Le Sens des Choses: handmade gifts to slow down.

A hand cast candle, a Jesmonite tray, a set to follow the Moon. In Charente-Maritime, near the sea, Laura creates objects that invite to slow down.

By Steven Dieu, founder of Listopia · Updated on October 25, 2026

Discover Le Sens des Choses View her gift sets

Handmade in Charente-Maritime A donation with every order

An open cardboard gift box containing a marbled Jesmonite tray, a pink pillar candle, soaps, herbal tea and a small kraft notebook

The Rituels de Lune gift set, ready to give. © Le Sens des Choses

Boxes ready to offer, assembled at the workshop.

Candles, soaps, Jesmonite pieces and seasonal rituals: Laura assembles her gift sets by hand, ready to place under the Christmas tree.

A ‘Bouquet de fleurs’ plant-wax candle in a cork-topped glass jar, beside a blue-and-orange marbled soap and its cardboard box — Candle and soap
A moment for yourself

A 140 g plant-wax candle and a handmade cold-process soap, in your choice of scent.

Two small candles labelled ‘Éclat d’agrumes’ and ‘Fleur de coton’ in cork-topped glass jars, on and in front of a kraft box bearing the shop's name — Duo
The duo of small candles

Two 60 g candles, two scents of choice, in a kraft box ready to offer.

Two powder-pink Jesmonite trays, one crescent-shaped and one round, on a white tablecloth beside a pine cone — Moon ritual
The Rituals of the Moon box

A floral candle, Jesmonite tray, crystals, a notebook and a herbal infusion for each phase of the Moon.

A zero-waste bathroom kit: soap on a heart-shaped wooden soap holder, konjac sponge, loofah sponge, bamboo toothbrush and cotton pouch — Zero waste
The bathroom kit

A soap and its natural accessories, combined for a zero-waste bathroom.

A plant-based wax candle poured into an antique floral porcelain cup, sprinkled with dried lavender buds — Single piece
A candle in a cup found at a flea market

Each cup comes from a flea market. Once the candle has burned down, it becomes a trinket dish, jewellery holder or plant pot.

Small candles in glass jars topped with floral and polka-dot fabrics, tied with a cord — Upcycled
The little upcycled candle

A glass jar topped with reclaimed fabric and tied with jute twine.

The logo of the shop. © Le Sens des Choses

Laura’s workshop

A shop born from a need for quiet.

In a time when everything was moving too fast, Laura wanted to stop, observe the seasons and find the pleasure of creating with her hands.

"Nature m, inspires and m, learns the patience, fragility and beauty of what is ephemeral."

Laura, Le Sens des Choses

She lives near the sea in Charente-Maritime and runs her workshop on her own. There she pours plant-wax candles and shapes Jesmonite pieces, following the rhythm of the light and seasons.

Her creations accompany small rituals: lighting a candle at dusk, enjoying a herbal infusion or taking a quiet moment.

Around them, the shop brings together soaps, herbal teas and dried flowers chosen from artisans and small structures, mostly in France or Europe.

Over the seasons and the moon Working alone in her workshop

Plant-based wax candles, poured by hand.

Laura hand-pours her scented candles in small batches in her workshop, using soy wax.

Soya wax

100 % plant-based and of European origin, with no GMOs or paraffin.
Organic cotton wick

ECOCERT and OEKO-TEX® certified.
Fragrances of Grasse

Floral, fruity, woody or sweet scents, without CMR substances or phthalates.
A jar to keep

The glass jar or flea-market cup gets a second life.

For Christmas, the Pain d’épices et Chaï candle deserves a place under the tree. To make it last, Laura recommends burning it for no more than two hours at a time and trimming the wick to 1 cm.

A plant-based wax candle called ‘Pain d’épices’ in a glass jar with a cork stopper, on a wooden table in the sunshine — The Pain d’épices et Chaï candle in a glass jar. © Le Sens des Choses

A Jesmonite tray shaped like a ginkgo leaf, marbled in white and terracotta, on an old open book

Handmade

Jesmonite, a mineral material.

Trays, trinket dishes and bowls: every piece is coloured, cast and varnished by hand.

Made from gypsum powder and a solvent-free acrylic base, Jesmonite gives off no VOCs. Laura presents it as an alternative to resin and plastic. She makes her pieces in small batches or to order to avoid overproduction.

Her creations in Jesmonite

Aleppo soaps in linen pouches, on a light-coloured table beside an olive branch

Solidarity gesture

A donation with every order.

At checkout, choose one of the four supported charities or let Laura choose. She covers the donation herself.

LPO, protection of birds
Fondation Assistance aux Animaux
Planète Urgence
Secours populaire français

Le Sens des Choses donates 1 € per order. Donations are pooled and paid out at the end of each month.

See how she supports charities

A plant-based wax candle in a glass jar and a yellow-and-green soap in front of their kraft cardboard box, in a garden

Packaging

Parcels without unnecessary packaging.

Reused cardboard boxes and padding, minimal packaging: your parcels may not always look the same.

Laura writes her thank-you notes on postcards found at a car boot sale near her home. Orders of 40 € or more also include a small extra gift.

Read about her approach

Order calmly before Christmas.

Each order is prepared by hand: the shop announces 3 to 4 days of preparation before the shipment.

Step 1

Choose

Scent, soap, moon phase: the gift sets are put together to suit the recipient's tastes.
Step 2

Add a message

Your message goes into the order note. Without a message, a blank kraft card accompanies the box.
Step 3

Receive

Delivery to a collection point, free in mainland France on orders of 69 € or more.

Gift card

Let them choose

Unsure of their tastes? The digital gift card lets them choose.

Offer a gift card

Before you order.

Presentation written by Steven Dieu, founder of Listopia, based on information published by Le Sens des Choses, consulted on October 22, 2026. The photos are provided by Le Sens des Choses.

Write to Laura

What are Le Sens des Choses candles made from?

They are made with 100 % plant-based soy wax of European origin, an organic cotton wick certified by ECOCERT and OEKO-TEX, and fragrances developed in Grasse, without CMR substances or phthalates. Laura pours them by hand in Charente-Maritime.

What is Jesmonite?

A mineral material made from gypsum powder and a solvent-free acrylic base, which gives off no VOCs. Laura colours, casts and varnishes it by hand to make trays, trinket dishes and bowls.

How does the donation with each order work?

At checkout, choose one of the four listed charities or let the shop choose. Le Sens des Choses donates 1 € per order at its own expense and pays out the donations at the end of each month.

How long in advance to order for Christmas?

The shop quotes 3 to 4 days to prepare an order, followed by delivery to a collection point. In December, allow extra time and check the delivery estimate shown by the shop when you order.

How can we avoid the double presents at Christmas?

Create a gift list on Listopia for free, without registering, then send the link to your loved ones. Everyone reserves their chosen idea so the others can see it is already taken.