Officine Universelle Buly, Rue Bonaparte

While in France last month, one of the Paris addresses I was most looking forward to was Officine Universelle Buly on Rue Bonaparte. The shop is part old-world apothecary, part cabinet of curiosities, with carved wooden cabinets filled with perfumes, soaps, oils, combs, brushes and beautiful little objects that make it nearly impossible to rush through.

Jean-Vincent Bully opened his original Paris apothecary in 1803, and that history is still part of the experience at Buly. The Eaux Triple perfumes are water-based rather than alcohol-based, and many of the same scents carry through the bath and body line.

The combs are especially good. Tortoiseshell, marbled acetate, small versions for your bag, larger ones for home, all available with engraving. The initials are a small detail, but they make the piece feel much more personal.

The personalization may be my favorite part. Buly’s acetate combs can be engraved with a name or initials, and many of the barrettes, lip balm cases and other small pieces can be personalized as well. It turns something as ordinary as a comb into an object you actually want to keep.

Their hand cream is worth knowing too. Pommade Concrète comes in Buly’s blue tube and has the rich, almost old-fashioned texture of a proper hand cream. It feels substantial, smells beautiful, and looks great sitting out on the counter.

The details are what make Buly so good. Initials engraved into acetate, lettering done by hand, wrapping you almost hate to open. Even the smallest purchase feels personal to the person taking it home.

I went in thinking about an engraved comb and left wanting half the shop. It’s the kind of store that makes you think, “I’m leaving here with something.” The personalization, the packaging, the scent of the perfumes, even the way everything is displayed makes that decision very easy.

Only in Paris could buying a comb feel this romantic.