September 2026 | A chat with Adrienne Ryser; Owner of The Oldest Flower Shop in Paris

A chat with Adrienne Ryser

Owner of The Oldest Flower Shop in Paris

Walking into L'Arrosoir feels like stepping back in time a few decades. The florists still work off the same worn bar counter that once lived in a restaurant down the street, terracotta pots hang from the ceiling where lampshades might be, and vintage mirrors in gilded frames catch the light from every corner.

And then, of course, there are the flowers blooming from every surface of the shop, lovingly arranged by color so that each wall feels like its own little world. It's no wonder L'Arrosoir, whose name means "the watering can" in French, holds the title of the oldest flower shop in Paris.

Behind it all is Adrienne Ryser. Born and raised in California, Adrienne moved to France for love. She ended up falling in love all over again, this time with a century-old flower shop in the 11th arrondissement. This spring, she added "author" to her résumé with the release of her first book, Fleurs, a beautiful collection of bouquet "recipes" and French floral inspiration, and she recently opened a second L'Arrosoir location in Oslo, Norway.

I feel so fortunate to know Adrienne and to call her a friend, and I was lucky enough to celebrate with her at her book release party this past April when Fleurs made its debut. With so much blooming in her world lately, I thought it was the perfect time to sit down with her and share a little of her story: her journey to the shop, her love of flowers, and the making of her book.

You grew up in California with horticulturist parents — when did you first fall in love with flowers, and did you always imagine they'd become your career?

Growing up, I was always surrounded by flowers in one way or another. Whether it was visiting my mom’s friends at their flower shop or going to greenhouses with my dad and the growers he worked with, flowers were always just part of my life. Flowers feel really innate and like they are a part of my family. I never imagined that flowers would become my career. I studied journalism in Los Angeles and working in flowers did not even cross my mind. Then I went on a Eurotrip to France and met a French boy and everything changed. When I decided to move to Paris, I needed to save up enough money to learn French at the Sorbonne. I got a job through my dad at a flower shop in LA on top of my internship and styling job to save up. The moment I started working at The Empty Vase in West Hollywood, I remember thinking that being a florist was the best job ever. I loved seeing so many people I considered incredibly cool and creative working in the world of flowers. I loved meeting all the amazing people who came into the shop and discovering just how exciting and meaningful flowers could be.

From that point on, I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.

Walk us through how you found L'Arrosoir and what made you take the leap to buy it.

I moved to Paris for a French crush, and for the first year, I didn’t have a work visa so I spent a lot of my time walking through the city, exploring different neighborhoods, and naturally gravitating toward flower shops. That’s when I discovered L’Arrosoir, and I immediately loved it.

It actually reminded me a lot of The Empty Vase in West Hollywood. There was a connection there because Saeed, the owner of The Empty Vase, had gotten his start in Paris. So from the moment I saw a little sign in L’Arrosoir’s window saying they were looking for a florist, I knew I wanted to work there. I was finally getting my work visa after living in Paris for a year. I applied, and I was hired on the spot. I started work the day I obtained my French work visa.

I worked there for two years alongside the owners, and during that time, I learned so much. I realized how much I loved working in such a special and historical business that was important to Parisians and Paris as a whole! But also the relationships I was building with clients, flower vendors, and the entire community around the shop. So when the owners told me they were selling, I told them the very next day that I was going to do whatever it took to buy it.

L'Arrosoir has been arranging flowers for over 100 years. How do you balance honoring a century of history with bringing your own style and vision to the shop?

When I bought the shop, I promised the previous owners that I would honor their legacy and vowed to never buy any of the flowers they despise. I promised to love the store and maintain its spirit and ambiance. I hope I’ve done a good job of that. At the same time, I can’t help but infuse the space with a little of my own personality. I’ve introduced a few plants and flowers that remind me of my family, some things the previous owners may not have carried, like succulents. My dad always grew and gardened with succulents, so carrying them in my stores feels like a way of honoring him while also making the shop my own.

This year you published your first book, Fleurs, which is full of bouquet recipes. What was it like distilling your knowledge into a book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

I absolutely loved working on my book, Fleurs. I was lucky to work with an incredible team and a fabulous photographer, Katie Donnelly. For me, the most important thing I hope people take away is that it’s completely okay, actually even better, to be intuitive rather than overly intentional. Use unexpected flowers from your home or garden, follow what you’re naturally drawn to, and allow yourself to experiment. More than anything, I hope it inspires people to bring beauty into their lives every single day, for no reason other than the simple joy of enjoying it like the French do.

Do you have a favorite recipe or arrangement in the book, and is there one you'd recommend for a total beginner to try first?

For me, I’ll always come back to the champêtre-style bouquet because it really captures the classic L’Arrosoir style. It’s the kind of bouquet you’ll see most often in my flower shops, and it represents the look and feeling I always want to return to.

I’m so proud of my friend and everything she has created, but I especially love that through all of this, L’Arrosoir still feels like L’Arrosoir. It is still that wonderfully charming little flower shop filled from floor to ceiling with flowers, old mirrors, terracotta pots, and so much personality.

If you are ever in Paris, please stop in and see this special little place for yourself. And be sure to tell Adrienne that Kim sent you!

From Paris, with love...