Under $100 gifts for the hostess with the mostest
For when you're yearning to move beyond wine or flowers (but both are great!)
The holiday season is upon us. As I’m writing this, Christmas carols are already humming through the Sonos. Though it admittedly feels early, there is something truly lovely about listening to familiar, joyous melodies - I think my soul just needed the feeling of warmth that these tunes emit.
Over the next 8 weeks, as friends and family so generously invite us to participate in holiday festivities that celebrate togetherness, it’s that time to fill a small corner of your closet with a handful of hostess gifts so you can be prepared to grab and go.
Here are some of my favorites that feel universal, but a bit different from the everyday.
To be honest, you truly can’t go wrong with anything from Hasami - from their mugs to their bowls and everyday dishes. If the recipient loves modern minimalism, they’re likely to love these durable pieces. They have 2 different planter size options (small and large) that smartly come with a matching saucer. I find that the modern planter with saucer combo is hard to come by, so this is an “it” pair (and bonus points for being dishwasher safe). You can even go a bit further by planting a succulent, herb, or holiday flower. Comes in shiny gray (small, large), matte black (small, large), and matte natural (small, large).
Brightland Pizza Night Set - 2 Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegar
I haven’t seen Brightland sell this specific combination in one package previously, but I would argue that this grouping truly captures the “best of.” All 3 products are independently in regular rotation within our household. In fact, I just used the olive oil and balsamic vinegar to make salad dressing. I tossed it with some arugula, toasted pumpkin seeds, snap peas, and Pecorino Romano, with a dash of salt and pepper. Chef’s kiss.
The hand cream that went viral for its chic nightstand or desk-ready container. This is perfect for very dry winter nights and days ahead. This medium-weight cream even has retinol to fight aging in a place we spend much less time thinking about relative to our faces, but still needs an equal amount of love.
This is one of those gifts that screams sophistication - a holy grail hostess gift that anyone would be drooling over and therefore eternally grateful. My favorite scents over the holidays are Ambre Japonais (black peppercorn, coriander, bourbon vanilla, toasted sesame, and sandalwood) and Ancient Sand (rose petals, cardamom, cedarwood, carrot seeds, raspberry, and crisp amber). Ancient Sand is currently a limited edition scent, which comes with special holiday packaging. Though not holiday-esque, I am a personal fan of Summer Rain (basil, spearmint, fig, ginger, tonka beans, and sandalwood) - ugh even just writing out of notes made me yearn for the fresh scent.
I had never heard of this company until my husband received a gift from a colleague in celebration of Diwali. The flavors in the 5-pack we received were truly unbelievable - bites like Cashew Katli - cashew praline infused with the aromatic essence of cardamom and Chai Biscuit - chai-infused dulcey ganache, delicately layered with Parle-G cookie butter. Here’s the flavor guide for their overall assortment - these are not your run-of-the-mill creations. You will not be disappointed.
I’ve never met a single soul who doesn’t enjoy an indulgent bite of NYC’s most famous cookies. I especially love their holiday flavors, so it feels like the right time to order an assortment for your favorite hostess (and even yourself). Their Fall Chocolate Chunk flavor is ginger, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and molasses with chocolate chips. And their Dark Chocolate Peppermint is self explanatory. My mouth is honestly watering right now. And if you’re craving the classics plus a hint of holiday, you can try their assortment
I guarantee these will not be in stock for long. The combination is way too good to pass up during the holiday season. And what’s nice is that these will still feel relevant all winter long. I would also pair these with a black, red, or white-handled Sabre cheese knife if I wanted to go the extra mile.
And if you’re looking for other color napkin color combinations, there are plenty to choose from here.
A longtime fan of Mt. Washington Pottery, I use Beth’s tall tumblers for arrangements throughout my home. This one is nice and neutral, so the lucky recipient will be able to use it year-round.
Malin + Goetz Tomato Room Spray
2023 and 2024 are certainly the “years of the tomato” when it comes to a totally unexpected fruit becoming the star of the olfactory scene. I really don’t think anyone expected it, and it seems we have Flamingo Estate to thank. Anything from Flamingo Estate is a great option - especially the Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle. If you’re worried, however, that your host has received something like this in the past, then Malin + Goetz’s recently-launched room spray is the next iteration of this aroma. They also have a complementing candle.
Cheers to dazzling your host this season.
x
jz
Images | 1 | @b.g.mckay | 2 | Unison Home | 3 | Brightland | 4 | Soft Services | 5 - 6 | Byredo | 7 - 8 | Cacao & Cadamom | 9 | Levain | 10 | Lulu & Georgia | 11 | Mt. Washington Pottery | 12 | Malin & Goetz
This post contains some affiliate links. Please note that all recommendations and opinions are my own.
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The best gifting recs, i’ve been looking forward to your tips since last season! Superb!