Hey there Crew. I’m looking around at the things we can buy for this season of giving. It’s getting well out of hand. My thought here is that spending enormous amounts of money on gifts will not make people love me, or even think of me 10 minutes after the gift is unwrapped. Now, I’m not saying this is a universal problem. Not EVERYONE forgets the gifter. I try my best to remember who gave what, and how grateful I am for their thoughtfulness. Also, a really well thought out gift that fits the person exactly and will be treasured for the life of the gift can have a large price tag. A new mattress, wallpaper for their room, a super special watch or phone, a designer handbag, a boat or a small island in the Mediterranean. Sure, these things are special and meaningful. So this year, my Gifts 2025 list, will all be under US$50. Let’s see how it goes.
Gifts 2025
Foodstuffs
Can we talk Fortnum & Mason please? Who doesn’t love some true English Biscuits, Teas and Tea Towels? They have stockists in NYC (Williams Sonoma), Canada (Holt Renfrew) and Mexico (El Palacio de Hierro), even Australia has them in David Jones. I know some of these go right up to the Gifts 2025 US$50 mark but… Fortnum and Mason has long been one of my London pilgrimages. Every visit I try to get a friend or two in and have the High Tea experience. Having their products in my home gives enormous please every time they get used.
Fortnum & Mason Musical Piccadilly Selection Tin $46.95. This is the seriously good stuff. If you want to give someone something so cool, with a musical keepsake tin to put all their samples and decants in! Come On! Look at that selection. Lemon Curd, Stem Ginger, Chocolate Pearl and 17 biscuits of each flavour. PLUS it plays some of Handels Water Music. Bottom left corner of the pic.
Fortnum & Mason Classic World Tea Bags, Set of 60 $49.95: How gorgeous for the dilettante tea lover who happily uses a teabag (me). Assam, Lapsang Souchong, Russian Caravan, Darjeeling and Ceylon Orange Pekoe.
Fragrant
American Perfumer Gift Cards: Did you know American Perfumer does Gift Cards from US$25? Give them the gift of choice. I love a Gift card because it has immediate happy surprise value, then you get to do the choosing, waiting for it to arrive, the joy of opening and then the wearing. I know people are a bit funny about them but in my mind Gift Cards rock.
Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien Shower Oil 8.5oz: Now, this glorious shower oil normally retails at US$65 but on FragranceNet I’ve noted it at under US$25! This feels like a FancyAF gift but extremely affordable and Eau d’Hadrien is excellent for everyone. Not such a bad gift for yourself too.
Atelier Cologne Variety 8 x .14oz minis US$48.50: This is a very nicely presented discovery set for the budding perfumista. Another FragranceNet value gift. Love Osmanthus, Pomelo Paradis, Bohemian Orange Blossom, Orange Sanguine, Oolang Infini, Lemon Island, Clementine California, Cedre Atlas in spray 4ml size.
So there are a few interesting ideas for your Gifts 2025 lists.
Do you have some suggestions?
Portia xx