My last minute (mostly practical) gift suggestions
There's something for every room in the house
If I have anything close to a gifting philosophy, it’s that I like to emphasize practicality. I like to give things I imagine my recipients will use in their everyday lives, not just on special occasions. I believe that even gifts that look extremely simple on their surface can have a big impact, if that gift is signaling your understanding of a particular need or desire in your recipient’s life.
For this gift guide, I’ve tried to steer clear of the downright boring—the power bank is a stretch, but it’s something I’m passionate about—but for the most part, these are practical items intended to have an impact on your recipient’s routines going into 2026. I snuck in a couple of treats too because I am especially snack happy at this time of year.
Papier D’Armenie incense papers, $8
I discovered Papier d’Armenie while I was shopping around in Berlin last month. Founded in France in 1885, the company makes palm-sized scented paper booklets. You rip out a strip from the booklet, then can either light it on fire and it burns slowly to diffuse the scent or you can stuff the strips in a dresser drawer or on a bookshelf to give everything a hint of the smell.
I generally avoid scented products for myself since they can give me headaches, but I bought a few of these as gifts and sequestered them in an envelope for the journey home in my suitcase. They seem slightly hard to find in the US, but Catbird carries two of the scents, Walmart has the traditional scent, and this Colorado stationery store sells all three. I can see these being amazing stocking stuffers! The friends who received ‘em from me appeared very satisfied.
Ostrichpillow Blackout Eye Mask, $45
I’ve been sleeping with this eye mask for the past two years—its the longest one eye mask has ever stayed around for me despite the fact that I’ve relied on eye masks for my entire adult life. While its hollowed-out eye shape makes it look a bit bizarre from the outside, I find it so much more comfortable than most other eye masks that apply pressure to the eyes. (I also prefer it to the similarly priced Manta which is also dimensional like this one, but there are two distinct eye cups that make it a little less comfortable.) If I have one complaint, it’s that the dimension makes it a little hard to fit my AirPod Maxes over it comfortably when I’m wearing headphones while trying to sleep on a plane, but this is so infrequent (and still workable) that it’s really just a gripe-for-gripes-sake.
Paul Smith x Alessi Parrot Corkscrew, $70
Alessi accessories are classic gifts, but why not spice things up a little bit by nabbing something from their collaboration with Paul Smith? The brand’s signature stripes add just the right amount of refined whimsy. I’m particularly taken by the effect they have on the parrot corkscrew and the yellow on the inner shell is a nice touch too.
Cheerie Lane Popcorn of the Month Club, $19/month
Referring to popcorn as utilitarian might be a stretch, but this one does check the “gift that keeps on giving” box at least, and it’s probably the most fun gift on this list. Cheerie Lane makes popcorn “pods” that simplify the process of making stovetop popcorn—you don’t even need to add butter—and they offer a range of different flavors, too. It doesn’t hurt that their packaging is exceedingly cute, too. You can sign up for a three, six, or twelve month subscription, gifting your recipient with three nights of popcorn a month in a mix of flavors. This is particularly last minute friendly given that the popcorn will be sent directly to your recipient.
Morrow Soft Goods Carmen Bathmat, $99
I bought the Carmen bathmat for the bathroom of my new apartment and I’m completely obsessed with it. The wavy ridges distract from the weird tiling in my bathroom and the pile is so plush. It’s simple to the point of silliness, but it’s also just charming to have a bathmat that’s not a typical rectangle. It’s available in three different colors, including a butter yellow, a pale green, and this deep brown that has a slight reddish tinge, which really spoke to me for my own space. I’m thinking this would make a great gift for your roommate, if you’re looking for something to show how much you care about your shared space.
Believe me when I tell you this power bank completely changed my life. I got it for Hanukkah last year and it has traveled with me everywhere since. It’s slightly bigger than my palm and about an inch deep, making it small enough to pack in a purse but big enough that it carries a substantial charge. My favorite thing about it is that it plugs directly into the wall—rather than requiring a separate cord to plug into the wall to charge, like many other portable chargers. Because of this, I can use it as my regular charger for my phone, so overnight every night when it’s plugged in, it’s both packing a charge for itself and charging my phone, too.
With other portable chargers, the extra step of having to charge the portable charger separately has prevented me from actually using the portable charger all that much. It also has two USB-C ports and a regular USB port, so you can charge multiple devices at once, and it’s strong enough to charge a laptop as well. I’ve had multiple 12+ hour travel days this year and because of this power bank, I’ve never worried about a dead phone once—save for the days between when I left my first one in Switzerland and waited for my new one to arrive in the mail.
I visited the very gorgeous Omnia Hotel in Zermatt, Switzerland this summer and there were so many chic stainless steel and chrome accents throughout the space. Metals have been trending for the past couple of years, but I’d never really craved bringing the trend into my own space until I experienced it there. This Aarke stainless steel french press is one particularly chic way to do so. I was recently gifted Aarke’s kettle and it immediately made me feel more satisfied with my kitchen—pair ‘em both to give your giftee a particularly major kitchen upgrade.
Again, not necessarily practical, but in my experience even those with the least dictatorial sweet tooths are satisfied by these candies from See’s. As someone whose every move is controlled by their sweet tooth, I will say they are among the best chocolate treats in the world and well worth the price. I once had a very decadent weekend in Palm Springs that revolved around a can of these. If you’re in LA and See’s feels a little first thought, or you want something that just has bougier airs here in America, I just had the Swiss brand Läderach’s Praline Selection box and it was very satisfying too. (If not as totally addictive as these Toffee-ettes.)
For select items on this list, I may earn an affiliate commission if you buy something through these links.
those power banks are truly life saving