In France, we don't have Thanksgiving. So when we celebrate it here, we're creating our own version without the weight of tradition telling us what it should be. A beach picnic on Thanksgiving probably seems unconventional to Americans. But for us, it captures what we understand the holiday to be about: gratitude, gathering, being in a beautiful place with people we care about.

As November settles in, we’re thinking about the table—the soft light, the quiet layers, the little rituals that make everyone feel welcome. This month’s Elsie’s Eight is the anatomy of a Thanksgiving table: the simple pieces that do the heavy lifting without fuss—linen you want to touch, brass that catches the candlelight, a vessel that makes a handful of stems feel special, vintage flatware with a story.

| photography by andie furber |

To welcome the season, I’ve gathered my favorite autumn fragrances for home, body, and beyond.