Voyages: Paris
Welcome to VOYAGES, our monthly guide to Julie Elliott's most-loved cities and spa destinations. Learn how she unwinds, indulges, and explores—and discover which In Fiore products she carries with her.
If you follow us regularly, you know that I spend a fair amount of time in Paris, cultivating partnerships with renowned producers and chemists. French pharmacy and apothecary is a continued source of inspiration for our brand. This year, which happens to be our 20th anniversary, we’ll be launching our first product born of these partnerships, and we're confident that it will raise the bar on naturals with the introduction of technology never before used and light years ahead. So what better time to celebrate a little Paris? Enjoy.
Bon Voyage,
UNWIND
I tend to vet my hotels based on their bathtubs, access to shopping, and a damn good cheese plate. That said, I haven't settled on "my place" in Paris and am feeling pretty confident about playing the field. I’ve discovered that boutique hotels nestled in various arrondissements are a great way to immerse myself in different areas of Paris.
Hôtel Providence Paris in the 10th Arr. (Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est) is probably my favorite boutique hotel. A pied-à-terre that sits close to Canal Saint-Martin and the upper Marais, its rooms are small but well-appointed—especially the velvet papered walls by House of Hackney, the baths (some with clawfoot tubs), the terraces, and the marble in-room bartops. The hotel’s café-brasserie opens onto a terrace, a legit cocktail bar, and a cool crowd, so if you’re looking for a location that can also double as an office, this is your spot.
Another favorite boutique hotel is Le Pavillon Des Lettres, very well situated in the 8th Arr. (Champs-Elysées/Madeleine). For starters, its location, just off the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, is close to some of the city's most decadent luxury shopping. Other than a traditional French breakfast, they do not roll deep in amenities—there is no restaurant or bar (minimal room service). But I enjoy a morning espresso, then I'm out the door, so I’m sold on their excellent service, spacious bathrooms, and accessibility to many of my favorite destinations.
A Paris hôtel particulier, Saint James in the 16th Arr. (Trocadéro) is a freestanding house (think country-style château) surrounded by a wall and gardens. It’s a beautiful, charming property with a great bar set in the library, a spa with Turkish baths—and my fave: a dining room with leopard print carpet and velvet chairs. And, of course, the rooms have marble bathrooms with free-standing tubs.
For a splurge, it's Hôtel Le Meurice in the 1st Arr. (Musée de Louvre/Les Halles). Recommended to me by a Parisian friend when asked for a quintessential French luxury hotel, Le Meurice has been around since 1815 and is considered one of the first luxury hotels. Located across from the Tuileries Garden (my favorite for a stroll and picnic) and the iconic Bar 228, it features grand chandeliers, mosaic floors, enormous marble bathrooms, and a spa that offers treatments using grapeseed oil from Château Lafite Rothschild grapes. (*Bows down.* I mean, does In Fiore need to up our grape seed oil game?) I also love that Salvador Dalí made Le Meurice his residence—he is a source of inspiration for our next campaign.
INDULGE
So, guys, for some reason, as soon as I arrive in Paris, all I want to do is eat cheese and croissants and buy shoes. I’m not searching for avocado toast and matcha lattes. (Am I the only person on earth who loathes both with a zealous passion?) Instead, bring me the markets with seasonal foods, fromageries, boulangeries—all things quintessentially French. France is the only time I indulge in cheese. I know it sounds pretentious, but it’s a deal I made with my gallbladder so that we can live happily ever after.
Marche couvert les Enfants Rouge—Paris’s oldest food market (39 rue de Bretagne, 75003) is excellent for lunch or Sunday brunch, but it’s very popular and tends to be quite crowded, so be prepared for that.
Fromagerie Quatrehomme has several locations around Paris. La Crèmerie (41 Rue de Lancry, 75010) and Du Pain et Des Idées (34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010) are some of my favorites; however, there are excellent fromagerie and boulangerie all over Paris. And for wine, small plates, and tasting menus, it’s all about La Buvette (39 rue de Bretagne, 75003) and Septime (80 Rue de Charonne, 75011).
Cédric Grolet at Le Meurice Hôtel boasts an award-winning pastry chef—yet another advantage to staying there. You can go for tea at the Le Dalí lounge.
I rarely leave Paris without six pairs of shoes. Le Bon Marché (24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007) has one of the best and most diverse shoe selections in the world. And their fragrance floor is beyond.
EXPLORE
My preferred way to explore Paris is without a strict plan—I prefer to wander and see where I land. However, I do have a few go-tos for every visit:
Odorantes (9 Rue Madame, 75006) is the most enchanting flower shop in Paris and my first stop on every trip so I can have flowers in my room.
Violette told me that Bagatelle Park (Le Parc de Bagatelle) is one of her favorite places in Paris—and wow, what an extraordinary discovery. The park and Chateau were built in just 64 days following a bet between Marie-Antoinette and the Count of Artois. Plan for a picnic under a tree, stroll through the botanical gardens with 1200 different rose varietals, and admire the peacocks roaming throughout. It’s not a heavily touristy area, which is a plus.
Of course, no trip is complete without a stroll through the Tuileries to the Louvre, a walk along the Seine, the Pont Marie (Île Saint-Louis), and Pont Alexandre.
City Pharma (26 Rue du Four, 75006) is THE pharmacy with the biggest selection, highest volume, and best pricing in all of Paris. This is where I shop for ampoules and behind-the-counter items. It's enormous and always extremely crowded, but you’ll find everything you need under one roof. I recommend going with a strategy to help you navigate and stay focused as it is easy to get distracted. I've gotten a lot of questions about how I navigate French Pharmacy in Paris. This is a story for another day, so we’ll circle back soon.
I visit herboristeries for dépuratifs, teas, and essential oil blends by Jean Valnet. Herboristerie Pigault-Aublanc Madeleine (30 Rue Pasquier, 75008) was recommended to me by Kristina Holey (who knows what she’s talking about). It is one of the best herboristeries in Paris. I also like Herboristerie du Palais Royal (11 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001).
PACKING LIST
The Botanical Solutions are our most quintessentially French products and integrate well with your pharmacy and herboristerie hauls.
FIRMANTE
Upon arrival, I take a bath with one pound each of baking soda and sea salts (which I bring with me) to neutralize the effects of radiation, followed by a full leg massage. I continue to take the baths every night to move the lymph and neutralize environmental pollutants.
COMFREY
Also upon arrival, I do a full 4-2-4 cleansing to detoxify my skin (Lustra contains castor oil which purges and moves stagnation and is very detoxifying), followed by a long, leisurely facial massage, usually while lying in bed, with Comfrey and my gua sha tool to boost circulation and move the lymph. I continue this routine every night.
CALENDULA & FLEUR VIBRANTE
Every morning I like to energize and fortify my body and skin with dry brushing and an alternating hot/cold shower, followed by full-body oiling alternating between Calendula and Fleur Vibrante. Calendula, which is healing and highly antioxidant, helps to maintain water in the skin and protect against UV damage and environmental aggressors. Fleur Vibrante is a natural skin protectant that deeply penetrates the skin’s lipid barrier helping to prevent water loss and promote healthy skin structure.
COMPLEXE DE FLEUR
I layer this morning and evening over one of the botanical solutions, followed by VIS CLAIR SUPRÊME—our new firming eye complex (launching soon!). Both boost skin’s natural hyaluronic acid production.
BAISERS DE JASMIN
Because, Paris. The city of love.
