Paris and shopping are the two things that simply go together! And when you think shopping in Paris, you think Champs-Elysées. According to wikipedia, the name refers to the “Elysian Fields”, the place of the blessed in Greek mythology. When you find yourself in this world famous avenue you can consider yourself truly blessed with shopping opportunities! This most prestigious and broadest Paris avenue offers quite a few must-at-least-drop-by shopping spots. For a great choice of beauty products such as perfumes, makeup and skin care, you can choose from Sephora, Marriannaud, Guerlain and other boutiques!
Most of these stores have a modern design and feel to them. However in one particular place you will feel magically transported a hundred years back and will have a really memorable shopping experience. 68 Champs-Elysées is the address of a 3-floor Guerlain boutique. It is elegant, luxurious and unforgetable. The boutique first opened its doors in 1914 and was built for Guerlain by architect Méwès known for for building the Ritz Hotel on the Place Vendôme.
When you walk into the boutique, you find yourself on the ground floor with a couple displays of Guerlain perfumes and skin care. Friendly staff recommended taking a look upstairs. Right across from the entrance is a staircase leading to the mezzanine floor.
This floor as I read online was initially made up of small partitioned rooms and left vacant for several years and then it was restructured into a single space. Now this area is divided into 2 spacious rooms. One of them is devoted to "haute" perfumery and is located on the side of Champs-Elysées.
The centerpiece of this room is a gorgeous crystal chandelier over a lighted round perfume display. On the other side with windows looking into a courtyard I found a beauty area with makeup and skin care displays, several chairs and three large mirrors that seemed to be suspended over you in mid-air.
The sales girl gave me a small tour and told shortly how the successful history of Guerlain House
began. She told me about the Eau de Cologne Impérial created by Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain in honor of Empress Eugenie which lead him to become Her Majesty’s Official Perfumer.I tested several recent Guerlain’s perfumes including the Aqua Allegoria Fig-Iris and Cruel Gardenia. First the perfume is sprayed on a fan which is then lightly waved at you so that you can experience various notes and get a feel for the fragrance.
I like very light refreshing notes so my favorite out of the Guerlain’s perfumes I tested appeared to be Herba Fresca from Aqua Allegoria collection.
Further on, I was quite nosy to try out Guerlain’s classics Shalimar, Jicky and inquire into the story of their creation.
Then I took a look at the other room to try out Guerlain’s newest mascara - Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara.
And, finally, I made my purchase - no, not a perfume. I bought my favorite eye cream ever – Happylogy Eye (Glowing Eye Care/Action on first wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness). The best cream I have ever used, I stay true to it for already 3 years.
I requested it to be packed as it was a gift. Well, it was a gift - a gift for myself on the wonderful occasion of enjoying Paris and the beauty of shopping at La Maison Guerlain.
As I was about to leave the boutique the sales girl offered to spray Herba Fresca over me. The offer I was more than happy to accept!
Read more about
Posts
3 comments:
Hi,
Thanks for the info,Guerlain store looks great!However,I have just spoken to someone who is a recent convert from Guerlain products to the Sisley range also featured on your site.She says that the day cream is wonderful but she baulks at the price and has to travel to Birmingham to buy it. I asked if she had tried shopping on line and hence found many people triying to sell me things, but your site actually gives me your personal opinion wihtout asking me for money - GREAT keep up the good work! So now I am curious and would love to try some samples :) Tracy
Hi Tracy!
Thanks for your comment! I am glad you found my blog helpful. And I am happy you took the time to leave a comment :-))) I would love to send Sisley samples to you. I will also include a surpsise sample! So please email your postal address to me and let me know when you get the samples.
As far as comparing Sisley and Guerlain goes..... Sisley is a bit more expensive and more focused on botanical natural refined ingredients. But I like both brands and believe, it really depends on which line or which product really suits your skin's needs. I am amazed at Guerlain's Hapylogy cream for eye area-- used it for years and still believe there is nothing better in the market . On the other hand, I wasn't so impressed with Sisleya Eye and Lip Contour Cream , but I was amazed with other Sisley's products... like Sisleya Radiance Anti-Aging Concentrate(Miracle beauty product!!!), Buff and Wash Gell, Sisley's Energizing and Foaming Exfoliant.
Hi, I enjoyed reading yor blog about the boutique. I would love to visit it sometime, but it isn't gonna happen any time soon with the way my finances are, but reading your blog made me feel like I was there with you trying the products. Thank you !
Post a Comment