I have a friend who is the ultimate hostess gift giver. When she comes to a dinner or party I always look forward to her creativity, as her gift is always something I can use, would not buy for myself, and is unique and special. But this is not the norm. Most often it’s a bottle of wine. Wine is great, and people love receiving it, especially if there is a ‘story’ to it, such as you having visited the winery or having enjoyed it with your hosts at a previous dinner. But sometimes it’s fun to do something other than wine. There is the oft-given nice candle option, which is lovely as it is something most of us don’t purchase for ourselves but enjoy when we have them. But there are also things more ‘outside the box’.
Here are our Fab5 picks for interesting hostess gifts in a variety of price ranges.
Joanne
- Aesop Hand Soap. This pretty bottle of hand soap is a treat! It has finely milled pumice in it that gently cleanses, exfoliates, and leaves hands smooth, purified and refreshed. It smells divine, with Vetiver Root, Petitgrain, & Bergamot Rind.
- Fancy Chocolate. Chocolate rarely gets shoved in a drawer with other gifts. A little box of something sweet from a good local chocolatier is always welcomed and frequently shared. Even a few good gourmet chocolate bars wrapped in ribbon can work. If you want to stock up for the holidays, buy online from Frans, Sees, or Louis Sherry.
- Home Fragrance Scented Sticks. These apothecary-inspired bottles are filled with a unique fragrance that permeates the air via reeds that are inserted in the bottle. Flip the reeds when you want a stronger scent.
- Cocktail Napkins. Either a packet of paper napkins with funny sayings or a set/4 linen napkins are a welcome addition to any house. Every host loves to have a drawer full of napkins in stock for every occasion.
- Table Topics. These card sets can be left behind for the host to enjoy or can be used the same night to start provocative conversations and get people talking. You can choose the topic depending on the occasion – Family, Date Night, Teen, Couples – and get the party started.
Chrissie
- Personalized gift tags. These are especially good for holiday party gifts as they can be used within weeks of receiving them. They do involve some pre-planning however, so if you are invited a few weeks ahead of time remember to place an order.
- Olive Oil and/or Vinegar. A nice bottle of olive oil can be used by everyone and again is something that people don’t often buy for themselves, but appreciate having.
- Glassybaby Candle Holder. These beautiful handmade glass vessels come in a rainbow of colors. A single one is beautiful or people can keep adding to their collection over time.
- Either this Body Oil or this Body Oil! A little bottle of body oil is something fun to introduce people to – especially one that smells as good as either of these! Use it instead of lotion after a shower while still damp.
- Nice candle with a match striker. OK I know I said candles are common gifts, but they are also nice to receive. So please make it a really nice candle and not last year’s pumpkin spice version from a discount store’s sale rack that’s been sitting in your ‘present re-gift’ closet for the past year. I love Brooklyn Candle Studio candles, as well as Apothia (IF is a favorite scent), and would far prefer a very small one of these to the aforementioned pumpkin spice jumbo candle. And then why not pair it with a cool match striker that looks good on a table and means the candle is meant to be lit, and not just decorative!
Whether you are looking for a man, woman, graduate or a ‘tricky customer’, check out all our gift lists here!
