UPDATE: Thank you for the clarification Patrick. I do realize I jumped quickly to my judgement and for that I apologize. Again, thank you for the response and I am now a bit more open to visiting your shop. I stopped by to look for a goat milk soap for my mom. The two men working at the register suddenly stood up and were on high alert. Immediately my friend and I felt like we were being watched. They had a good selection of soaps which led me to pick up a honey bar of soap. Seconds after, the young caucasian man told me he could hold it for me in the front. Mind you I had no bags in my hands and neither of us were hiding. If I could give it 0 stars I would. I didn't walk in to be racially profiled or observed like some wild animal. read more

La Taste - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Houston, Texas

From the name of this store you would think it was a store specializing in Food, but is not. This store specializes in French products with a couple of American brands. This little gem has French jams, salts spices, candies; basically specialty food items in back of the store. However, the front of store has beautifully rich soaps, creams, candles and bath products from France. This a great store hostess gifts, Birthday gifts and just for items to pamper yourself. This a store you definitely check out! read more

La Taste - 2 roses shaped sent soap. Only $10. A little thinking of you gift - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The greatest little mix and match restaurant in the Paso downtown area. They have a share menu. And a mix and match where you can choose two or three items and it's always so delicious. read more

Loved la taste. Lotions, potions, soaps, candles, and artisanal kitchen and decorative tableware, all in a beautiful store with really nice staffers who are eager and helpful. One of their strong suites is their tremendous selection of Thymes products. read more

So cute! Parking is bad. Love what owner did to the tiny footprint ... this is a hidden gem. It seems like shabby chic meets romantic Not sure what they really specialize in as I walked in due to the branding offered in front for loccitane. read more

I love this place. I can't believe I've just discovered it after living in Houston for a decade. It's a tiny shop that immediately takes me to the south of France. They carry my favorite perfume from France and their prices are less than what you'd pay at big department stores. read more

A bit of Provence in Houston, La Taste offers its shoppers tiny morsels of France. (It's a good accompaniment to a breakfast at nearby Croissant-Brioche.) They sell some less-than-special product lines (Burt's Bees and L'Occitane, for example), but they also offer authentic French soaps and bath salts. Bunches of dried lavender hang from the ceiling, recalling the blissful purple fields of southern France...but before I digress, I will also mention that La Taste offers French table linens, cookbooks, and other kitchen gear, as well as some general housewares. It's worth a stop or two, especially since products vary throughout the year. Prices vary, too - many are reasonable, but some are a lot more than what they should be. read more

La Taste - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Houston, Texas

Adorable little shop selling adorable little things. Great place for a small Thank you gift, or a treat to yourself. I love the collection of soaps that range in size and scent, but area all handmade and luxurious. I tried out my purchases from this weekend for the first time last night and I am in love with these little bath treasures. There is also a selection of cute glass goods for the kitchen in rustic and bold colors, as well as bamboo goods and even authentic chocolate. I have never been to France, but I imagine this is pretty close to a true Parisian shop right in the heart of Houston. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is an awesome shop! It's very unique and sets the bar very high for similar stores. Everything, from merchandising, products, and overall ambiance, this place rocks! Sophie waited on me and was very helpful. Her product knowledge and customer friendly vibe was exactly what I needed for helping me put together a nice gift basket! I'll be back! read more

I stop by Rice Village fairly often but I never noticed this place, it smells amazing when you walk in! I was interested in soaps and toiletries but there was a table of small sweets/chocolates in the front and pottery in the back. Staff was friendly and I was able to move around for a while smelling and debating without feeling like I was being rushed or watched. read more

Love the store- hate the customer service. The workers here are snobby and do not make you feel welcome. I usually come into the store after my run around rice university wearing workout clothes and the staff is always awkward towards me. I can't remember being greeted. I've shopped at this store several times already and have purchased large gift bags full of soaps, candles.. and still they treat me like someone who is about to steal from them or something and constantly glaring at me as I shop, never offering any help. A lot of the customers here are snobby also and look down on me also. I guess I just don't belong here.. Looking around for another cute soap and candle shop in the neighborhood. read more

I've been a long time customer of La Taste and continue to think of it as one of the most beautifully merchandised specialty shops in Houston. It is a jewel in design and ambiance and the beauty products are among the best made in the world. However, I love the store for their amazing country French table top and dinnerware pieces, almost all of which are selected in person by the owner on yearly trips to France. These will not be pieces found anywhere but in the best of shops in NYC or LA..A special treat is finding owner, Pat Meeks, available to tell you of the French country craftsmen who make these beautiful objects.. That's worth the trip in itself. Sydney S. . read more

