Our Favorite French Apothecary
We love l'Officine Universelle Buly for its intoxicating scents, assortment of luxurious beauty products, exquisite packaging, and impeccably decorated boutiques. Stepping into this Left Bank shop is like traveling back in time.
l'Officine Universelle Buly was initially founded in 1803 by Jean-Vincent Bully when he established his apothecary on rue Saint-Honoré. It has since been carefully reinvented by the husband and wife duo Ramdane Touhami and Victoire de Taillac who opened the doors to their first reimagined Buly 1803 on Rue de Bonaparte followed by the opening of a second shop in the Marais(one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris.) Every aspect of the revival of this historic brand was executed with impeccable attention to detail. Touhami and Taillac's vision is a nod to the rich history on which Buly 1803 was founded. Many of the products have been re-created with all-natural ingredients from Bully's original formulas and the Paris boutiques have been designed in a manner that transports its patrons to a bygone era. Our favorite feature of each boutique: an in-house calligrapher who will personalize the label and package of each purchase with your name or initials. A complimentary service that is so simple and chic - it is one of the well-thought details that will have us returning to this magnificent boutique for years to come.
striking carved wood cabinets house a tempting display of all of our favorite Buly products
hand creams, body oils, soaps and powders are all packaged in beautifully designed bottles, boxes and tubes
visit Buly while in Paris even if just to admire the carefully curated interior of each boutique
Buly in the Marais opened as a concept store with the beautiful Grand Cafe Tortoni as well as a dried flower shop. The charming Grand Cafe Tortoni is worth a visit on its own; you can enjoy a café au lait with freshly made madeleines while you shop for indulgent beauty products and discover your signature scent.
colorful dried flowers hang in the Marais boutique
the Marais shop is deserving of a visit so that you can admire the beauty of both the boutique as well as the charm of the Grand Cafe Tortoni
tortoise shell combs that can be personalized with your initials or name
every item is wrapped in beautiful printed paper and then personalized by a calligrapher with your name
Our top picks from Buly 1803:
- An Atlas of Natural Beauty
- Eau Triple Damask Rose Parfum
- Baum Des Muses *quite possibly the chicest lip balm
- Huile Antique Damask Tuberose *a luxurious body oil
- Scented Matches
- Sacre Scented Candle
- The Exquisite Comb
- Alabaster Diffuser
If you're like us and have been keeping a list of places to see and experience when we are able to travel again, be sure to add l'Officine Universelle Buly to yours.