Must-Buy Souvenirs

The world's most iconic perfume, created in 1921 and still bottled in its original minimalist glass flacon. Buying it from the Paris flagship or duty-free comes with the novelty of an authentic French purchase, though the fragrance itself is sold worldwide at similar prices.

A ribboned box of a dozen assorted macarons from the Paris house credited with inventing the modern double-shell macaron in the early 1900s. The pastel-green boxes are as much a status symbol as a snack — pack an ice pack if flying home.

The best-selling Champagne in the world, produced in Épernay since 1869 and served at everything from Olympic podiums to the Cannes red carpet. A standard 750ml bottle from a Paris wine shop (caviste) travels home easily in checked luggage if wrapped well.

The classic cliché souvenir, and genuinely the top-seller in Paris: a metal scale model ranging from keychain-size to a 25cm tabletop piece. Street vendors near the tower sell cheaper unofficial versions — the official boutique version costs more but guarantees the metal alloy quality and a proper box.

A 90x90cm silk twill square, hand-screen-printed in up to 40 colors — the item that made Hermès a household name beyond its leather goods. The Faubourg Saint-Honoré flagship carries the full current collection, including patterns not always available abroad.