were able to figure out what the best French souvenirs are and what many of our friends and family have loved and requested from France.

On my first trip home, I had almost half of our souvenirs confiscated by the TSA (we loaded up on saucisson thinking dried meats were okay). So to help you with recommendations and from making the same mistakes as us, we have put together a list of perfect souvenirs that will not break the bank and won’t be confiscated by Customs. 

There are many lists out there that will suggest the usual popular souvenirs such as french perfume, macarons, french tea, french cheese, wine, or those little Eiffel tower souvenirs. While those all would make great souvenirs, this article will focus on items that I believe are often overlooked and would be unique items to gift.

I’ve also included some of the best places to purchase these items while in France as well as links to purchase on them Amazon if you’re unable to make it there.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. Authentic French Berets

Some of my favorite items to buy from France have been the classic wool berets. The headwear that used to be worn by shepherds has become an iconic symbol of France, and can be seen worn by people of all ages there.

I personally love wearing them in the winter so I think it would be a thoughtful gift especially around the holiday season. If you have a family member that veils at Mass it is a great gift as an alternative to the veil. I usually replace my veils at Mass with a beret in the fall and winter months. It keeps me warm and stays on my head better.

On a side note, when we visited the Abbey of Lagrasse one winter, some of the canons there would wear these huge berets when they were outdoors. It was really fun seeing them walk around greeting guests after Mass in their white cassocks and huge berets. 

Laulhère – Made in France Berets

Although you will find tons of berets sold for cheap in all the tourist gift shops around Paris, the ones I recommend are from Laulhère. It is one of the oldest beret manufacturing companies left in France. They are selective with the materials they use as well as with their production methods and it reflects in their products.

For the classic wool berets, Laulhère only uses wool from sheeps that come from the Pyrenees. So buying a beret from them will give you authentic local products.

I have bought most of my berets from a little Laulhère boutique in Lourdes, France, which is at the foot of the Pyrenees. However, there are Laulhère shops all over France including a few shops in Paris, so it is not hard to find if you want authentic French wool berets. 

Their berets are very high quality and they have such beautiful colors. I personally love that it is made of 100% natural materials such as cashmere and merino wool.

Other materials I’ve seen their berets sold in are cotton, linen, and leather. There is something for every season.

The ones sold in souvenir shops around Paris to tourists are usually made of polyester and so are not the best quality. But if you’re just looking to wear some for pictures while you’re in France, those will fit the bill.

2. Kitchen Tools – Cutlery and Salt & Pepper Mills

For anyone in your life that loves to host or cook, France has some of the best kitchen tools. Not only are they high quality but they are elegant and beautiful. They fit in with any kitchen style.

You’re probably familiar with the brand Laguiole and their iconic cutleries. They are most famous for making beautiful classic cutleries all produced in France. In addition to that, they also make other sets such as salad servers and cheese knives.

Cheaper options than Laguiole can easily be found in French grocery supermarkets such as E.Leclerc and Carrefour. I’ve gotten a few for myself from the kitchen aisle. They are very pretty, affordable, and well made. They are some of the ones I reach for the most in my own kitchen.

And lastly in this section, I will have to recommend the Peugeot salt and pepper shakers. Before Peugeot made cars, they made salt and pepper shakers. These I have seen in many high end restaurants all over the world.

They are produced locally there in France. Salt and pepper mills of all shapes, colors, and sizes can be found in various department stores (Le BHV, Galeries Lafayette, or Printemps) or kitchen stores in Paris. I’ve also linked the ones I have above here from Amazon or another beautiful alternative here if you’re interested in it and want it sooner.

They are what I call subtle luxury. There’s nothing flashy about it but it is definitely high quality. They’re pricier than your average salt and pepper shakers but they will last you a long time. They also offer a lifetime warranty on the mechanical parts on top of that.

3. Marseille Soap 

France is famous for producing savon de Marseille, also known as Marseille soap bars. This soap originates from southern France and is similar to castile soap in that it is made up of mostly natural ingredients and is extremely versatile.

Many French people will recognize the iconic olive oil soap bar cube found in almost all French households at some point or another. On top of using it as body soap, you can use it to wash dishes, floors, and even laundry.

These artisanal soaps are easily found all over the country. You can find them in grocery stores, farmer’s market stalls, and at local boutiques that sell specialty soaps.

I have stumbled on a specialty soap shop in every city I’ve been to in France. The French take their soaps seriously. We’ve even bought some made by the monks from the abbey of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. 

Example of Marseille Soap Scents

• Lavender
• Verbena
• Milk
• Almond
• Honey
• Jasmine
• Magnolia
• Lemon
• Cassis

Some of our favorite scents to bring back with us are lavender, verbena, or milk. They are subtle and comforting but not too overpowering. All are usually scents that you can find in nature and are produced naturally with essential oils.

