The shop reflects Ann’s appreciation for diversity and her aesthetic sensibilities. She loves the scent and voluptuous beauty of peonies, and she enjoys gardening. Many of the soaps and specialties at Vines and Stuff come from France. Ann went to school at the Sorbonne in Paris, and majored in art history and French at Boston University. She particularly enjoyed the South of France. She had taken years of French, and speaking the language fluently helped her make connections to the local people.

“Even in France, I preferred the countryside,” she said. “The people went out of their way to be welcoming.”