Holiday Gift Guide 2025: Gifts for Self Care and Better Rituals
Many of us coexist with stress on a chronic level—something we often move through rather than address. But small, thoughtful rituals can make a noticeable difference in the day-to-day. If someone in your life could use a moment of calm, or a few well-made tools for simple sensory resets, these gift ideas offer a practical, quietly luxurious way in. You may even want to pick up one for yourself, because modern life, after all, is collectively felt.
Above: Most Himalayan salt lamps have a very particular look—this Walden Salt Lamp is cut from the same Himalyan salt, but in a more modern, monolithic shape; $248 at Walden.
Above: A natural linen and cotton weighted neck wrap, the Slow North Neck Wrap, is filled with unscented lentils which adapt to either hot and cold treatment. (Note that for the wrap to be heated, one must use a microwave.) Fantastic for the overworked-shoulders-up-to-the-ears friend, who can actually wear this while working if they please. $54 at Slow North.
Above: Implement the stress and anxiety-reducing act of coloring via this William Morris Coloring Book produced by the V&A Museum with 45 nature-derived patterns; $19.95 at The Huntington Store.
Above: An elegant Home Brass Oil Burner designed from solid brass by Studio Henry Wilson for Aesop. This can be paired with any oil blend which gets heated by a standard tea light candle; $220 at Aesop.
Above: Another option from Aesop, the Sarashina Aromatique Incense is made with sandalwood, clove, and cinnamon for a warming energy at home; $49 for the set with a small pumice incense holder at Aesop.
Above: From the lymph experts at Ricari Studios, their Essential Compression Socks are made from one of the world’s leading medical garment manufacturers in Italy. Perfect for travel, recovery, and long days sitting or standing; $68 for a pair at Ricari.
Above: A quick hack within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the ear seed, a tiny metal sticker which gets placed on certain pressure points of the ear that correspond to different areas of the body. Ear seeds have been shown to reduce anxiety, chronic pain intensity (including headaches), and improve sleep. The Wthn Ear Seed Kit includes 20 crystal and 20 gold ear seeds along with an acupressure guide; $45 at Wthn.
Above: From Korean soap house Binu Binu, the Baina x Binu Binu Gift Set is a collaboration between New Zealand towel makers Baina and Binu Binu and includes a small checkerboard hand towel and 2 soaps—the Ae Gi Super Mild Soap and Haenyeo Sea Woman Soap; $88 at Binu Binu.
Above: For the herbalist friend, the Mount Sunny Peace Tincture is a calming blend of herbs to ease emotional tension and support a steady mood thanks to a blend of Traditional Chinese Medicine ingredients of Bulpeurum Root, Mimosa Bark, White Peony Root, Atractylodes Rhizome, Dong Quai, and Reishi; $29.
Above: The Daily Senses Hand Cream from Space of Time is created from bergamot, hinoki, petit grain, and grapefruit, all known for their stress-relieving properties; $38 at Space of Time.
See our previous guides for more gift ideas:
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