I personally love having one next to my kitchen sink, which you can find here. I use it to wash my hands instead of using dish soap or the usual hand soaps. In my opinion, this is a healthier alternative to the synthetic fragrance-laden hand soaps commonly sold in stores.

4. French Chocolate

Grocery Store Chocolates

Another popular souvenir that you can never go wrong with is chocolate. There is so much to choose from in this category and chocolate is one of me favorite souvenirs to bring home. You can find something for every budget and taste. 

If you’re looking for a brand that’s easy to find, Côte d’Or from any French supermarket will be your best choice. They have so many options to choose from and it is one of our favorites. Their chocolate is creamy and smooth. They also have great flavors such as dark chocolate and whole hazelnuts, milk chocolate and pistachios, or nuts and fruit chocolate bars. 

Another brand we always load up on is the Nestlé Dessert bars. There’s something about that chocolate bar that makes any chocolate dessert just delicious. We’ve made the best chocolate mousse, fondant cake, and hot chocolate with this bar.

When we used other specialty chocolate such as Ghirardelli for those same desserts, it didn’t come out right. You can make your own French hot chocolate with this recipe here.

Specialty French Chocolates

If you want a more specialty chocolate from french chocolatiers then there are two options. There is the famous Jeff de Bruges, which you can find in any major city in France. I even found their chocolate shops in Tahiti, that’s how popular they are.

Their chocolates are amazing if you love milk chocolate or sweeter chocolates. Around Easter, they have these adorable animal shaped chocolates that have unique flavors and are so delicious.

My favorite flavor was the dark chocolate coconut one that was in the shape of a fish. They have fun flavors such as praline sparkle, which has those popping candies incorporated into it. They make the perfect gift!

However, my absolute favorite artisan chocolate shop is L’atelier du Chocolat. This shop started in a town in the south of France called Bayonne. Everything I’ve ever had from here is delicious. You can tell that they use high-quality chocolates.

I especially love their iconic dark chocolate barks, which you can buy with various toppings such as dried fruits, nuts, and even spicy Espelette peppers. I love their coconut, sesame, and coffee barks.

You can make a chocolate bouquet with these barks and customize it to your liking or choose some of their premade bouquets. Their bouquets are quite iconic and are one of the things they’re famous for. 

I was able to bring one back as a gift to my mom, but I will caution that it takes up a lot of space so I suggest going for their smaller chocolate gift box instead. Their individual chocolate truffles are also so delicious.

My husband and mother-in-law once customized a box for me before I arrived and it was the best chocolates I’ve ever had.

Like Jeff de Bruges, they make the cutest chocolates for every holiday season. I always want to go here when I’m in France but their stores are not as prevalent as Jeff de Bruges so it’s harder to come by.

5. Candy and Biscuits

French candy and biscuits are another delicious souvenir to bring back from your travels. They’re easy to get from any grocery store and are usually quite easy to transport back in your luggage. 

French Candy Options

Some of the candies that come to mind when looking for souvenirs are the Kremas. They are what I like to call the French version of starburst but they taste so much better. Somehow they’re creamier tasting and they only use natural coloring. It’s always a hit with my friends and family when I give them that.

Another popular candy to bring back is Haribo. Although it’s made by a German company, the options available in France are different from the ones in the US. I often get requests to bring unique Haribos back home.

A novelty item I sometimes bring back are Tic Tacs. At the end of each cashier line, there is always a row of Tic Tacs. They come in all sorts of flavors that we do not often see elsewhere. I’ve seen flavors like cassis, berries, and even Coca-Cola and Sprite. It’s fun to bring back just because it’s so unique and different. 

Dessert Selections

If you have a lot of people you need to buy souvenirs for, then French desserts would make a great gift. Some popular items you can bring back are macarons, madeleines, chocolate/jam tarts, or butter biscuits. These all could easily be found for a great price in the supermarket. Those are great if you want to get something for all your coworkers at once.

With these items, you can make gift bags of various French candies and biscuits to pass out. This is what we often do. Just make sure the biscuits are individually wrapped.

6. French Butter

French butter is a souvenir that is ubiquitously loved by everyone we have brought it back for. It is rich, flavorful, and delicious. Butter is one of the best things to bring back from France.

You might be wondering what the big deal is since we have butter everywhere but trust me, it does have a unique flavor that isn’t easily replicated. The biggest difference between butter from France and those found in the US comes down to the fat percentage. French butter usually has a higher fat content. 

Most of our favorite butter brands come from the Brittany region. This region in France is famous for having the best butter because of the churning methods used as well as the availability of lush greenery that the cows are able to feed on. I personally love the Paysan Breton Demi-Sel butter, as well as the Grand Fermage butter with salt crystals that crunch so deliciously as you bite into it. 

We’ve also tried the world famous butter produced by Le Beurre Bordier and that one truly does stand out from the others. This butter is shipped worldwide to Michelin star restaurants.

We were able to try their seaweed butter as well as their salted butter. Both were delicious although I wish the seaweed one had more of an umami flavor to it.

