It’s Sunday today, and I’m writing to you from my home in Bordeaux. Can you believe it’s already mid-November? Time seems to fly so quickly! I have so much to share with you since my last letter.

First, let me say thank you! Last month, I asked if anyone had a favorite pumpkin pie recipe they love to make this time of year. Many of you generously shared your beloved recipes, and thanks to you, I baked (and enjoyed) my very first true pumpkin pie! Following one of your recommendations, I used this specific recipe for the filling and my own pâte sablée (shortcrust pastry) from my lemon tart recipe for the crust. The pie turned out delicious, although a touch too sweet for my taste—I forgot to adjust the sugar in the pâte sablée, which is typically paired with a tangy lemon filling. So, if you try this combination, I suggest reducing the sugar significantly in the crust. Next time, I plan to test this other pumpkin pie recipe, which was kindly recommended by one of you.

A few weeks ago, my partner surprised me with a perfume-making workshop at the Studio Olfactif in Bordeaux. It was such a wonderful experience! If you’re ever in Bordeaux and love perfumes, I highly recommend it. We learned so much about the history of perfume. For instance, did you know that Napoleon I used an entire bottle of eau de Cologne every day—and was said to drink a few drops before each battle? Even during his exile in Saint Helena, he remained so devoted to this fragrance that his servant recreated it using local ingredients. (If you’re curious, you can still find this historic scent today.)

After hearing fascinating anecdotes like these, we delved into the art of perfumery. Guided by our workshop host, we sampled numerous fragrance notes and eventually crafted our own unique perfumes. For mine, I chose to create a fresh, floral, and comforting scent centered around violet—a flower I’ve become slightly obsessed with lately. Its nostalgic, slightly old-fashioned aroma reminds me of our grandmothers’ perfumes. I aimed for a fragrance that begins fresh, becomes powdery and floral, then transitions into woody, gourmand, and musky undertones. Here are the notes I used:

Top Notes: Fig, Green Tea, Fern.

Heart Notes: Violet, Oriental Rose, Powder Accord, Heliotrope, Iris, Tuberose.

Base Notes: Fir Balsam, Precious Woods, Chypre, White Musk, Amber Woods, Vanilla.

I named this perfume “Fleurs de l’Aube,” which translates to “Flowers of the Dawn” in English. I felt it perfectly captured the fresh, floral, and comforting essence I was aiming for. It won’t be a legendary perfume, I assure you ;)! But the experience itself is such a joy—it’s a fun, creative activity to share with friends or family. Plus, you’ll discover new scents you may have never encountered before.

If you’re also fond of violet, I did some research and found several perfumes worth exploring. Among them are three iconic Guerlain fragrances: Insolence, Après l’Ondée, and L’Heure Bleue. From Hermès, try Violette Volynka, and from Chanel, I adore Misia, a wonderfully powdery violet. Goutal also offers a lighter, aquatic take on violet with La Violette Eau de Toilette. Happy discovering!

On another note, my Christmas tree is up and decorated, and it is bringing so much cheer to our home—much to the delight of my cat, who loves napping under it! On my blog, I’ve shared a selection of my favorite Christmas decorations this year. Many of you have also asked for easy French Christmas recipes, so I’ve compiled some of my favorites (including one from my grandmother) into a blog post. I hope they bring a touch of holiday magic to your home.

Lastly, in my previous letter, I mentioned a potential pre-holiday trip to Paris. Unfortunately, my partner and I decided to postpone it until 2025, as we both have so much to wrap up before the end of the year. However, I’m excited to share that I’ve booked my flight to Geneva, and I’ll be spending the holidays with family in the French Alps. I’m crossing my fingers for cold weather and snow! My next letter will likely come to you from the French Alps instead of Bordeaux.

Until then, I wish you a wonderful November and December filled with holiday magic. À la prochaine! Speak soon!

P.S. What do you think of the beautiful painting accompanying this letter? It’s an 1885 piece by Dutch artist W.C. Bauer, depicting a peaceful snow-covered rural scene with a couple in a horse-drawn sled and a church in the background. Some images, like this one, capture the imagination so vividly that you wish you could step right into them to escape reality. That’s exactly how I feel when I see this serene, dreamy work. Don’t you agree?