As someone who takes gift-giving very seriously, the holiday season is a wonderful combination of stress and excitement. I feel the need to telepathically give a detailed comprehensive list of everything I want to my family (it’s all about being subtle) while also figuring out what I should get for my loved ones. One concept has never failed me: gift the best version of a “boring ” practical gift.
Oftentimes, I find that the gifts I don’t use are low-quality versions of what are typically more expensive products. For example, I tend to avoid gifting jewelry unless I can afford to buy the person a timeless piece that they can wear every day for years; buying them a necklace that will tarnish in two months isn’t a good way to spend my money or show them how much I appreciate them. Instead, I pick items that everyone on my gift list uses daily. This significantly reduces the amount of brain power needed; you won’t have to think about what a mid-twenties man who lives in a tiny overpriced apartment wants compared to a middle-aged woman who collects tea cups.
For some inspiration:
- For The Spice Lovers: Momofuku Chili Crunch ($13)
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If we were assigning spicy condiments to a generation, Truff Hot Sauce and Mike’s Hot Honey are now millennials (and not the tolerable ones). Momofuku’s Chili Crunch is the newest condiment anyone needs: it features three (!) types of Mexican chilis, garlic and shallots and can top off eggs, toast, noodles and anything your heart desires. It comes in five flavors: Original, Black Truffle, Extra Spicy, Ghost Pepper and Hot Honey so you’ve got options.
For bonus points: If the person you’re gifting is a fan of seafood and snacking, pair the gift with the Craize corn chips and smoked mussels so they can try the newest snack combo the girls are raving about!
- For the public health’s sake: Diptyque hand soap ($65)
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I’m hesitant to say that I hate washing my hands because I don’t want you to think I have hygiene practices similar to a new frat pledge. I PROMISE I don’t. But this is the one soap that literally changes the whole experience. And since everyone should be washing their hands multiple times a day, this is guaranteed to be a well-used gift. The scent (a mixture of lavender, rosemary and a sexy man) will linger on your hands for hours; although I would never spend this much for my own hand soap, it’s been one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received.
For bonus points:
If you’re feeling a little experimental (always supporting my women in STEM) or suspicious about someone’s lack of hand washing, you can check to see how much soap they’ve actually used every time you visit them!
If you’re feeling sentimental and you know the person you’re gifting loves perfume, this is a thoughtful way to incorporate their interest into a practical gift without making it as risky or personal as perfume.
- For the clean freaks: The Laundress Signature Detergent ($24)
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Laundry is probably my least favorite chore of all time, ESPECIALLY in the dorms. The horrid ratio of 100 people to 1 washer makes laundry day feel like entering a war zone. The only thing that could make laundry a tiny bit better is having your laundry smell like actual heaven with this detergent.
Some may think that this gift is the absolute worst kind of gift because it’s connected to a chore or screams middle-aged SAHM vibes, but honestly I would argue all college girls need this. Once, I opened a washer and it reeked of sauerkraut (?) and I still put my clothes in because I really didn’t want to wait an hour for the other washer. My clothes smelled of sauerkraut afterward (not surprising). This detergent will prevent you from smelling of dorm washer mildew and the juices from a soggy sock left over from the previous wash (yummy)!
For bonus points: Don’t let whoever you’re gifting check out the Laundress’s recent Instagram posts. They’re having a safety issue with “the potential presence of elevated levels of bacteria” in some of their products but I’m sure they’ll get it sorted out before Christmas time! Just keep that information to yourself, ignorance is bliss!
- For the social butterflies: Tsubota Pearl Lighter-Hard Edge Marble ($45)
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When I asked my friend how she managed to make so many friends in the span of a couple months, she just fished out a BIC lighter from her pockets and said that everyone loves anyone with a lighter. Her tip: take a lighter to any social gathering and start making conversation. There’s always someone looking for a lighter. While I’m way too introverted to do this and also am scared of lighters, maybe you’re cool enough to pull this off so I’ll leave you to it.
For bonus points: If this lighter seems too big, Tsubota Pearl also carries stick lighters that are as skinny as a mechanical pencil. They come in cute pastel colors so they know their audience.
- For the homebody: Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow ($65)
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The only support I need this holiday season is neck support. After a long day, what else is there to do but dramatically crawl into your bed and relive every embarrassing moment. And when you do so, you and your loved ones deserve to have maximum neck and head support so you don’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed the next day.
For bonus points: This pillow is hypoallergenic, made of recycled plastic bottles and has no bird feathers so you can minimize the risk of poorly gifting to an allergy sufferer, an environmentalist or an anti-down activist. If you’re choosing the alternative because it’s cheaper than down, you can easily reason that you picked the alternative because you know that it doesn’t involve animal cruelty and is more eco-friendly.
So, here are my top-picks of the season. These ideas should help you find gifts for most people you know, but you can also apply the “best boring” mindset to a wide range of alternative items. Happy shopping!