La Taste

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.

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.

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.

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.
.

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

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).

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.

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.

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.