33 Gifts That Feel Very Personal (Without Getting Them Personalized)
All of the "oh my gosh, you know me too well" without any of the waiting a zillion years to get something custom made.
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Hey! While we’re doing our best to make sure the products we feature will arrive in time for Christmas, shipping times are especially tricky this year and can vary depending on where you live, which product you purchase, and more. Shop early and be sure to double check the retailers’ websites for shipping information to ensure that your gift will arrive in time for the 25th!
1. A sophisticated whiskey tumbler with a map of their favorite city etched on it.
Well Told is a New Hampshire-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in personalized drinkware and gifts.
Promising review: "Bought as a Mother’s Day gift for my mom, and she loved it! Map is easy to see and the glass is very well-made and designed." —Timmy
Get it from Well Told on Etsy: the San Francisco glass for for $16 and the Atlanta glass for $16 (available in 248 cites).
Psst — these also come in wine glasses and pints.
2. A zodiac sign ring dish to add a little bit of ~twinkle~ from their very own star sign to their nightstand.
Promising review: "I love this. It was exactly what I needed. I wanted something cute to catch any bobby pins lying around my bathroom, and this was a perfect match! I also am thinking about giving these to my friends as their Christmas gifts!" —Rachel G
Get it from Amazon for $11.98 (available in all 12 zodiac signs).
3. A personal library kit so they can streamline their massive book collection (*and* rest assured their buds will give them back that loaned copy of Bossypants).
Promising review: "This little set is so cute! You can attach a library-type pocket to your books and then sign them out and stamp a due date on the included 'library' sign-out card if friends borrow your books! Really cute idea, the set is just like the library pockets and due date like you used when you borrowed books from a library, back before e-readers, Kindles or tablets came along." —Nurse Nell
Get it from Amazon for $17.93.
4. Color-changing lip balm that adjusts to the pH of their lips so they'll get their own personalized shade of pink every time they put it on.
Promising review: "I love this lip gloss!! It's my new favorite! It changes to the perfect pink based on your skin tones. It's not as sparkly as I thought it would be but I think I like that. Definitely recommend." —Andrew Smith
Get it from Amazon for $16 (available in three styles).
5. A 25-pack of Baked By Melissa cupcakes you can get tailored to their specific dietary needs — in addition to the regular 25-packs, they have gluten-free, vegan, and party-safe (no nut flavor) versions if that's more their speed!
Each box includes Tie-Dye (vanilla), Cookie & Cream, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Cookie Dough, Triple Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Chip Pancake, Red Velvet, Mint Cookie, Caramel Cake Batter, Brookie, Oreo Cheesecake, and Caramel Apple Pie.
I bolded the ones that are my favorite because I live down the street from a Baked By Melissa and I am legiiiiiit in there at least once a week to treat myself to a six-pack. These are some of my favorite desserts of all-time, and I am a major dessert snob. I've also had them shipped as gifts before, and they taste every bit as fresh-tasting shipped as they are in person out of the bakery! (To be clear, yes, I had them shipped as gifts, but then at some myself. I am ... maybe bad at gifts.)
Promising review: "Incredible product. Arrived on time and in great condition! My friends whom I have them to we're thrilled and ate all of them within three days!! They said the were delicious and they kept snacking on them. Then they called me, reminded me when their birthdays were and said they'd appreciate more..." —Craigers
Get it from Baked By Melissa for $30+ (also available in 50-packs and 100-packs), and get vegan, gluten-free, and party-safe (no nut flavors) cupcake gift sets for $30+-$42+ as well.
6. A temporary tattoo from a shop with whoooole bunch of different designs, so there's bound to be one they'll love. Bonus points if you get yourself one to match 👯♀️.
Tattoorary is an Etsy shop established in 2014 and based in the Netherlands that specializes in temporary tattoos, offering a large range of sizes, colors, and designs. Each tattoo lasts from two days to a week.
I am *obsessed* with these temporary tattoos — I waited for ages to get them, and I wish I'd done it much sooner, because I've had such a blast mix and matching them every week this summer as a fun quarantine distraction! They transfer beautifully with warm water and look like legitimate tattoos (my neighbor truly thought I'd gotten some great ink), and are so easy and gentle to remove with a light scrub in the shower.
