🎁 The Know’s thoughtful festive gift guide

We’ve pulled together our very best recommendations to bring you a thoughtful and affordable gift guide for 2024. Happy present giving!

📚 A second-hand book (£)
Taking note from a friend who gave me a thrifted cookbook for my birthday, this gift is a great way to show you care (sifting through piles of second-hand books) without spending a tonne. Make it extra special by writing a note in the book about why you selected this particular title.

👩‍🍳 Homemade toner (££)
It’s surprisingly easy and cheap to whip up a toner. This is a great basic recipe to tailor to the preferences of your giftee, with plenty of dreamy essential oil suggestions like frankincense and rose.

💄 All in One (£££)
Say hello to the ultimate me-time treat for your friends: Beauty Pie’s Super Beauty Holiday Haul bag. The brand is all about luxury products at affordable prices – and this set is no exception, ft. 14 full-size must-haves like the bestselling Japanfusion™ Pure Transforming Cleanser and ‎Superdrops™ Brightening Niacinamide. Beauty Pie members can make big savings on the bag (over £400!) so claim your 60-day free trial and get gifting! 

🥪 Kimchi (£)
We're so here for bold flavours and gut-friendly foods – and Esther’s been loving The Ferm’s zero-waste kimchi in her cheese toasties.

🥣 Soup in a jar (£)
Remember when cookie jars were all the rage? Soup in a jar is the perfect savoury alternative to keep warm during these cold, wintery nights. Here’s some recipe ideas to get you started.

🧺 Homemade hamper (££)
Grab a second-hand picnic hamper from your nearest charity shop and load it up with yummy goodies like chia seed jam, manchego-chorizo biscuits and cranberry pistachio white chocolate bark. Even better, round it off with a homemade bath bomb or second-hand book.

🫒 Olive oil (£££)
Grab a bottle from this small-batch, family-owned olive oil operation in Greece – guaranteed to add an extra oomph to your foodie friend’s culinary repertoire. 

🧖‍♀️ Homemade sugar scrub (£)
This olive oil lemony sugar scrub makes for the ideal DIY spa night at home. Even better, you probably have all the ingredients you need to whip this up – just pop it in a cute jar and tie a ribbon.

🛁 Bath bomb (££)
You just can’t go wrong with Lush. Hanna’s been gifting bath bombs for over a decade and they’re a hit every time – this intergalactic set is just too cute.

🛍️ Feel-good fragrance (£££)
MERIT, the minimalist beauty brand we’ve been loving recently, just launched their first ever fragrance, Retrospect. It’s a modern and clean take on subtle notes of vanilla and jasmine, without any stuffiness or sickly-sweetness, that’s sure to impress the perfume lovers in your life.

🍵 Tea please (£)
We’re loving this delicious set of Christmas teas from Shi Bui –  mulled spice, gingerbread and rooibos. Perfect for relaxing nights in.

🍹 Something different (££)
Inspired by Mahia, a traditional Moroccan spirit distilled from figs with notes of aniseed, Sahara is an indulgent option for anyone who likes absinthe or sambuca – bonus points for its sustainable and sleek bottle. 

🥃 Hot toddy essential (£££)
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a hot toddy – Hanna’s family’s go-to festive drink. She’s grabbing this bottle for her whiskey fanatic dad.

🧶 Crochet patterns (£)
Etsy is chock-full of easy-to-follow crochet patterns, so grab a couple for your crafty friends. There’s plenty of options under £5 – we’re loving this seaweed scrunchie and adorable sea turtle.  

🎨 Draw what you see (££)
This book is packed with colourful blots your artistic friends can transform into whatever their creativity takes them to. Inspired by hirameki – flash of inspiration in Japanese – it’s a fun take on the Rorschach Inkblot Test. 

🏺 Pottery kits (£££)
These customisable pottery kits have all you need for at-home pottery seshes. Perfect for a friend who loves hosting get-togethers.

🌱 Seeds seeds seeds (£)
Mix and match these stocking filler seeds, with beautiful illustrations depicting the type of flower inside.

🧑‍🌾 Skincare set (££)
Make sure your gardening friends are tending to their hands as much as they are their plants with this hand care set from The Woodland Trust.

🪴 Terrarium set (£££)
This DIY terrarium set is a great project for seasoned gardeners looking to bring a little bit of nature in their homes. 

🧦 Travel in comfort (£)
These sustainable compression socks are an essential for long-haul flights and road trips.

🛂 Passport protection (££)
This vegan leather passport holder comes with a needle & thread to cross stitch all the destinations you’ve been to.

👜 Function meets fashion (£££)
The ideal travel bag should include waterproof material, a roomy interior and multiple strap options. This mini tote from Rain’s has it all.

😴 Sleepwear style (£)
This luxurious silk eye mask is perfect for friends who like to sleep in style. Lynn can’t doze off without one.

🧥 Stay warm and informed (££)
We have to plug our own merch here – if you’ve got a friend who loves The Know, gift them one of our stylish and sustainable sweatshirts. 

💍 Silver staples  (£££)
There’s no better way to make a loved one feel special than with gorgeous jewellery – like this pair of handmade-to-order silver hoops. 

☺️ Morning reset  (£)
Start your day on a positive note with mindfulness daily affirmation cards set.

🕯️ Inhale, exhale (££)
Add an extra touch of serenity to your friends’ meditation practices with these deliciously scented candles.

👩 Luscious locks (£££)
Give the gift of glowing hair with femme health’s carefully-curated Hairburst bundle. The whole site is packed full of vitamins, supplements and other goodies perfect for any wellness-focused friends.

🧘 Sun salutation (£)
Leave your yoga mat ready for your next flow with this cleaning spray that smells like the ocean breeze.

🏃 Wearable workout (££)
These Bala Bangles are the perfect addition to at home workouts. Hanna loves taking her pilates up a notch with these strap-on weights around her ankles.

🤸 Try out something new (£-£££)
Classpass offers users a wide range of fitness classes from reformer pilates to kickboxing. With their gift cards you can choose the amount to give your gym rat friend so they can try out whatever class their heart desires.

We hope this guide provides some inspiration for the festive season! ❤️ And if you have an idea for a handmade gift you’d like to share with your fellow readers, just comment below!