Fragrant Things
1. Soft Services Green Banana Buffing Bar
The cleanest I’ve ever felt in my life was after the first time I used this soap. It’s super-exfoliating without being too abrasive — think of it as a palate cleanser before using body wash/other bar soap. The smell can best be described as “fancy boutique beach resort in the Cayman Islands" (rhymes with Falm Feights) and the packaging is gift-ready. They come in a set of two, so you can keep one for yourself.
The most moisturizing lip balm in my overflowing collection of lip balms. This one is not great for layering under a lipstick/gloss, but it Is great for slathering on before bedtime, because the honey, jasmine, and bergamot fragrance will put even the most screen-weary to sleep. And you’ll wake up without crusty lips, so there’s that.
3. Jo Malone Fresh Fig & Cassis Townhouse Diffuser
This is the most expensive thing on this list, so don’t buy it for someone you’re lukewarm about. That said, it does last forever (the fragrance was still noticeable in my apartment after 6 months) and you can buy refills. The Fig & Cassis scent is perfect for fans of black tea fragrances (looking at you, my Le Labo Thé Noir people), and the ceramic base blends in nicely on a coffee table or windowsill.
Meet the highest-value thing you can buy at Aesop! These incense sticks are great at deep-cleansing your apartment after you’ve been away for a while (you know that musty, windows-haven’t-been-opened-in-weeks smell).
The world of high-end hand soaps is vast and unforgiving on the wallet; I’ve tried more than my fair share of them at restaurants/for work, and few rival Diptyque’s Orphéon. The piney, jasmine scent pleasantly lingers on your hands for a while after using, and unlike other fragranced soaps, this one isn’t terribly drying. You can technically also use it as a body wash, but I think I’d burn through the small size far too quickly that way.
My very chic friend Lydia gifted these to me a few years ago, and I’ve repurchased them regularly ever since. There are tons of different scents to try (I’m partial to oak moss and hinoki, both of which are predictably woody and earthy) and even scent strengths (deep is, well, deep) for the more sensitive. The sticks themselves are somewhat delicate and can take a few tries to get used to, but I always have one of these in the guest bathroom for folks to use.
7. Dedcool Dryer Sheets in Taunt
Admittedly not the sexiest gift, but if you ask me, some of the best presents are things you’d never buy for yourself to make mundane tasks (like laundry) better. I’ve tried a lot of fragranced detergents, and while some are fine and nice if you’ve got the budget, these dryer sheets from Dedcool impart a significantly longer-lasting scent on linens and towels.
8. Flamingo Estate x JW Mariott Candle
A hotel collab candle on a gift guide should set off your alarm bells because so many of these genuinely suck, but have great affiliate returns. However! Flamingo Estate knows a thing or two about making candles with great throw, and this floral, woody combo fills the space for hours.