Get them from Tattoorary on Etsy: the vintage floral tattoo for $8, and the little birds tattoo for $3.
7. A "White Paw" dog toy you're legally obligated to gift to anyone who has uttered the words "No Laws When You're Drinking Claws" regardless of whether or not they have a dog.
Promising review: "My dog is a soft-toy destroyer. She usually tears them apart in five minutes, stuffing everywhere. But for some reason she has not gotten these apart yet! The fabric seems a little more durable but I think it also helps that there are no hanging pieces like a tail/ears, etc. She loves to toss them around. Squeaker isn't in an area she bites all the time so it's not overly annoying. Was super cute to post a picture of her with it and me with my own White Claw :) They were a little pricey but I had to get them!" —Stacy Laake
Get a set of two from Amazon for $22.95.
8. A delivery of Winc wines for the wine lover in your life who has *strong opinions* about their varietal. This way they can choose for themselves (and enjoy our collective new favorite varietal of wine: the "pick it up from the doorstep" kind).
They'll receive a personalized gift voucher with a custom message from you, which they can then use at Winc's website to choose from 46 curated wines to have delivered straight to their door. I personally recommend their new Cherries & Rainbow red wine if you opt to choose which wine to send them instead — it was delicious, and TBH, the bottle is just so pretty 😭.
Get it from Winc for $60+.
9. Or a funny holiday wine label you can put on their favorite blend so they can have their favorite wine *and* their favorite whine.
Bespoke By Blush is a Canada-based Etsy shop established in 2017 that specializes in handmade labels based on humor, pop culture references, and other customized designs.
These labels are waterproof, so you can chill the bottle and still have the label in tact! They're designed to fit standard wine bottles. All you have to do is remove the pre-existing label from the wine and pop this one on (the seller has instructions included).
Get it from Bespoke By Blush on Etsy for $5.62 (available in four styles).
10. A gorgeous monogrammed candle with a 70-hour burn time, all of which they will spending thinking of what a thoughtful gift-giver you are.
This smells like freesia blossoms, gardenia, and night-blooming jasmine, so it'll also be a big relaxing mood.
Get it from Anthropologie for $28 (available in most letters A-Z).
11. A "Nike By You" custom shoe — you *can* personalize and design a pair if you want to, or you can give them a gift card so they can choose the elements of it all on their own. (Also a handy pro-tip if you're looking for a last-minute gift!)
Honesty hour — I bought this as a gift for my own self last year, and I love the shoes I designed to pieces. The site genuinely lets you play with so many elements, from the colors on the iconic swoosh to the laces to the leather on the back to the soles. I've spent hours and hours designing myself ~dream shoes~ and I am delighted with the ones that I got. You can even monogram them on the back with up to three letters (I just did it with "EM" and "MA" because my name's Emma and I'm suuuuuuper extra!).
Shipping-wise, these should arrive in two to five weeks, so keep that in mind when you're ordering.
Get it from Nike for $75+ (available in men's and women's styles; the shoe pictured above is the Nike Blazer Low By You for $95).
*OR* purchase the giftee a Nike gift card so they can choose the design themselves!
12. A five-year One Line A Day journal so your friend who keeps starting journals and then abandoning them can finally find something that sticks — one line a day is *super* low commitment (and imagine how satisfied they'll be looking back every year!).
The book comes with 365 pages, each of which has lines for five days, so they'll write on the same page each year when the date comes around again. It's a really cool way to reflect on their ~journey~ — kind of like those "this time last year!" things your phone or Facebook does, except they're the ones in control of what gets written and saved.
Get it from Amazon for $16.44 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.59.
13. Or a copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions that's perfect for any stage of life, if your friend is already a hardcore journaler and wants to take it to the next level.
This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories!
Get it from Amazon for $9.89 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $13.80.
14. A customizable Glossier Balm Dotcom trio gift set full of ultra-hydrating, gorgeously subtle colors you can hand-pick for that friend who's *never* caught dead without a lip balm on hand.
