31 Perfect Gifts For People Who Hate Everything And Have Intimidating Standards
by The Candidly Team
We all have people in our lives who are impossible (read: nightmarish) to buy for - their taste is just too exacting to possibly predict what they’ll like.
But … we are those exacting, impossible nightmarish people ourselves.
And this is our personal wish list.
Yes, some things are a tad pricey. But not everything is expensive - great taste doesn’t always mean spendy. And one of our favorite things on the list is under $20. We’ll see if you can guess which one it is.
There’s also some very weird, very big swings on this list, and we highly encourage you to take those swings. Buying people presents isn’t some serious thing. And the whole point of it is to get our loved ones wonderfully unique things that they’d never buy for themselves.
Giving gifts should be fun, not scary. Though the first thing on the list will potentially frighten some people. But if it does, you’re reading the wrong gift guide.
Let’s gift.
Seletti Wonder Lamp
Welp. We’re starting with the greatest, weirdest lamp (sculpture?) we’ve ever seen. One of us behind the scenes recently gifted this to another one of us behind the scenes, and it’s the best present we’ve ever gotten. If you don’t know anyone who would love this, get better friends.
Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle
Tomato scents > other scents.
Cozy Earth Cuddle Blanket
Only buy this for someone if you want them to never shut up about it. It’s essentially a weighted blanket that’s the most plush, soft, cozy thing your skin will ever touch. We own this, and it’s the perfect present to give to couples in the family so you don’t have to give two presents, but it has enough of a wow factor that you’ll still be the hero.
Use the code CANDIDLY to get 35% off.
Artconal White Balloon Dog Statue
The person who would love the first thing on the list will also love this. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful, it’s weird, it’s perfect.
Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Cropped Cardigan Sweater
We have yet to meet a person of taste who doesn’t love cashmere. But instead of the insanely priced cashmere sweater we know you know, we go for this one. And actually, this is the newest cropped version so it’s still oversized but more wearable outside the home. And the softness is unmatched. And the price, for cashmere, is unbeatable.
Jones Road The City Lights Kit
Beauty products can feel impossible, even if you have a beauty hound in your life, because you don’t know where to start. This is where to start. Everything in this kit is wearable and beautiful. This is Bobbi Brown’s new it brand, and it’s beloved for a reason. Everything is good.
Le Labo Hand Care Set
Only buy this hand wash and lotion if you want the recipient to become an insufferable snob about hand soaps forever. Because once you dip a toe in this fragrance, there’s no going back.
Jenny Bird Monogram Necklace
A monogram is specific, which implies forethought, which makes the receiver feel so deeply considered and loved. And this slightly puffy letter feels like a fun twist on something we’ve all seen before.
Child Perfume Roll On
We know buying someone a fragrance is an enormous and risky swing, but that’s why we chose this scent - there is no one on this earth who doesn’t instantly love it. It’s subtle yet utterly distinct - a soft dry down of jasmine and orange blossom mixed with a tiny hint of tuberose - it’s the ultimate skin scent for classic girls who love clean, unique fragrances. Aka, all of us? If you need more convincing we wrote a huge thing about it HERE.
Hill House The Quilted Cosmetic Bag
A feminine, pretty makeup bag from arguably the most viral fashion brand in existence is a sure thing. Add a monogram to it and you’ve just guaranteed that your present is their favorite present this year.
Nécessaire The Body Wash Collection
We are sick with obsession over this body wash - the tender sud, the intoxicating scents, the variety of skin concerns that each one addresses - there is no better body wash that we’ve tried. And who doesn’t love a little set of darling minis to try them all? The answer is no one.
Schoolhouse x Clare V.® Georges Shag Wool Pillow
Our favorite bag brand had a baby with our favorite home brand!? We’re verklempt. We’re not ashamed to say we preordered this pillow the minute it arrived on the scene, and as self-proclaimed home decor fiends, we can all but guarantee that if you have a fellow home decor-lover in your life, they will be thrilled to be the recipient of this exclusive collaboration. It’s fun to own limited edition stuff.
Cozy Earth The Plush Lounge Sock
Socks are not a sexy gift, but … what about when they’re the softest, coziest socks we’ve ever worn? These have made the cut on every, single one of our gift guides since we launched our site in 2019. Why? Because they’re just the best. Perfect as a stocking stuffer or tied onto a larger present. With the insane discount we got from the brand, you can afford to splurge on a set for the whole fam.
Use the code CANDIDLY to get 35% off.
Furtuna Skin Lip Renewal Duo
A luxurious scrub and balm set isn’t something we will always buy for ourselves, but when we get it as a gift, we use it constantly. Everyone’s lips become dry, cracked husks in the winter, and this brand is making the most luxurious, hydrating olive oil-based lip products we’ve ever tried. Truly. Look at THIS glowing review we wrote. We would be THRILLED to receive this. So would your mom. And sister. And best friend. Oh and here’s a generous code from the brand because we asked, and they said yes.
