One of the great joys of life is the pleasure of tiny fancy things. As a gift, they’re the sort of corner store purchase that might fall flat in a European household—the equivalent of Rite-Aid brand floss—but here in the States, they make the perfect stocking stuffer.
The Andrée Jardin Mini Kit à Chaussure is a set made for cleaning kids shoes.
The Le Baigneur Shaving Soap is made for dry skin and comes in a porcelain case to extend the life of the soap when not in use; €39 at Zangra.
The Merci Set of 24 Large Clips in aluminum are the elegant version of the “Chip Clip” and can also be used as clothespins; €13.
The Airmail Block (1970s) of gummed airmail stamps for £4.50 at Present & Correct in the UK.
The Scarf Pin made of horn comes in dark (black), light (blonde), and mixed (shown).
The Le Bouchon Français Champagne is a traditional champagne cap made by Roger Orfèvre with a red, white, and blue French insignia; €11 at La Trésorerie. Also available is the Le Bouchon Français à Vin, a wine cork, for €5.30 also at La Trésorerie.
A tiny travel-size tube of Marvis Whitening Mint Toothpaste is available on Amazon for $7.50.
The Perceval Pâte à Polir is something I came across in a hardware store in France.
A box of German Drei Sterne Square Pointed Dustless Chalk comes individually wrapped in paper; $5 at Schoolhouse.
A small box of French Night Lights make for DIY tea lights with a single wick and vegetable oil poured into a glass. They’re £5 per box at Labour and Wait.
Offenbach Soap from Saudade in Portugal is made from natural fatty acids that work to clean paint and household brushes; £7 for 500 grams of soap to £12 for 1 kilogram at Saudade.
From one of our favorite Paris destinations, Merci, the Box of 150 Matches are tipped in red, white, and blue, Parisian-style; €7.90 at Merci.