Promising review: "Buy this! Buy them all! I got the original to begin with and ended up buying the trio set days later because of how amazing it is. Now I have fourt tubes in different scents and I regret nothing. Even my husband is in love with the original and the mint! The birthday is super subtly shimmery and the rose is a barely there tint (honestly BARELY THERE). A little does go a long way so don't worry about the price tag. You will be using these tubes for a while and loving every second of it." —Devon
Get it from Glossier for $30 (valued at $36; available in eight shades).
15. A subscription to MeUndies, which will let them hand-pick their own suuuuper soft underwear each month, with a ton of different rotating styles and patterns to choose from.
PLUS, using their membership, they get site-wide discounts on other apparel like pajamas, bras, socks, and more.
Get it from MeUndies starting at $42 for a three-month subscription. You can check out the rest of the pricing tiers on subscriptions to see how much you want to include in your gift card!
16. A zodiac tea towel that's not afraid to tell them precisely like it is (just like all the Leos in your life!!).
Moonlight Makers is a North Carolina-based Etsy stop established in 2015 that specializes screen-printed shirts, dish towels, and gifts.
Get it from Moonlight Makers on Etsy for $15 (available in 12 zodiac signs and two colors).
17. A spooky skull-shaped ice mold for *that* friend. You know. The one on the 24/7/365 spooky beat.
Pro-tip: these molds also work for making soaps, birthday candles, chocolate, and fondant, covering all their miscellaneous undead needs.
Promising review: "Got these to make ice cubes for a Halloween party. It's very easy to use and easy to clean. The cubes come out perfectly. I'm probably going to try to use it to make chocolate skulls next." —Amazon Customer
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $10.89.
18. A ticket stub collecting notebook so they have somewhere to store their favorite memories from concerts, movies, or theater shows, plus a little note section so they'll always have context for why it was so special.
Promising review: "This ticket album was just what I needed for all of my concert tickets and memorabilia. There was plenty of room for multiple ticket stubs/guitar picks/other memorabilia in each slot on the page. The ticket album arrived quickly and in good condition. I am very pleased with my purchase and would definitely recommend." —Amanda
Get it from Amazon for $10.45+ (available in spiral-bound or hardcover).
19. A Geekey multitool for the resident "fix-it" in your life — this gives them over a dozen *more* ways to do just that.
This looks impressive at first glance, but functions as *deep breath* a coring tip, serrated edge, can opener, wire stripper, smoking pipe, file, imperial and metric ruler, protractor, bottle opener, multi-head fit driver, lanyard hole, bike spoke key, screw driver tip, wrench, *and* bit driver all at once. In short ... it is a whole lot.
Promising review: Beautifully made piece out of, appropriately, 420 Stainless Steel. As a machinist, I certainly appreciate the challenges of machining stainless. Five stars on the engineering and design. These types of tools (including this one) are only so practical for a few of their features usually, but this one will be with me all the time!" —Watt
20. A mini waffle maker that comes in over a dozen colors and shapes, making it virtually impossible not to find one that matches their kitchen. Plus, it's versatile enough to do way more than its main job — if they're waffling on the waffles, they can also use it for hash browns, paninis, biscuits, and even (gasp) PIZZA. If they can dream it, they can mini waffle it.
Promising review: "I am not a good cook, I’ll admit. I’m one of those 'burn a salad' kind of girls. In quarantine I’ve decided to expand my horizons and try new ways to make food. Outside of my air fryer this is the best product I own. One can figure out how to work it with no instructions (ask me how I know) and it cooks waffles PERFECTLY every time. I was so thrilled with the way my food came out I tried it again to ensure it wasn’t a fluke and guess what — it's not! At the price point I know what all my family and friends are getting for Christmas! Easy to use and clean and store. I would recommend this to everyone." —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 17 styles).
21. A five-pack of Old Navy masks you can get in 20 different ~aesthetics~, whether you feel like theirs is "Blues," "Brights," or even something called "Navy Ditsy."
