This month, The French Edit brings you an inside look at Strasbourg, France’s capital of Christmas, and how you can bring the warmth of a Strasbourg Christmas into your home. Discover French Christmas traditions, Panier des Sens fragrances, and French Christmas home décor ideas that create a magical Noël in Australia, French style — full of scent, softness, and festive joy.
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Welcome to Strasbourg: The Heart of French Christmas
As November settles in, France begins to glow with the magic of Noël and nowhere does it quite like Strasbourg. Known as the capital of Christmas, Strasbourg transforms into a winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights, the scent of mulled wine, and the charm of the Alsace Christmas market experience.
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Here, every cobblestone street and half-timbered house radiates the French art de vivre — the joy of slowing down, gathering loved ones, and celebrating beauty in simple rituals.
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This season, French Beauty Co invites you to recreate a French Christmas atmosphere right here in Australia. Through cosy rituals, elegant French Christmas home décor ideas, and lovely scents, you can bring the warmth of Noël in Australia, French style, into your home.
Interesting Facts About the Strasbourg Christmas Market & Panier des Sens
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Strasbourg Christmas market
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Few experiences capture the magic of a French Christmas quite like Strasbourg’s Christmas market. Known in the Alsatian dialect as Christkindelsmärik, this centuries-old market has filled the Grande Île with the scent of mulled wine, the glow of handmade ornaments, and the warmth of gingerbread shaped like Saint Nicholas since it was founded in 1570.
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The famous Christmas tree on Place Kléber, standing tall as a symbol of warmth and tradition, is a pine tree chosen personally by the French Forestry Office from one of Alsace’s forests.
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Panier des Sens
Much like the artisanal treats found in Strasbourg’s Christmas Market, the creations by Panier des Sens are crafted with care using essential oils, botanical extracts, and time-honoured methods that reflect the savoir-faire of French beauty.
How to Create a French Christmas at Home
1. Set a rustic French table:
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A French Christmas table is where generosity and elegance meet. Picture a linen tablecloth, soft candlelight, rustic dishware, gold cutlery, champagne and a cheese board featuring Comté, Raclette, and crusty baguette. Don’t forget to add a natural touch with a few sprigs of pine to set the perfect festive mood.
2. Light a Panier des Sens festive candle:
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Elevate your space with Panier des Sens candles — each scent evokes the charm of Provence and the magic of Strasbourg’s Christmas Market. The aromas of warm vanilla, marshmallow, orange blossom, and smoky wood — echo through the comforting scents of Panier des Sens Christmas candle range, bringing the festive charm of Alsace to your home
3. Play a Charles Aznavour or Édith Piaf holiday playlist.
Set the mood by playing a holiday playlist featuring Charles Aznavour and Édith Piaf — their soulful melodies and nostalgic lyrics instantly transport you to France this winter. Let their music fill your home with romance, joy, and that unmistakable French joie de vivre.
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4. Nourish your body to prepare for the festive season
A true French festive ritual begins with self-care. In France, beauty is not just about how you look, but how you feel — calm, radiant, and connected to the moment.
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Panier des sens - Almond Body Cream Ultra Moisture
Nourish & Glow: After long evenings or cool summer nights, indulge in Panier des Sens Shower oil and Body cream. The Almond collection offers douceur (softness) and éclat (radiance), creating your own French spa moment at home.
5. Gift beautiful and thoughtful gifts
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Choose beautifully packaged French beauty Christmas gift sets from Nuxe, Panier des Sens, or Juliette Has a Gun - for a meaningful present that’s both aesthetic and practical.
French Christmas Traditions for the Family
1. Write to Père Noël
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In France, the anticipation of Noël is as joyful as the celebration itself. Children write letters to Père Noël, open Advent calendars, and on 6 December, celebrate Saint Nicholas Day — a cherished Alsatian tradition.
2. Surprise Little Treats
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That morning, little ones find chocolates, nuts, and oranges in their shoes by the fireplace — a simple act that fills homes with joy and wonder.
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Panier des Sens - Hand care gift set
Bring this French festive ritual to your home by creating a mini St. Nicholas morning. Tuck gorgeously-scented small soaps, lip balms, or hand creams from Panier des Sens into slippers or stockings for a sweet and fragrant surprise.
Traditional Alsatian Recipe: Kugelhopf
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No Strasbourg Christmas is complete without Kugelhopf — the traditional Alsatian brioche crowned with almonds and dusted with sugar. This sweet, yeasted cake is as beautiful as it is delicious and makes the perfect centrepiece for your French Christmas table.
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Its delicate aroma of butter, raisins, and orange zest captures the comfort of French festive rituals and pairs perfectly with a cup of Monista French Earl Grey Tea, or enjoy it with mulled wine under the candlelight.
The buttery, citrusy aroma will fill your kitchen with the same cosy notes that inspire Panier des Sens’ comforting French Christmas candle scents.
Kugelhopf (Alsatian Christmas Brioche Cake)
Serves: 6–8 | Prep time: 30 min (+2 hrs rising) | Bake time: 40 min
Ingredients:
- 500 g plain flour
- 150 g unsalted butter, softened
- 100 g sugar
- 20 g fresh yeast (or 7 g instant yeast)
- 200 ml warm milk
- 3 eggs
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½ tsp salt
- Zest of 1 orange
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100 g raisins (soaked in rum or warm water)
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50 g whole blanched almonds
- Icing sugar, for dusting
Method:
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Dissolve yeast in warm milk with a teaspoon of sugar; let stand for 10 minutes until frothy.
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In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, salt, and orange zest. Add eggs and the yeast mixture, kneading until smooth.
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Gradually add butter and knead for 10–15 minutes until soft and elastic.
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Fold in the soaked raisins, cover, and let rise for 1–2 hours until doubled in size.
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Grease a Kugelhopf (bundt) mould and place an almond in each groove. Transfer the dough and let rise again for 30 minutes.
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Bake at 180°C for 35–40 minutes until golden. Cool slightly and dust with icing sugar before serving.
Celebrating Noël in Australia, French style is about embracing the art de vivre, those small, beautiful details that turn an ordinary evening into a special memory, and transport you to Strasbourg’s twinkling streets. This festive season, let French Beauty Co bring Strasbourg’s magic to you, through scent, care, and the simple pleasures of French living. Discover the beauty of French Noël, wherever you are.