If you’re able to find it, we highly suggest you give it a try. We were able to find it at Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet in Paris. 

7. Specialty Salt – Fleur de Sel

For a more unique souvenir, I suggest French salt. Throughout France’s Atlantic coast and in some parts of the Mediterranean coast, you will find salt marshes. It is here that we get the world famous fleur de sel, which is often used as a finishing touch on high end gourmet dishes.

Fleur de sel is famous for its unique taste and texture, which comes from its cultivation methods as well as its labor intensive harvesting process. 

Many of these salt producers are set up to display these salt marshes to tourists. At most salt marshes you can see the naturally pink salt ponds as well as the mounds of salt that have been stockpiled and are waiting to be processed. Many of the producers also have a shop onsite selling all kinds of specialty salts mixed with various herbs and spices.

It was so fascinating to see all the flavors available. I’ve seen some salt flavored with cumin, vanilla, lemon, espelette peppers, as well as ginger. Each shop easily has more than 10 different flavors of salt to choose from.

One of my favorite salt to use for meat and fish dishes is the one flavored with seaweed. The seaweed is usually also harvested from the coast of France. This particular flavor adds a delicious umami flavor to any dish without any fishy smell. As a bonus, it provides a great natural source of iodine.

8. Chestnut Jam – Crème de Marron

Yes, the US does have a great selection of French jams already from brands such as Bonne Maman.  However, a jam not commonly found in the US is crème de marron, also known as chestnut jam.

I find that chestnuts are quite popular among French people, especially around the holiday season. They love their chestnuts. The line for roasted chestnuts at Christmas markets is usually very long.

Chestnuts can be found in various forms and appear in all kinds of desserts such as in crêpes, whipped cream, and ice cream.

The flavor of crème de marron itself is very nutty and full of spices. My favorite way to eat it is on a toasted baguette with butter for breakfast or in a crêpe for dessert.

9. Pharmacy Goods

You cannot go to France without stopping by a French pharmacy at some point or another. They can be easily found all over the country and are a great place to get some of the best french souvenirs.

Just look for the big green plus sign. There you can get some of the best French beauty products as well as health & wellness items for prices much cheaper than you’d get in the US.

What I love about French products is that they really promote organic products. I have not seen that elsewhere. They sell organic items such as soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. Just look for the “Bio” sign on any item and you will know it’s organic.

If you’re unsure what to get, there are a plethora of videos online about all the must-buy items from French pharmacies. You will be able to find something for anyone in your life there. 

French Pharmacy Brands Recommendations (and what to get):

• Bioderma – micellar water, body wash, face sunscreen
• Caudalie – lip balm, facial spray, face moisturizers
• Nuxe – body oil
• La Roche Posay – face and body moisturizers, sunscreen
• Avène – face and body moisturizers, sunscreen
• Biafine – emulsion cream

Another item I always buy from French pharmacies is mosquito spray. Believe me when I say that these sprays are highly underrated. I found a repellent spray that was super effective without any smell!

As someone who is a mosquito magnet and is allergic to their bites, this was such a game changer. I no longer dread going out in tropical places because I now can go without getting bitten, without being exposed to the strong lingering medicinal smell, and without feeling sticky from the spray. They have many great natural and organic options. 

10. French Syrups

In the beverages portion of many French menus you will see a “diabolo”, which translates to little devil. It’s a drink made up of flavored syrup and sparkling water. It’s the best and most refreshing thing to have on a hot day after you’ve been walking around all day.

After walking all day and when the sun is at its peak, we’d typically stop by a brasserie and sit in one of their outdoor seats. My husband would order a beer and I’d order a peach diabolo (we made this up but we prefer to call it an angelito) and we’d talk or people watch while sipping on our drinks.

You can easily make one of these drinks at home so I like to bring some flavored syrups back as souvenirs. They come in so many flavors, the most popular include grenadine, cassis, and mint. They also have many other flavors including raspberry, orange, and strawberry.

My favorite is peach syrup. I love that these syrups are not made with high fructose corn syrup nor artificial dyes. So in my mind, it’s a tiny bit healthier option than soda. We drink it on special occasions as they still have a lot of sugar. I think french syrups make an excellent souvenir especially in the summer months.

11. French Panier or Wicker Basket

One of my absolute favorite items that I’ve brought back from France are the paniers or wicker baskets. Not only are they beautiful and rustic looking, they are extremely practical.

They make great bags to bring to the grocery store or farmers markets so that your produce does not get crushed. They also make great beach or picnic bags since they are sturdy and hold their structure.

Also, you can get them for a much better price in France than back home in the United States. I particularly loved the wicker basket above with the leather trim. It looks very high-end but is a reasonable price.

Pins for reference for the next time you go to France!

Conclusion

These are just a few ideas for unique souvenirs that would make great gifts. If you have any items that you loved from France not on the list, I’d love to hear more about it. Feel free to leave a comment below!  

Wishing you all the best on your adventures!
A & D