I held off on buying these at first because I truly couldn't choose a set to save my life (AESTHETICS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME), but after my brother got a set he loved I caved and got them too. These are super sturdy, well-made, SO great for the price point, and come in genuinely cute patterns and solids that make it a lot easier to match something to your outfit or mood. I tied the elastic on mine just for a snugger fit, but the size they come in well-suited for adult faces.
Promising review: "Bought these as extras. Super comfortable and I throw them in the wash after each use. They open up and cover nose to chin. Bought them in colors my husband would use as well. Good purchase." —Old Navy Customer
Type Of Fit: Adjustable elastic ear straps
Pocket For Filter: No
Fabric Type: Cotton
Shipping Time: Standard shipping
Get a five-pack from Old Navy for $12.50 (available in 20 varieties).
22. Plus a vintage-y face mask chain you can get in so many colors, you're bound to find one that feels like it matches their vibe.
Dear Soho is an NYC-based Etsy shop established in 2016 that specializes in tortoiseshell earrings, hair clips, cuffs, and face mask chains.
Promising review: "Perfect chain to wear with my masks! Fast shipping and wonderful quality! Love this shop!" —Shannon Sneedse
Get it from Dear Soho on Etsy for $14+ (originally $20+; available in nine styles).
23. A monogrammed cheese platter with deep grooves perfect for crackers, olives, grapes, and most likely their tears when they behold how beautiful it is on their table.
Promising review: "Gave this to a friend for her birthday. She is thrilled with it and loved seeing the initial of her last name carved into such a beautiful handmade piece! She told me her old cheese and cracker serving platters (all of which were glass), have cracked so needed to be tossed over the past few years. She raved about how many different varieties of crackers and cheeses this will hold, (= it's large, so very utilitarian)! I told her to use the flat areas surrounding the letter to hold almonds, grapes, sausages, olives in small dishes, etc. As well as a fabulous cheese and cracker board, this also makes a perfect charcuterie board when you use the flat areas surrounding the letter for other items. She said this gift was 'so clever'!" —Kathy
Get it from UncommonGoods for $85 (available in letters A-Z and three wood finishes).
24. A delicate zodiac necklace that lets you choose their sign, the length, and the color (just be sure to run it past your Taurus friends in advance, because trust me, they'll have thoughts).
Minthologie Studio is a California-based Etsy shop established in 2013 that specializes in handcrafted jewelry.
Promising review: "My 'hard to buy for' sister-in-law loved this! I referred other family members who commented on how pretty it was. Delivery and packaging was excellent! It came very quickly...which was greatly appreciated because I typically wait til the last second!" —Tessa Crawford
Get it from Minthologie Studio on Etsy for $19+ (available in six styles and seven lengths).
25. A gorgeous geode state ornament to ~spruce~ up their tree — a perfect gift for someone who might be missing their home state during the holidays!
Promising review: "I waited too long last year, and missed out on buying a bunch of different states for holiday gifts. So I decided to get one for myself to see the quality. I love it! This year, I'll be sure to get all my states before they sell out!" —Cat
Get it from UncommonGoods for $18 (available in all 50 states and four Hawaiian islands).
26. A truly iconic tortilla blanket so the Chipotle fan in your life can achieve the greatest aspiration of them all: becoming a human burrito.
Promising review: "I never write reviews but thought I should after buying this funny tortilla blanket! Very surprised. It's a lightweight blanket that's still very fluffy and super cozy. I think it's perfect. Washed it and still super soft. No pilling but I washed and dried it alone. It's holding up well, both in feel and in shape. The trim is sewed on well, so no problem there either. This is the BEST purchase I have ever made. I’m recommending this to everyone I know!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $36.99 (available in seven styles, including waffles and pizza).
27. A dainty monogram necklace so chic it'll become part of their signature look, à la Alexis Rose on Schitt's Creek.
28. A jar of whipped shower icing so even your friends without bathtubs can feel decadent as heck while they're getting their suds on. Each of these comes with unique layers of soapy ~frosting~, with so many combinations it'll be easy to find one you know they'll love.
Indulgence Spa is a Maryland-based, Black woman-owned Etsy shop established in 2015 that specializes in soaps, hair care, and body products.
