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The ultimate hygge gift guide
Most of us are craving a little extra comfort as we stare down the socially distanced winter ahead. Since we’ll mostly be homebound, it just makes sense to conjure pleasant sensory moments and inject cozy touches of hygge wherever we can. Here are some of my favorite cozy and self-care gifts for the people on your list — or, who are we kidding? — yourself.
Smell-good stuffs
Pot Pourri from Santa Maria Novella, $35
Created at a 300-year-old monastery/perfumery in Florence, Italy, this subtle, refined potpourri was created to evoke the scent of the Tuscan Hills. I’m not normally a potpourri fan, but this secret blend of herbs & flowers smells isn’t cloying. Instead, it’s green and woody with notes of lavender, bergamot, bay, thyme, rosemary, clove, balsam and patchouli. It also makes a sophisticated gift; (Gwyneth Paltrow’s patrician character in The Talented Mr. Ripley gifts it to a wealthy friend.) Lucky Chicagoans can snag it at Merz Apothecary.
Peace Wreath by Hilary Horvath, $85
2020’s given us enough strife to last a lifetime: Send a subtle message of peace and acceptance to your neighbors with an olive branch peace wreath from this stylish Oregon flower shop. 10% of sales go to Fair Fight, an organization that educates voters about elections and their voting rights.
Flowers and Plants from Urban Stems, $35-175
A far cry from the staid, uninspiring FTD bundles of yore, Urban Stems offers dramatic and modern-looking arrangements with nationwide shipping. Their festive holiday offerings range from $35–$175.
Pine-scented candles, $24-$48
The Frasier Fir Candle by Thymes is, IMHO, the best holiday candle out there, and my longtime favorite candlemaker Tatine is now being carried in CB2. Tatine specializes in earthy, natural scents and my go-to is St. John’s Wood, which has undertones of cedarwood and vetiver. Bonus: Tatine’s luxe, rock n’roll packaging makes each candle feel special. Follow Tatine on Instagram for info on the owner’s creative projects and her Spotify playlists (she’s got excellent taste in music.)
Essential oil diffuser: $99–$120
Essential oil diffusers are another way to scent your home and they give off a more subtle scent, which you can tailor to your own taste with your own blends. I like the sleek, stone Vitruvi ones at West Elm.
Aveda Chakra Pure-Fume, $31
With seven essential-oil blends tailored to each of the chakras, this line was created to foster feelings of groundedness, nourishment, intentionality, harmoniousness, expressiveness, insightfulness or wisdom.
Aveda Stress Fix Purse-Sized Roller Scent, $24
This tiny roller ball includes some tried and true “calm down” oils like sage + lavender. I love this as a gift for stressed-out coworkers.
Rishi Turmeric Ginger Tea, $12.20 for 2 boxes
This is the best herbal tea I’ve ever tasted — and I’ve tasted a lot. The secret is that the more bitter turmeric and ginger flavors are offset with a touch of sweet Meyer lemon. Both turmeric and ginger are warming, stimulating herbs that feel great in your belly on a cold afternoon.
Blankets to bundle up in
Brooklinen wool blanket, $183
These elegant throws will keep you warm and add a cozy, refined aesthetic.
Fleece and Sherpa blankets, $24-$40
These are less aesthetically pleasing but the snuggle factor is through the roof. My massage therapist introduced me to these blankets (he uses them on his table to give comfort to clients) and my home will never again be without one. I consider them so indispensable that I’m including several links.
Bearaby weighted blanket: $249
Weighted blankets make me feel claustrophobic but an informal poll of hygge-loving pals produced many recommendations for this Bearaby one, available in cotton or velvet.
Eileen Fisher bedding
The linen, silk and organic cotton bedding from Eileen Fisher (queen of neutral, drapey garments for ladies of a certain age), is something to behold. Layer pieces in mixed neutral colors and textures for a louche, elegant effect.
Relaxing bath stuffs
Walnut bath tray, $189
This bathtub tray has room for all your bath stuff: beverage, book, iPad, candle. It’s got a water-resistant seal that keeps it looking fresh over the years and brackets underneath make it adjustable, (in case your tub situation changes up) so it’s a gift that’s meant to last a lifetime.
