In September I spent a magical four days in Paris with a friend and had ample time for perfume discovery in addition to general wandering while enjoying the Parisian sights and smells. We stayed in the medieval Marais area, replete with history and perfect for getting lost in and following your nose. It covers the 3rd and 4th arrondissements plus it’s also a very accessible area to connect to other parts of the city. If I could live there I would be very happy indeed.

The first morning in Paris, I was pretty keen to pack as much into the day as was humanly possible. I left my friend sleeping in the hotel and departed early to sneak in a coffee. Where were all the Parisians hiding? At 7am I was struggling to find a cafe that was open. I did eventually find one and watched a few earlybirds pass by, often on bicycles. I waited until 10am for the stores to open and was amazed at how many perfume boutiques were in one area.

(Note : The coffee cup is where the Marais district is located)

The Marais has become a must visit area for perfume shopping if you are so inclined. I stayed on the Rue de Turenne, right by the Place des Vosges, built by Henri IV and one minute away from the Rue des Francs Bourgeois filled with small perfume stores. You will find a selection of own brand stores by the big guns such as Guerlain and Chanel but also Diptyque, Jo Malone, Acqua di Parma as well as a Caudalie (french beauty products) store. Around the corner there is new perfume boutique, Parle Moi de Parfum with its own brand products and the concept store L’Eclaireur that stocked some excellent brands such as Naomi Goodsir and new kid on the block (in perfume land) Philippe Starck as well as the lovely Fornasetti candles. Nearby the small multi brand store Marie Antoinette shimmered in its vibrant red and white, situated on the Rue d’Ormesson. You will want to note that some of these stores including this one are closed on a Monday. Boo.

Incredibly there are more perfume stores in the area. I kid you not and I’m sure I haven’t captured them all as the Marais covers a lot of territory. Penhaglions, Annick Goutal, Fragonard, The Different Company (their new leather perfume Adjatay is gorgeous) and Miller et Bertaux are also in residence. Maison Francis Kurkdjian is nearby (also closed on Monday) and Etat Libre d’Orange and Parfums de Nicolaï are located on the same street (Rue des Archives). The luxury candle store Cire Trudon is near the Pompidou. Nicolai’s head office is right next to the Palais Royale and I’ll be writing about that visit in more detail very soon.

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An Atelier Cologne store is a little walk from Etat Libre D’Orange and I stumbled in here to have a look see. I’d been lucky enough to win a prize on Instagram this year from the brand and wanted to see the interior of the store. I have to say it was absolutely adorable and full of flowers and curiosities. Heloise the sales consultant was incredibly patient as I asked to sniff most of the perfumes I was behind on, which to be honest was a lot. Their range has grown rapidly. I’ve found that  the releases are rather rapid fire and difficult to keep up with but then again I really admire the founders for what they’ve accomplished in such a short time. Of their new perfumes I enjoyed Tobacco Nuit and was also rather taken with Pomelo Paradis.

Now I didn’t manage to visit all of the stores in the area and I really would like to go back to Paris to visit Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Marie Antoinette, The Different Company and Etat Libre d’Orange. Next time I visit they are first up on my list. There’s also another multi brand perfume store called Sens Unique that I didn’t manage to get to this time around but the last time I visited, the service was great and they had all of the Parfumerie Generale perfumes which is reason enough to go back.

I’ll be doing a few more pieces on Paris Perfume Shopping in other areas of the City Of Light, so check back when you can.

You can check all of these stores off on the Rue des Francs Bourgeois!

Acqua di Parma : 6 Rue des Francs Bourgeois : Chanel : 40 Rue des Francs Bourgeois : Diptyque : 8 Rue des Francs Bourgeois : Fragonard : 51 rue de Francs-Bourgeois : Guerlain : 10 Rue des Francs Bourgeois : Jo Malone : 12 Rue des Francs Bourgeois

These stores are all nearby …

Annick Goutal : 3 Bis Rue des Rosier : Atelier Cologne : 15 Rue Dubelleyme : Cire Trudon : 11 Rue Saint-Croix de la Bretonnerie : Etat Libre d’Orange : 69 Rue des Archives : L’Artisan Parfumeur : 32 Rue du Bourg Tibourg : L’Eclaireur : 40 Rue de Sévigné : Maison Francis Kurkdjian : 4 Rue des Blancs : Marie Antoinette : 5 Rue d’Ormesson : Miller et Bertaux : 17 Rue Ferdinand Duval : Parfums de Nicolai : 45 Rue des Archives : Parle Moi de Parfum : 10 Rue de Sévigné : Penhaglions : 34 Rue de Francs Bourgeois : Sens Unique : 13 Rue du Roi de Sicile : The Different Company : 10 Rue Ferdinand Duval

Notes : Images all from Megan In Sainte Maxime : Slideshow : Photos from Penhaglions, Marie Antoinette, Chanel, Acqua di Parma, Parle Moi de Parfum, Guerlain, Atelier Cologne, Parfums de Nicolaï, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Etat Libre d’Orange, L’Eclaireur

Note that I will update this list when I’m advised of new stores! Thanks readers.