Use the code CANDIDLY20 to get 20% off.
David Hockney: Six Fairy Tales from Brothers Grimm
If you have any art-loving friends, this is the correct gift. A brilliant, dark collection of Grimm’s fairy tales with original illustrations by the genius David Hockney. If you want to really splurge, you can also purchase one of the original illustration etchings to go along with. But you’d have to reeeeeally love the person.
Hill House The Hotel Robe
This is our favorite post-shower robe we’ve ever worn. We originally discovered it because we actually received it as a gift, and since then, we’ve gifted it to everyone we know. So cozy, so soft, and the micro-cotton terry is perfect for immediate water absorption - you know those cozy robes that feel good when dry but actually make you feel wetter post shower?! This robe is not that. Plus, it comes in a KID size so you can have a full family matching situation with all the littles in your life.
Dedcool Dedtergent Xtra Milk
Your cool friends will die to get this. It’s a nontoxic, all-natural detergent that smells like creamy, warm, shimmering milk. We use it on our towels and bedding, and all our guests ooh and ahh. It’s sort of a life hack to just have a better house than anyone else. Tell no one.
Mejuri Pavé Diamond Huggie Hoops
Opening a glittering pair of diamond earrings is one of those experiences you can’t quite define until it happens to you. But who among us has thousands to spend on such an experience? But these gorgeous diamond huggies create all of the diamond-squealing joy, with a price that feels like it must be a mistake. We own this exact pair and can attest they are gorgeous and high end, and they become those everyday earrings we all want to find but nothing is ever quite right. Your mom would look ravishing in a pair, tbh.
Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Bean Paste
From $278 to $19 – we are nothing if not high/low! If you have kitcheny, cheffish people in your life, this vanilla paste will change their entire cooking game. We use it instead of vanilla and it maximizes the flavor of truly anything you’re cooking or baking. Whipped cream!?! The best you’ve ever had. Our current obsession, though, is whipping some maple syrup, yogurt, and this vanilla paste together and pouring on top of roasted pears. Beyond life.
Furtuna Skin Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil
The same brand that makes our favorite lip balm above also makes the most beautiful, line-smoothing face oil we’ve ever tried. Press it on the face and chest for an overnight change in your skin, and use daily for visible softening of wrinkles and vertical chest lines. And yes, their very generous code applies here, too.
Use the code CANDIDLY20 to get 20% off.
Emile Henry Large Storage Bowl
All good home cooks have this bowl sitting in their cart on some website on any given day. And you could be the one to make their storage bowl dreams come true! It’s made with cork so it repels fruit flies, it has a deep, wide belly to store potatoes and onions, and it’s the prettiest thing that could possibly sit on one’s counter.
Emile Henry Salt Pig And Maldon Sea Salt
The same company that makes that bowl above makes this darling, perfect, precious salt pig. Paired with THIS, this makes one of the more affordable but high impact gifts on this entire list. This is the gift WE want. If you’re asking.
True Botanicals Body Glow Duo
This is one of those sets you could give to your best friend or your boss you hate - it just works for anyone. The smell, heavenly. The glow, ethereal. A mere bonus that every ingredient is pure and perfect. Oh, look. They gave us a code!
Use CANDIDLY18 to get 18% off.
Ninja CREAMi, Ice Cream Maker
This machine has, without question, changed our lives. It allows you to make literal soft serve using only low fat milk or any protein shake. Mix in frozen mango or butterfinger chunks or coconut chips or anything your brain can muster, and you have homemade, healthy ice cream that you can eat every, single night. We don’t know how they do it, and we don’t care.
The Outset Botanical Barrier Rescue Balm
Our favorite stocking stuffer on the list. This lovely, botanical-rich balm is perfect for dry cuticles, crusty elbows, wind-whipped cheeks. It goes everywhere with us.
Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand
Red light therapy works. Don’t just trust us. Trust THIS. 5 minutes a night with this little tool and collagen is restored, wrinkles reduced, redness lessened, and pores are tightened. YES.
Fox Run 8 Flat Coil Whisk
We’ve used this shape whisk since we watched Nigella Lawson cook with it over 20 years ago. And now it’s all we use. Your scrambled eggs have never been fluffier.
Negative Babe Supreme Short Sleeve Shirt And Track Pant
This color! We’re breathless. And while this set feels and looks like silk, it’s actually a Korean woven poly, which means … machine washable. It’s a splurge, yes, but it’s worth it.
Victoria Beckham Posh Balm Colour Collection
Victoria Beckham’s beauty line is not just another celebrity grab. It’s actually so, so beautiful. The eye sticks are perfect, the fragrances elite, but for gifting we love this darling tinted lip balm trio. You can’t go wrong.
Reimagine Discovery Melted Disco Ball
Our favorite thing on the list. We know it’s weird. We know it’s not really a thing. But it creates more squeals than any other gift we’ve ever given.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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