Surprising your loved ones with a splurge-worthy candle or that fancy Dutch oven is a hallmark (no pun intended) of the holiday season, but if you ask me, the real way to test one’s gift-giving prowess is by sticking to a budget. Whether you’re looking to add a few stocking stuffers (look no further than this handsome bottle opener) to your shopping cart, or want to have a just-in-case gift handy for that coworker who might surprise you with something (no one can resist a box of these caffeinated Hawaiian chocolates), consider this collection of the best gifts under $25 the antidote to any impulse you feel to gift ho-hum gift card.
Jump straight to some of the best gifts under $25:
- The cheeriest bottle opener: Monsieur Fizz Bottle Opener, $15 at Ghia
- A bright and citrusy upgrade to your sea salt: JSC x Apricot Lane Farms Citrus Orchard Salt, $20 at Jacobsen Salt Co.
- Candles to make your home merry and bright: Tree Taper Candles, $12 at Anthropologie
- Bonbons with a caffeinated kick: Kona Coffee Caramel Bonbons, $20 at Koho Chocolates
You’ll want to keep this chic limited edition tin from the Swedish candy mavens at BonBon long after you’ve eaten that last piece of sour fish or salty licorice twist. The miniature size is just right for storing jewelry, charging cords, and matchbooks—or, you could just refill it with more candy. We won’t tell.
I’ve never felt emotionally attached to a bottle opener before, but I’m proud to say that Monsieur Fizz has quickly become the belle (or, rather, the gentleman) of my home bar. This cheerful stainless-steel bottle opener from the design geniuses at Ghia is technically intended for popping open bottles of Le Fizz, the brand’s dry nonalcoholic bubbly drink that feels right at home on any festive spread but works with any crown-capped bottle, from beer to pét-nat.
Thanks to some of our favorite roasters, like Partners Coffee, the oft-maligned world of instant coffee has come a long way in recent years. Each box has six sachets of dehydrated coffee to make your next flight, train ride, drive, or AirBnB stay feel a bit more like home. Gift a pack to the instant coffee skeptic who can’t go a day without a proper cup of coffee, and wait for them to come around.
If you close your eyes and take a good whiff of Jacobsen Salt Company’s sea salt made in collaboration with Apricot Lane Farms, you might as well find yourself in the orchards. This unique, super-fragrant blend of lemon, oro blanco grapefruit, and orange zest is infused with Jacobsen’s flake salt harvested from Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast. So far I’ve used it as a finishing salt on sugar cookies as well as olive oil cake, but I find it also makes a fantastic rim garnish for a citrus-forward margarita or paloma cocktail.
Crunchy, nutty, and slightly spicy, this versatile topping is the perfect sad desk lunch upgrade for the coworker in your life who could use a bit more flavor. Whether they’re adding a dollop to avocado toast or smearing a spoonful on a slice of leftover pizza, the Mexican answer to chili crisp from Somos is an upgrade for every meal of the day.
If you wish you could fit a towering Christmas tree in your apartment, a set of these whimsical, tree-shaped taper candles is almost as exciting. Unscented with a 10-hour burn time, a set of these candles will keep the dinner party discussion well-lit and festive well into the late night hours. Mix and match colors to add a magical forest vibe to your table.
We’re always excited when French perfumery Diptyque’s holiday collection drops, and this limited edition matchbook is the perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite phillumenist. Designed by artist Lucy Sparrow, these pieces feature art with gingerbread, candy canes, pinecones, and a shiny gold foil Diptyque seal that makes each box bound to earn a spot on a coffee table or mantle.
Made with Hawaiian Kona coffee, these eye-catching bonbons make for a delightful and unexpected nightcap, especially when paired with an espresso martini or a glass of amaro. While the coffee flavor is impossible to miss, the smooth combination of coffee and caramel make for a balanced bite. Plus, the pastel box is pretty enough to gift without wrapping.
These striped, top-stitched potholders from Dusen Dusen make holding on to a hot casserole dish or pan both safe and stylish. The loop makes it easy to hang from a hook or knob, and the colorful pattern adds a pop of cheer to even the drabbest of rental apartment kitchens. They also function as trivets, so you can bring yours from stove to tabletop.
Made of crystal glass and sturdy silicone, these gem-like bottle stoppers from Brooklyn-based design studio Fort Standard are sure to come in handy during the festive season and beyond. Aside from prolonging the life of your favorite drinks, they just look much more fun than a cork or plastic stopper that’s been shoved back into an open bottle.
This shiny bag of milk chocolates is sure to delight the tinned fish fanatic who probably doesn’t need another package of sardines, but still wants to scratch that proverbial itch. It’s a playful stocking stuffer that you can break up among friends or gift as a set—no fishy flavor included.