Madam of Leisure Infinity Bath Overflow Drain Cover and Drain Stopper, $15
I can’t believe I only discovered this product for “bath enthusiasts” this year. You know how many older tubs have a drainage vent near the faucet that prevent you from filling the tub to its top? This silicon drain cover snaps over vent and allows you to fill the top to your desired water height. It’s perhaps my biggest life-hack for 2020 survival.
Badedas Vital Bad Classic foam bath, $19
This class European bath foam has woodsy, pine-forward scent notes like chestnut, cedarwood, and light patchouli, and basically makes me feel like I’m taking a bath in the middle of the forest.
Hole up at home hygge gifts
Maine-Made handspun socks
These 100% wool socks from thoughtfully curated artisanal shop More & Co. are luxurious, cozy, and available in a gorgeously subtle color palette.
Buy at A Little More Like This
Little Book of Hygge, $14.95
Are you new to hygge? Get wise to all things Danish and cozy-making with this bestselling book.
Button Power, $24.95
This beautiful and comprehensive coffee-table book is about the fascinating history of the pop-culture artifact. Co-authored by Button Museum Founder Christen Carter and Hake’s Auctions founder Ted Hake, the book tells the story of America’s movements and eras through a button lens.
Read my interview with Christen Carter.
Lunya silk eye mask, $48
This wide silk mask in soft neutral colors makes you feel like your favorite fancy-lady film from the forties. Now all you need is a dressing gown and a Cary Grant clone.
Acupressure mat, $39.97
Socially isolating is the right thing to do, but if you’re missing massages and chiropractic, tide yourself over with a DIY session on an acupressure mat. It doesn’t actually hurt at all and I find myself relaxing within mere minutes of lying down on its “needles.”
Slippers from Vionic or Haflinger, $64–$80
Supportive yet non-hideous house slippers? They exist! Haflinger’s German-made, boiled wool slippers are sturdy enough to last for years, maybe decades. For a fluffier, more boudoir-forward look, these fuzzy mules from Vionic (an arch-supportive brand Oprah loves), are available in multiple colors.
Cuddly velvet loungewear, $98 & $88
My mother is impossible to buy for, but at some point I realized that the woman is always cold but would never buy decadent loungewear for herself. That’s when I started shopping for her in Anthropologie’s loungewear section, filled with impractical and pretty items. Case in point, these velvet wide-leg pants and matching hoodie in deep teal.
Buy wide-leg pants loungewear at Anthropologie.com
Buy cropped velvet zip-up hoodie at Anthropologie.com
Cashmere sweater & joggers, $195 & $175
Nadaam’s cashmere actually lasts and this sweater and matching joggers come in a variety of colors. And, the matching sets of men’s cotton and cashmere loungewear are well-made, cozy-at-home basics that the fellas will love.
Buy the recycled cashmere crewneck sweater at Naadam.co
Buy the cashmere jogger at Naadam.co
Buy matching sets for men at Naadam.co
Downton Abbey Clue board game, $18
It’s the ultimate mash-up? Though we’re pretty sure that whatever the crime was, Thomas was the one whodunnit.
Mood-lifting lighting
HappyLight Full-Spectrum Light Box, $59.99
As a SAD sufferer, a HappyLight is a non-negotiable part of my winter survival toolkit. Their full spectrum light boxes helps boost mood and energy.
Edison light bulbs, $20 for 6
These old-fashioned bulbs cast a romantic, ambient glow and make a great stocking stuffer.
LED Willow Branch Lights, $17.99
Stick a pack or two of these in a super-tall vase or jug, tuck into the corner of a room, and enjoy the dreamy romantic glow it creates.
Luna Lamp, $98
A lamp shaped like a moon? Yeah, it’s on this year’s list for all my witchy lady-friends.
Gretchen Kalwinski, a former magazine editor, writes copy, fiction, and essays, most recently for Chicago: Rust Belt Anthology, published by Belt Publishing. She lives in Chicago and tweets sporadically @gretchel.
Rx: brain melt- stop swirling and focus. I love this list!