If you’re a fan of French film (and anyone with taste generally is), you’ll know there are a few defining factors that play into creating its magical feel. A beautiful setting, an air of romance, and an array of dreamy sensory delights all come together to create a powerful perception that every moment, no matter how small, is special.

And though we Australians may be a fair geographical distance from the couture and cafe-filled cobbled streets of Paris, we can still employ our senses to help us close the distance.

Allow us to guide you through a journey to making your mornings feel like a heavenly French movie, with the help of Megha, Diana and Tiana (some of our very chicest BEAUTYcrew members), who shared their wisdom around everything from self-care and soundtracks to the scent they all agree elevates every experience…

Step 1: Set an intention for your morning’s ‘feeling’

Think of this first step as a mental moodboard (or storyboard if you will). Picture the type of movie you want to be living in, define its characteristics, and commit to creating that very feel. For example, setting an intention to make your morning feel ‘dream-like’ will give you a North Star while curating your outfit, tailoring your lighting, and selecting everything from your breakfast to your scent.

Try coming up with a few key words to describe how you want your morning to make you feel, and keeping them in mind at every step. Megha, for example, aims to build a morning with a “classy and expensive” mood. Diana curates an “elevated and empowered” aura. And for Tiana? She curates a morning routine that allows her to feel “feminine and beautiful”.

Step 2: Carve out time for rituals that spark joy

To build a bespoke morning routine that leaves you feeling like you’ve stepped onto the screen, consider which specific steps and rituals most effectively lift your mood, and work them into your plan. Let the morning light in, sip your coffee while scanning inspirational imagery, take the time to meditate before breakfast; whatever makes you feel most elevated and empowered. You’ll also want to ensure you carve out enough time to savour every step; French women always have a relaxed sensibility about them - and there’s nothing romantic about rushing.

The steps that spark the most joy will be different per person, but we do advise taking some cues from Diana, who always makes sure to work some quality time with her beauty routine into her morning ‘plot’. “My favourite way to romanticise my mornings is by really committing to self-care, whether that’s a gua sha or a beautiful face oil, anything that’s just going to make me feel beautiful for the rest of the day”, she explains. Speaking of things that make you feel beautiful, allow us to present our third (and in our opinion, the chicest) step…

Step 3: Create a sensory mood with a signature fragrance

Now, we know you might not technically be able to smell the signature scents of your favourite French movie heroines through the screen, but we assure you they had them, and they were a big part of carving out each endlessly chic character. When it comes to personal style, few things convey as much as fragrance, and so applying yours should be prioritised as one of the most personal and special steps of the day. It’s a step that should be savoured - both because it’s a beautiful ritual, and because it smells so incredibly good.

As for which French-girl fragrance belongs in your routine, Megha, Diana and Tiana all agree (and we at BEAUTYcrew wholeheartedly concur) that a certain scent stands out above the rest: Elie Saab Le Parfum Eau De Parfum, $262 (for 90ml) at Myer. Opening with a beautiful hint of orange blossom (which serves as a sensory ode to light), the fragrance is built around a middle note of jasmine, a delicious white floral that creates true elegance in eau form. Of course, the heart is as beautifully complex as any woman who wears it, with a hint of pure yet modern patchouli also tied in for a touch of spice. Layered beneath that stunning blend lies a base of heady cedarwood (a secret behind the scent’s luxurious longevity), as well as honey rose - the sophisticatedly sweet note you’ll find yourself longing to discover within every fresh spritz.

It’s astounding the power this particular fragrance wields, with its talents proving especially impressive in the endeavour of romanticising a morning routine. “What I love about the scent is that it makes me feel feminine and beautiful,” Tiana explains of her experience with Elie Saab Le Parfum. In fact, it’s a little piece of her sanctuary she can carry with her all day. “Fragrance is [an important] part of romanticising my morning routine, because it’s when I apply a smell that I can smell every day and it reminds me of home,” she explains. “What I love most about the scent is how floral it is - but it’s got an underlying tone of earthiness and woodiness.”

Diana looks forward to the bright moment a whiff of her signature scent might create in someone else’s day: “Fragrance plays a huge part in setting me up for a good day,” she shares. “I love to leave the house smelling fresh and beautiful, knowing that I might walk past someone and they’re going to [pass by and note] ‘she smells good’”. The ultimate compliment, we couldn’t agree more. “Honestly it makes me feel so classy, so premium, so expensive,” Megha tells us. “I feel like I can just put this on at any time of the day and just feel like the biggest boss ever. I love how light it is, and how refreshing.”

Step 4: Enhance an atmosphere with music

Every great movie has a great soundtrack, and sound is another sense that plays a pivotal role in creating a mood. We advise curating a playlist that evokes the precise emotions you’re seeking - you really can’t go wrong with a few French artists, either. As a general rule, if it’s a film-like feel you’re seeking, sweeping strings are your best bet for creating an air of ‘main character’ theatricality. In that vein, Tiana has a (rather genius) secret strategy for creating exactly the right romantic feel for her mornings: “My favourite way to romanticise my morning is to go on a morning walk by the water and listen to the Bridgerton soundtrack”, she laughs. A water view, a string quartet, and a dreamy cloud of Elie Saab Le Parfum drifting through the air as you stroll? That sounds like a stellar movie scene to us.

Step 5: Commit to looking the part

France and fashion are practically synonymous, so great ‘costuming’ as well as elevated hair and makeup will contribute to a main character tone. Taking pride in steps such as your skin prep, makeup application, and hair styling (not to mention your outfit, accessories and of course, the fragrance that ties it all together) will serve as a daily reminder that you deserve a little TLC to help you feel your most polished – and only you can give yourself that gift.

For Megha, it’s part of the magic of her morning: “My favourite way to romanticise my morning routine is by getting up, getting ready, doing my makeup and putting on a good perfume”, she shares. You want your space (AKA ‘set’) to look the part too, and for the record, a luxury fragrance atop your vanity will ensure it does. Luckily, the Elie Saab Le Parfum’s bottle is as exquisite as the scent inside. “I love that it’s very classy, very structured and it looks so aesthetic - it’s just stunning,” says Megha.

Step 6: Face your day feeling empowered (and smelling heavenly)

You’ve done the prep work, now it’s time to enjoy the magic of the movie-like feeling you’ve created. You’ll be elated at how elevated your mornings become, and how empowered you leave home feeling each time. And if you spritz a little of the Elie Saab Le Parfum on before departing, you’ll be able to carry the French film feel around with you all day. After all, scent is truly the ideal sensory treat to start your day off right.

“This scent contributes so much to how I feel when I start my day”, Megha confirms, with Tiana echoing her feelings: “Elie Saab Le Parfum makes me feel empowered to go about my day because it brings me a sense of comfort, makes me feel feminine and starts my day off right”, she says. “This fragrance makes me feel really empowered and feminine and I love that it’s such a subtle scent but it’s really fresh,” Diana adds. “It makes me feel elevated, like a little French girl. I feel like I can leave the house wearing this, just knowing that I smell really good and that other people are going to notice.”

Photography: Phillip Castleton

Hair & Makeup: Susan Lilian

Models: Megha Mehta, Diana Hills, Tiana Meehan

Wardrobe: Megha & Tiana wear Marta Design by Sara Marta, Diana wears Galia Lahav From Eternal Bridal