MFCH Staff Favorite Summer Travel Essentials

Welcome to our monthly series: MFCH Staff Favorites!
Every month, the members of the My French Country Home team will share a recommendation for their favorite thing in France right now.

Everyone packs differently. Some of us overthink it for weeks, others throw a bag together the night before. But after enough trips, you learn which items are worth the space — the ones you use constantly and never regret bringing.

With the summer vacations in full swing here in France, we asked the MFCH team members to share their non-negotiable travel essentials. The answers ranged wider than you might expect: a signature scent for the trip, a pre-shampoo oil for salt-soaked hair, a square scarf that solves a dozen problems, a pair of silk pants, a set of face masks for tired skin, a canvas tote that carries you from day to day.

Here are our summer travel essentials that we never leave behind.

Refillable Travel Perfume Bottles

Recommended by Sarah, MFCH Subscription Box & Boutique Manager

Since a very young age, I have been obsessed with perfume. Not just one signature scent — I have one for every occasion and every season. I find that a scent can trigger emotions and memories, and over the years it has become as much a part of my wardrobe as anything I wear.

So when I travel, a signature scent for the trip is non-negotiable. Arriving somewhere and spritzing on a fragrance you associate with that trip is one of my favorite things about travel — years later, catching that same scent can bring back some of the best souvenirs (memories).

My solution has always been refillable travel perfume bottles. Easy to pack, no risk of breakage, and well within carry-on limits. A small addition to your packing routine that makes a big difference.

Léonor Greyl Pre-shampoo Oil

Recommended by Nicola, MFCH Magazine Writer & Editor

For me, summer travel usually involves long days at the beach and frequent ocean swims — a combination that can leave my long, thick hair feeling dry and unruly from hours of exposure to salt water. At home, my routine is more structured: shampoo, condition and blow-dry. On vacation, I need a simpler approach, but allowing my hair to air dry after washing typically leads to frizz and frustration.

A few years ago, my Paris hairdresser introduced me to a life-changing solution: L’Huile de Léonor Greyl — a luxurious pre-shampoo oil treatment with sun protection that is water-resistant and suitable for all hair types. I massage a few drops of this liquid gold into my ends and let it work its magic for at least 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning as normal. (I’m told it can also be applied overnight, though I haven’t tried this.)

Made in France with a blend of jojoba, coconut, sunflower, and sesame oils, I love how my hair looks and feels after this treatment. The 25 ml (0.84 oz) travel size makes it an ideal companion for beach holidays and warm weather escapes.

A Square Scarf

Recommended by Maddy, MFCH Magazine Writer & Editor

Despite our best-laid plans, travel is full of moments we couldn’t possibly predict. That’s why this one item always has a place on my packing list…. For me, the square scarf is the ultimate travel companion.

An evening turns cooler than expected? Wear it around your neck or draped over your shoulders. A trouser button breaks? Tie it as a belt. Need somewhere to sit while waiting for a delayed train, or wearing white? Spread it on the ground first. Too hot in the sun? Use it to dab away moisture or tie it over your head for a little shade. Need an extra bag? Knot the corners together for an elegant makeshift carryall.

The possibilities are almost endless, and beyond its practicality, the pattern brings a fun touch of color and personality to an outfit. I usually tie mine around the handle of my handbag so it’s within easy reach whenever I need it.

Silk Pants

Recommended by Jessy, MFCH Customer Service Coordinator

There’s nothing I love more than a good pair of silk pants, especially when easing into vacances. With summer heat on the rise, I prefer to keep a pair with me every time I leave town. The fabric moves with the body effortlessly, making for a luxurious way to keep cool. They don’t require much thought or styling and take a modest corner of my travel bag.

As someone who prefers to travel light, I would say these are an unquestionable item for me. Perfect on the train or at dinner, I love a patterned pair and keep leopard print in my wardrobe, but I gravitate toward pinstripes and neutral colors with beautiful pleats as well.

Filorga Face Masks

Recommended by Sharon, MFCH Founder & Editor-in-Chief

As I grow older, I notice that travel — air travel in particular — takes a toll on my skin. When I’m tired my skin looks and feels dry. I now always pack a couple of Filorga masks in my bag, to help my skin rehydrate upon arrival.

The mask only needs 15 minutes to take effect, and typically I’ll use it before a special dinner, or while getting ready in the morning. The effect feels long lasting, and my skin is visibly fuller. A real confidence booster!

A Canvas Tote Bag

Recommended by Olivia, MFCH Brand Strategist, Writer, & Editor

While planning vacation activities and coordinating outfits, it’s easy to forget the most useful accessory for the moments in between: a tote bag. This isn’t the “personal item that sits under the seat in front of you,” which we all know is really just our biggest purse or backpack stuffed with everything that didn’t fit in the suitcase. I mean the bag to carry fresh produce home from the local market, fill with unique finds from a pop-up art fair, or bring to the beach with a towel, sunscreen, and a copy of MFCH Magazine.

A canvas tote folds up easily or can lie flat on top of clothes in a suitcase. I reach for mine more than anything on vacation. My summer travels tend to take spontaneous turns, so it comes everywhere with me, holding the “just-in-case” items like a quick-dry towel, a swimsuit, my Kindle, and a notebook and pen. Somehow, there’s always just enough room left to throw in whatever I pick up along the way.

Looking for more French travel essentials? Check out our MFCH August Bon Voyage Box! There might even an item or two in there that you soon won’t be able to travel without… Reserve yours here.