This is one of my favorite stores in all of Houston! The space is so lovely and everything inside feels very special. This is the perfect shop to leisurely browse in when looking for something to treat yourself (one of my favorite pasttimes). read more

After the owner's impassioned response, I felt compelled to re-evaluate. Truth be told, I do like La Taste. It's the only store of its kind in Houston that I know of, and I wouldn't want to see it close its doors. I stand by what I wrote previously about the Savon de Marseille, but don't let that keep you from paying it a visit. read more

One of my favorite stores in Houston. The staff is friendly, the items are unique and when I walk through the door I feel like I'm in France. Just a lovely place and I'm so grateful we have it here in Houston. read more

Think Prevonce, France. Here you are. All the soaps and perfumes you need to make your décolletage irresistible.

I am a big fan of La Taste. I recently bought a thank-you gift there, for a "women-who-has-everything-incuding-a-very-discerning-taste" type friend of mine. She loved her glazed tray, and I've seen her use it at a few dinner parties since. It's the kind of store you want to linger in, and feels like the items were hand picked from a recent trip to France (which I gather, they were). They indeed offered free gift wrapping (a clear bag around your item, filled with a few dried flowers... very pretty, but also placed the store wrapped gift inside another gift bag from home). I ended up buying some honey lavender beeswax guest soaps and I think a gardenia soap from the jars behind the counter- the girl working that Saturday was SO patient with me as I wanted to sniff and consider each variety, and even offered suggestions on other scents that I might enjoy based on my reactions to the ones she offered up. I ended up purchasing about 5/6 soaps (which were so delicious smelling that I've gone through all of them myself, note-to-self: must go back and restock for my guests!)... and might I add they were VERY inexpensive, especially for the quality. If you are in the area and have some time, I def. recommend stopping in and perusing their offerings. Perhaps not everything will be in your budget, but I bet you'll find at least a few wonderful things that put a smile on your face. read more

La taste has the best eucalyptus bathing supplies....and bar soap...got a discount making it even better....the manager was helpful and knowledgeable on all the products... read more

What a wonderful shop! This is truly the place to go for gifts! There is a great variety of French soaps, lotions, pottery, linens, baskets, books, and beautiful handmade cards by Christina Mardo. Each card is designed especially for La Taste and set one's mind and heart fleeting off to France at first glance. After enjoying a shopping spree at La Taste, stop by Salento for a great coffee! read more

I don't understand Jaguar A's review about customer service; I've always been greeted. As for customer being snobby, you can't review a store based on people who shop there - that is out of their control. I love this store. read more

This is the perfect little gift store. It has been perfect for 25+ years that I've been coming. It smells great, and you leave with soaps, perfumes, room diffusers that you cannot find elsewhere. Even if you could, I prefer to buy it here and support this wonderful store. It is definitely a little piece of France right here in Houston. They have books like those by Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence, A Good Year, etc.), and my most recent favorite, David Lebovitz "The Sweet Life in Paris" -- hilarious and delicious (you'll see why). The pottery has been my go-to gift for weddings, birthdays and other important occasions that warrant a special gift -- something that will be unique and treasured. You can find large serving bowls to the tiniest olive plates in colors of rich ochre, olive green, mustard, terracotta red, that famous French blue, and lemon yellow. Speaking of mustard, they have wonderful food products, too -- cornichons, preserves, vinegars. For a small store, it's like opening Mary Poppins' bag! I cannot thank the owners enough for their curated, authentic products from France. Merci! read more

La Taste is an amazing shop that makes you feel like you are in France as soon as you walk in the door. Most things sold there are very unique; I would doubt they are available at any other store in the USA. They carry a very good selection of handmade pottery (old traditional method) from the South of France, which is pretty hard to find in the USA. They have stunning Provencal platters, bowls, serving dishes well as beautiful figurines. They also have lotions, perfumes, bath salts, scrubs, sea sponges, antique cutlery, colorful glassware, candles and even French jams. Fragrant French milled soaps for only $5, which seems pretty reasonable for the quality and exclusivity of such an item. The smaller items in my purchase were gift wrapped, at no charge, in an elegant crystal clear cello bag adorned with dried flowers and gold ribbon. The pottery was bubble wrapped very carefully and placed in their traditional La Taste bag and I was even offered help to carry my purchases to my vehicle. This is one of my favorite shops in the Houston area and perhaps in the USA, I come here on a regular basis to get soaps, and body lotions, it is the perfect spot if you are looking for an elegant gift as well. read more

I love La Taste! The pottery is absolutely amazing, I have many pieces and always receive compliments when I use the dishes, trays, bowls, etc to entertain. The soaps and lotions are also fabulous. read more