Valentine’s Day 2022 Gift Guide

Okay, so, I was really excited about this first post and I wrote the whole thing out and collected a bunch of ideas and—anyway my computer crashed. It was heartbreaking.

Initially, in that actual first post that is now lost in the internet abyss, I was talking about how I wanted to draw inspiration from Valentine’s Day throughout the month of February in my posts. The gist? I think we should all take this month as an opportunity to show our loved ones that we care. Send flowers to your parents, a thoughtful text to your sibling, and take your best friend out on a date. Alright, fine, get your significant other a box of chocolates, I guess.

So, anyway, then I moved on to say that I thought it was very annoying how recipe blogs tend to go on and on and on about some personal anecdote totally unrelated to their recipe. However, at some point, between my computer crashing and me writing this draft, I found out it’s actually a copyright thing! But! Soon after I learned that fun-fact, I found out it was debunked. Net zero new knowledge.

I didn’t know how to preface this post. There’s my preface, I guess. Without further ado, here's my list of cute stuff to spoil your loved ones with:

Floral Scented Candle

DIPTYQUE LIMITED EDITION LITCHI SCENTED CANDLE 190g - $76

I personally really love a good scented candle. I received my first Diptyque candle as a birthday present a few years ago, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. They’re very pricey, though, so it’s not an obsession I indulge often. This one is a very beautiful floral and fruity candle that fills the room with a pretty powdery scent even when it’s not lit. From a distance it smells rosy and fresh, but the fruity lychee scent is easily picked up when the candle is lit or when you put your nose up to it. You can find it on the Diptyque website, at Mecca, or at Bloomingdales, depending on where you live.

GLASSHOUSE FRAGRANCES KYOTO IN BLOOM SCENTED CANDLE 380g - $49.95

This candle has been one of my favorites for years. Kyoto in Bloom is a very pretty scent that, similar to Diptyque’s Litchi scent, leans into being floral and fruity. However, unlike Litchi, this candle is predominantly musky and floral. It’s definitely more perfume-y than powdery, but that’s what I love about it.

Cozy Pajamas

PETER ALEXANDER CANDY SATIN SHORTIE PJ SET - $84.14

Similar to my story with Diptyque candles, one Christmas, three friends gifted me Peter Alexander satin pajamas, and I’ve been hooked ever since. These are so comfy to sleep in and way more affordable than silk (bonus points if you’re vegan). The brighter or darker colored ones do tend to bleed, if you use light colored sheets, even after a couple of washes. I think these pajama sets make for great gifts—they even come in adorable boxes. They are not available everywhere, though. Pair these ones with these cute faux fur slides, or, if you prefer more muted and mature colors, these two sets are also perfect.

POLO RALPH LAUREN KLARENCE MICROSUEDE SCUFF SLIP-ON - $56.63

I love these Ralph Lauren slippers. There’s not much to say about these except that they are cozy, classy, and simple.

DESMOND & DEMPSEY LONG PYJAMA SET IN THE JAG PRINT CREAM - $185

These pajamas are so pretty, but they’re also very pricey. If you are looking for something in this price range, though, these are the ones to pick. The jaguar print is very elegant, the silhouette looks amazing, they are made out of 100% cotton, and the large volume of five-star reviews on the website imply that the high price-point translates into a high quality product. The website ships to many countries, and you’ll also find these at bloomingdales.

The Cliched (but still good) Chocolate Box

GODIVA GOLD COLLECTION GIFT BOX, 9 PIECES 100g - $21.40

My big sister and I used to go on little dates every now and again. Often, we’d end up at the Godiva store at the mall. The chocolate covered strawberries brought us in every time. Sometimes, my sister would also get a small box of chocolates to gift her husband or our mother. This is the tried and true option. I personally think you can’t go wrong with a good Godiva chocolate box.

COCOA NIB 8 PIECE BONBON BOX - $16.97

This chocolate company is based in the Hunter region of Australia, so they only ship within the country. If you do live in Australia- or want to send a gift to someone who lives here- Cocoa Nib’s little chocolate bonbons are so delicious. They look like little art pieces and then you bite into them and they taste like fun classic desserts like creme brûlée and lemon meringue pie. The best part? These cute little chocolates are handcrafted with so much love and care. Love these, 10/10 would recommend.

Beauty

KIEHL’S AGE DEFENDER EYE REPAIR EYE CREAM - $34

Skincare is largely seen as this feminine thing—and it shouldn’t be. Now, normally I’d say it’s just marketing, use whatever skincare you like, but, I do know how stigmatized skincare can be for men. If you’re trying to start him out on his own skincare routine and introduce him to the wonders of skincare, baby-steps. Bonus points: this apparently is a really good product, regardless of who it is marketed towards.

AĒSOP RESURRECTION AROMATIQUE HAND BALM - $30

I was gifted this Aēsop hand-cream a while back and I love it. It’s so big, I’m still going through it. It makes my hands super soft, and it smells really good too. I feel like I’m at a spa every time I use it.

PRORASO VINTAGE TOCCASANA TIN: SENSITIVE SHAVING KIT - $33.99

One Christmas I bought this tin and the two other vintage tins for a few of my friends. They loved them (or they were just being very nice, I don’t know). I have it on good authority (someone who shaves their facial hair), though, that this stuff is really good, especially for preventing irritation.

DIOR ADDICT LIP GLOW COLOR REVIVER - $35

I feel like I’ve been seeing this lip balm all over social media lately. It’s a pretty pricey one, to be honest, but it is really good in the place of lipstick. I personally always use tinted lip balms—I hate the way untinted ones leave behind a white layer. I love tinted lip balm in the place of lipstick, it feels like a little lifehack: fix dry lips and look pretty doing it. I love the shade Rosewood, but that’s just the shade that suits me best.

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