Happy (American) Mother’s Day! The French celebrate les fêtes des mères on May 26. This Mother’s Day is extra special for me as it will be my first as a maman. In honor, I am sharing some of my favorite French-inspired gifts.

For the boho-chic mom

I gave a frame of dried flowers from Herbarium to my mother-in-law for her birthday, and she loved it. It’s also a lovely gift for Mother’s Day.

For the perfume obsessed

My favorite French perfume is Coco Chanel Mademoiselle. I’ve been wearing it before I was even old enough to wear perfume and it will forever be a staple. I also love Guerlain perfumes not only for their scents but also for the beauty of the bottles, particularly their exclusive collections.

Since perfume can be tricky to give, a tip when purchasing as a gift is to ask for a sample of the fragrance along with the gift receipt. That way, the recipient can test the sample before opening the bottle and return it if the scent doesn’t suit them.

Anything from Diptyque makes for a wonderful gift, but to switch it up from their traditional candles, I suggest the scented hanger or drawer liners. I also love lavender sachets. They’re one of my favorite things to buy at the market when visiting Aix-en-Provence. You can find them on Etsy or Amazon though.

For the cook

Sturdy, linen kitchen towels are another item I love to purchase in Aix-en-Provence. The entirety of Provence is a treasure trove and buying anything there makes it more romantic (I feel a Provence post in the making).

Cookbooks are also great. Admittedly, I’m not a cookbook kind of a gal, but I’ve been following the mother-daughter duo behind The Cook’s Atelier on Instagram for years. I love their story, and someday I will make my way to Burgundy to take a cooking class from them. In the meantime, deep dive into their book!

For the traveler

I love these Longchamp foldable bags. They’re chic, sturdy, and come in a million colors. From gym bag to weekend getaways, these bags are so practical.

For the beauty-minded

I love Kure Bazaar nail polish. The colors are so chic. It was founded by a French woman who was seeking a non-toxic nail polish during her pregnancy. Their polish remover is great too—it is oil-based and doesn’t smell at all.

For the gourmande

Ladurée macarons. It doesn’t get any more French, and they deliver in the United States! You can also add one of their candles or boxes of tea. And the packaging is already done for you.

Champagne is a fool-proof gift and innately French. You could include a champagne bucket to top it off. There are some neat finds on Etsy or One Kings Lane. If you’re in France though, your best bet is to go to one of the local flea markets or antique shops.

A French-inspired Mother's Day gift guide