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!
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