Favorite things to bring back as gifts?

Scarves are my favorite! Also soaps and anything Lavender.

A friend brought me a very small perfume holder with a tiny funnel. I wouldn't even call it a bottle it was smaller and was for your purse. It had a tiny wand attached to the stopper and a small round piece of porcelain on the front. It couldn't have been much bigger than a half dollar. One of my daughters "borrowed" it and never returned it. C'est la vie.

Ditto scarves! Be aware that they can get heavy....voice of experience, lol.

Scarves yes, but after several trips to Europe, I find that they can be mostly a "made in China" thing if not careful. I have come to value my small glass Christmas ornaments depicting a special place that I have carefully wrapped and carried back home. My favs being from a small shop in Prague and a little store in Venice and Vienna....All different and so special to look at each Christmas season. I also still buy a small charm for my charm bracelet, ok, that's dated, but it still causes comment from everybody who admires the little elephant from Thailand and the tiny Ferris wheel from Vienna....I love them all. Who else has suggestions?

I've brought back glycerin soaps in the past -- small, light weight, inexpensive, and pretty to give away.
This past year in Germany I bought some small fabric change purses in cute designs and some tiny expandable tote bags.
In Amsterdam at the Van Gogh museum gift shop I saw some eye glass cleaner cloths in his blossom design that I am still wishing I had purchased ...
For France in particular, you might look for napkins in a Provencal fabric. I am still using a few that I bought almost 20 years ago,

I am at the point I bring very little back for people.. but I like soaps, scarves and kitchen linens,. also lavender sachets. I also love to go to a regular grocers like a Monoprix and pick up some sauce mixes , boullion cubes etc..they have some really interesting and different ones!!
I read about ( on fb) a friend I don't see very often mention she was in Paris.. told her that tip , and mentioned the Lemon ( Citron) Court boullion cubes.. and she messaged me when she got home how much she loved them.. great for poaching fish in.. adding to Chicken dishes and soups..

Love the Roger and Gallant soaps .. they look so nice to give ( the round ones ) and they can be cheap if you look around ( careful.. I have seen them for 8-10 euros.. but I buy when I see them around 5 ) they come in tons of scents too.. the Vanilla and Lavender ones are my favorites.

French jacquard dish towels -- made in France, light and easy to pack, and pretty affordable.

I like scarves too but also buy lavender soaps and plenty of perfumes. France has a wonderful selection of perfumes to choose from so there is really something for every taste. Ask the ladies in advance what they like in a perfume- spicy, woodsy, floral (like roses or lavender), fruity, etc. I just have things shipped directly from the shops and don't carry anything in my luggage as far as gifts. Food gifts are also usually welcome for men or women.

Herbes of Provence in cute grinders or in burlap bags. Not too heavy if you don't bring a ton.

The more I travel the less I bring for anyone else though... usually just if it is going
to be a Xmas gift. Gloves from a street market in Paris, and scarves. Definitely not dust collectors.

Wonderful ideas! Thanks everyone!
(I am very partial to the lavender fragrance, so I am hoping to get some lovely lavender items for myself, too!)

I always bring back an assortment of local candies, chocolate bars and chocolates candies to share with friends and family. They are always a big hit, fairly cheap and easy to find. I did learn the hard way on a recent trip to Belgium and Switzerland, they can get heavy if you're not careful! I would suggest variety packs of mini/small chocolates which can then be divided up and shared with lots of people. Also, I second visiting a local market or grocery store. It's so much fun to look around at all the different products not available in the U.S. but also to find something tasty to bring back. Some of my favorites are any kind of spices/herbs, coffee and teas, baking cocoas, local olive oils, vinegars, honey and jams.

Just be careful with bringing jams, honey, etc... it will be confiscated unless put in your checked bag. I always try to bring back the stuff I buy there in my carry on. I usually don't check bags, but sometimes on the way home I will... then my clothes, etc. go in the checked and my gifts go with me... those are the things I don't want to lose.

Addition to the few items people have suggested, e.g. soap, candies, chocolate, skin care products from the drug stores have been a big hit among my female friends/family -

Drug stores (pharmacie) are very easy to find. They are stores with green neon signs flashing. They're equivalent of the drug stores we have in the US that carry OTC drugs as well as skin care, personal hygiene, baby products.

Many of the french skin care products are of high quality natural ingredients with reasonable prices. Many of the "cult" products are of small packages and are very easy to bring home, e.g. lip balm, sun care products, homeopathic remedies, eye cream. If interested, just search "what to buy at french pharmacy". You'll easily find recommended lists.

Macaroons.

Check out City Pharma in Paris...google it!

Hi SherrieF!

This is always a bit of a challenge for me also. I have family and girlfriends I try to bring something back for each trip. I second those who said scarves and chocolate! I have also bought Christmas ornaments hand-made or at least hand-painted of the area I'm visiting. Once in Ireland I found the most beautiful hand-made small stained glass pieces (celtic symbols mostly) that could be hung in a window, on your car mirror, etc.... Caps are nice for those who enjoy wearing them. One other item is beautiful bookmarks or window stick-ons found in many of the museum stores. Oh, yes, and beautiful tote bags with images/quotes from France. And last, but not least, many museum stores have cool printed watches (a bit more expensive unless on sale but they are costume - not fine jewelry). Happy shopping and traveling!

Once I found where to buy Le Papier d'Armenie (see other thread on this) I'm bringing back the little packets as small token gifts. Not at all in the league as major gifts like scarves but certainly packable and unique.

Colleen! Oh my word. I now have spend an hour on a list for Citypharma with products and prices of what I usually pay for specific products.

Pam! I have a long list also! I have notes in my phone along with some frame freezes of what to look for. A friend found this place and could not believe it - I'll be there in October...

Well, City-pharma is now on my must-do list! Thanks all!

Maybe city pharma has le papier d'armenie?!

Hard candies from LA CURE GOURMANDE. They are small, pretty, and take very little of my time.

Hard candies from LA CURE GOURMANDE. They are small, pretty, and take very little of my time.