Little luxuries are those specialty items that aren’t exactly everyday-essentials, but are everyday-enhancers instead; like using a rose-infused hand cream, eating a square of dark chocolate, pouring a premium cup of tea, lighting a fancy candle, or writing in a new notebook. And while everyone appreciates a little luxury, many aren’t looking to spend the money on them — which is why they make excellent presents.
While they won’t break the bank if you’re in the market to give a gift, these purchases make for genuine sources of happiness to others, as objects that are a welcome addition to ordinary daily habits and recurring rituals. Whether you’re looking for a personal pick-me-up or a way to truly treat someone you adore, we’ve lined up 29 of these small indulgences ahead. Scroll on to shop our under $50 assortment and let us know what your favorite little luxuries are in the comments below.
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Vibrant Tea Towels
Happiness to some looks like a kitchen or bathroom sink that’s accented with a vibrant pair of handwoven cotton tea towels.
New Market Goods Rasmi Napkins (Pair), $24, available at New Market Goods
Flaky Sea Salt
Hand-harvested sea salt might be the ultimate foodie luxury. We mean, who has the time? If your giftee spends any time in the kitchen, they’ll accept this gift for the treasure it is.
Jacobsen Salt Co. Hand-Harvested Pure Sea Salt Flakes, 2 Pack, $20.95, available at Amazon
Superior Hand Soap
Nobody wants to buy expensive hand soap but anyone would be happy to receive expensive hand soap. A pump of this, "superior," and top-rated soap promises to gently cleanse hands without drying them out.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, $39, available at Nordstrom
Punchy Coffee Table Book
Let this Wes Anderson coffee table book serve as a punchy decor-piece and unique conversation-starter.
Matt Zoller Seitz The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel, $12.99, available at Amazon
Artful Soap Stones
This sleeve of artful soap stones in muted-rainbow hues will bring a splash of joy to home owners and guests alike.
Claus Porto Rainbow Guest Soap Box, $26, available at Net-A-Porter
Premium Lip Polish
Give the gift of a personal mini spa treatment with this exfoliating and nourishing blend of brown sugar crystals, shea butter, and jojoba oil.
Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, $24, available at Fresh
Premium Tea Blend
A dreary day could be turned around by pouring a premium cup of afternoon tea — this unique earl grey is an organic blend with bold flavor notes of juniper, jasmine, and bergamot.
Paper & Tea Brave New Earl Tea Caddy, $18, available at Need Supply Co
Personalized Photo Book
Share a collection of your favorite memories by storing them inside this stylish photo-book with a circular die-cut cover and foil-stamped accents. What a delight to receive this thoughtful gift!
Artifact Uprising Color Series Photo Book, $20, available at Artifact Uprising
Magnificent Mug
Sipping coffee or tea from a specialty mug turns formerly mundane tasks into something magnificently personal — and this pink-hued, borosilicate glass is ready to serve us that daily cup of magnificence.
Hay ‘Borosilicate mug’, pink, $25, available at WallpaperSTORE*
Healing Crystals
Give a pouch of colorful crystals for a dose of healing and empowering energy when they need it most.
Skin Gym Skin Gym Healing Crystals Pouch, $32, available at Free People
Roll-On Perfume
Roll-ons make a portable perfume pick-me-up possible wherever the day takes them — and this top-rated scent from Tocca is bursting with fresh and zesty notes of blood orange, lily, and sandalwood.
Tocca Fragrance Rollerball – Stella (0.33 fl oz.), $27, available at DermStore
Silk Eye Mask
Spoil them with a 100% silk sleep mask that doubles as a vibrant home accessory.
Sara Miller Silk Eye Mask – Giraffe, $35, available at Amara
Specialty Stationery
Writing everything from thank you to thinking of you notes on specialty stationery can serve as a therapeutic mood boost for both the penner and the recipient.
Paper Source Botanical Stationery Set, $19.95, available at Paper Source
Rich Hand Cream
Sure, any old lotion can serve as hand cream — but this specialty set of lemon- and rose-infused tubes is crafted with antioxidants for the silkiest, smoothest, and sweetest-smelling hands around.
Lanolips Intense Hand Cream Duo, $30, available at Net-A-Porter
Spunky Plant Friend
Add a dose of greenery along with an oxygen-boost to their apartment or office space with a spunky-looking plant friend potted in a chic-looking planter.
The Sill String of Pearls, $46, available at The Sill
Shiny New Notebook
Whether making grocery lists, jotting down to-dos, or journalling about the day, using a shiny new notebook makes the meaningful difference.
rubberband Nathalie Du Pasquier Notebook In Red, $12.5, available at Of A Kind
Unique Accessory
Adding a tiny touch of personal style to your hair can instantly elevate any outfit — just try it with a set of these popular, pearl-accented barrettes.
Hithop Artificial Pearl Barrettes, $2.65, available at Amazon
Soothing Facial Mist
Sometimes a spritz of rosewater and aloe-infused mist is all they need to feel instantly soothed on a stressful day.
Glossier Soothing Face Mist, $15, available at Glossier
Gourmet Chocolate
Heaven is a square (or the entire bar) of this Madagascar-bourbon and vanilla-infused gourmet chocolate bar.
Ritual Chocolate Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Chocolate Bar, $9.5, available at Mouth
All-Natural Room Spray
Elevate any stuffy room atmosphere with a spritz of all-natural and vegan room spray infused with eucalyptus, cedar, and laurel leaf essence. Sniff and ahhhhh.
MCMC Sea Glass Atmosphere Mist, $38, available at Need Supply Co
Purifying Sage Stick
Sage-ing intends to reinvigorate your space so that you in turn can feel reenergized — this smudge stick, made from a blend of white sage and roses with a vintage-fabric-wrapped amethyst stone, is meant to encourage purity, inner strength, and peace. It makes an excellent token gift for new apartment owners.
Catherine Rising Large White Sage Smudge Stick – Rose & Amethyst, $28, available at ban.do
Nourishing Body Oil
They’ll appreciate starting the day off by massaging a few small drops of this hydrating jasmin body oil onto pressure points for a soothing release and overall glow.
French Girl Organics Lumiere Jasmin – Body Glow Oil, $42, available at Antidote+
Whimsical Coasters
Save tables from water damage while also elevating the whimsical atmosphere inside your friend’s space with a set of pretty-patterned coasters.
Anthropologie Seedlings Coasters, Set of 6, $16, available at Anthropologie
Fancy Candle
Our recipe for an ultimate Monday wind-down? A hot bath, goblet of wine, and your favorite fancy candle.
Boy Smells Petal Candle, $32, available at ban.do
Bespoke Wine Glasses
Kick their "wine Wednesdays" up a luxurious notch by sipping your favorite vintage from a mouth-blown glass.
Anthropologie Webster Wine Glasses, Set of 4, $48, available at Anthropologie
Premium Jade Roller
Spread the jade-rolling party. The soothing morning massage routine relieves stress and tension while promoting enhanced skin circulation.
Kitsch Jade Roller, $28, available at Shopbop
Ceramic Catchall Tray
Whether they use a catchall tray to hold keys, jewelry, trinkets, or chocolates, this beautifully-patterned dish will elevate any area inside their space.
Octaevo Blue Mati Ceramic Tray, $40.06, available at Trouva
Statement-Making Notepad
Turn to-do lists into enjoyable works of art with this colorful, puzzle-piece notepad.
Moglea Tapestry Jotter, $16, available at Of A Kind
Statement Keychain
Help them keep track of keys with a keychain that feels good to see and to hold.
Graf Lantz Key Card Case Felt Granite, $19, available at Graf Lantz
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