Psst — I recently started using this myself in the Three Wishes Tea flavor (a combo of tea leaves, peaches, rosebuds, and marigolds) and the smell alone is swoon-worthy, but I love love love how it feels in the shower. It has a satisfying creamy whipped texture, but suds up when you use it so you get that nice satisfying squeaky clean feeling, too. It's lasting a long time, too (which is great, but means I have to wait a little longer to try the other flavors 😂).
Promising review: "Very delicious and very rich! I bought a set in the Black Opium fragrance, which smells just divine! I will definitely buy again." —invisible9
Get it from Indulgence Spa on Etsy for $15 (available in over 50 scent combinations).
29. A scratch-off world map so they can reminisce on all the adventures they've taken and dream up all the ones they want to take next 🌎.
Promising review: "I did not buy this product for itself alone but a chance for my 88 year old father to enjoy the memories of two careers (the Air Force and a small business jet manufacturer) with extensive travel. When I first gave it to him, he related how he and his fellow pilot had made 19 stops to deliver a small business jet from Wichita Kansas to a Japanese client in the '70s. We traveled those miles island by island with stories of eccentric clients, tiny airport refuelings, and numerous colorful cultural and business oddities of international travel while he and I sat at the dining room table in his home in Kansas. His truly amazing long-term memory, charisma, and story-telling skills recreate these experiences for his audience to enjoy. Dad showed me Mom's favorite island (Madeira) but found his favorite, Santorini, too small to plot. The map provided the perfect partner for these memories. It was a beautiful experience that will be repeated over and over again as we enjoy his map together in the years to come." —Zoe
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes).
30. Or a colorful map mug they can draw on themselves, then ponder and plan all their past and future trips over their morning cup of coffee.
It's very easy for them to update the map — each time they color on it, they just have to let it sit for 15 minutes, then leave it in a 320-degree Fahrenheit pre-heated oven for 25 minutes, then let cool. They can just repeat the process every time there's a new part to color in!
Promising review: "My son loves this mug! It's a perfect way to reminisce about the places traveled to while enjoying a steaming cup of coffee. The large size makes it the right size for a big cup of joe. It is both dishwasher and microwave safe for easy cleanup up and reheating. It can be baked more than once so no need to wait until you have 'seen the world' before coloring it." —Joanne
Get it from UncommonGoods for $24 (available in world or U.S. map).
31. A Sips By subscription that will bring a tear of Earl Grey-flavored joy to your tea-guzzling friend's eye. They can take a (VERY thorough!!) tea quiz about their taste preferences, and every month get a curated box of four new premium teas from all over the world.
Each box comes with enough tea to brew 15 or more cups (depending on whether or not they re-steep), and you can get *really* picky with it — for example, they'll let your friend say if they don't want a particular kind of tea (like black or green) or if they're averse to certain tea flavors (like licorice). If they already have a subscription, they can still use the gift card to count toward their next months!
Get a three-month gift subscription to Sips By for $45.
32. A wireless, Bluetooth-enabled karaoke mic for the singer in your life that they can sync with preeeeetty much anything, including speakers, players, or singing apps on their phone. Now they can live out their Ariana Grande fan fiction in the comfort of their own home.
Promising review: "This microphone is so much fun! Quarantine doesn’t have to be bland and it is definitely a game-changer with this gem! The sound is amazing, I love how sturdy it is, does not feel cheaply made at all. I spent the better half of my afternoon singing my husband’s ear off and making unnecessary announcements LOL!! Buy one and you won’t want to put it down either, that’s for sure! It also came with a very sturdy carrying case! Five stars!" —Mrs. T.
Get it from Amazon for $30.99 (available in 11 colors).
33. A daily Someecards calendar for that one friend who's ~over~ their job — this will give them a year's worth of little things to laugh at every day before they send to type out "as per my last email" as dozen times before noon.
Each calendar covers Jan. 1, 2021 - Dec. 31, 2021, including 313 full color pages with images and jokes.
Get it from Amazon for $14.17.
When your gift is just! that! good!!!
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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