Little luxuries are all about elevating the everyday — those small indulgences that aren’t essential, but add a sense of joy and sophistication. It’s about items that take the ordinary and make it feel special, adding beauty, comfort, or a touch of excitement to your routine. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or treating yourself this holiday season, here’s our curated guide to the simple pleasures that can make life feel a little more luxurious. From skincare tools to subscriptions, these thoughtful gifts and personal treats are all about making life’s everyday moments feel more lavish.
Self-care Meets Skincare
If we were teaching an intro class on little luxuries, the first lesson would be investing in skincare as self-care — like taking the extra time for gua sha or dry brushing. For those looking to splurge, we’ve got our eye on the TheraFace Depuffing Wand. Making intentional choices to slow down and pamper yourself, even for just ten minutes, can make such a difference in your mood.
Upgrade Your Bath
Whether you choose Parachute, Tekla, or another brand, a bathrobe is a simple yet luxurious addition to any routine. With options in materials like Turkish cotton, muslin, or waffle, there’s something for every preference. We love the Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Body Wash for other bath upgrades. And for exfoliation, the Soft Services Buffing Bar is truly exceptional.
Fragrant Hand Soap
There’s nothing like washing your hands in warm water and being met with the scent of the most beautiful, fragrant hand soap. For a more classic take, you can never go wrong with the tried and true Aesop hand soap. You could even step it up a notch with one from Diptyque. And if you want to go wild, Loewe’s liquid soap gives that small moment of your day a luxe feel.
Niche Perfume Discovery Sets
Perfume is so subjective that getting a singular full-size bottle for someone as a gift is definitely a risk unless you know someone intimately. Instead, go for a discovery set. We love the idea of getting one from a niche brand to explore something new. For example, Gabar is a London-based fragrance brand that collaborates with emerging perfumers and is creating fragrance for the new generation. Björk and Berries is a Swedish brand that we first were drawn to after hearing their White Forest scent reminded people of Byredo’s beloved Bal D’Afrique. For a French fragrance house, Serge Lutens is one of our favorites.
Fun Little Drinks
One of the simplest ways we can think of to elevate our day is by treating ourselves to a fun little drink. It may seem small, but it’s something to look forward to. Whether it’s a midday pick-me-up or a mocktail while cooking dinner, these tiny delights never get old. Kin Euphorics recently came out with a new flavor called Luna Morada that we can’t get enough of. Matcha is another classic, but make sure to choose high-quality. We get ours from Rocky’s Matcha. And for something special at the end of the day, Ghia’s Le Spritz in lime & salt never fails us.
Cookbooks
Cookbooks make such a thoughtful gift, and we love building our collection, so we’re always excited to add a new one. Alison Roman’s cookbooks are practically household names by now, but if someone doesn’t have them yet, we highly recommend them. Ottolenghi’s cookbooks are another classic, as well as ones by Molly Baz. For more niche options, consider the Café Cecilia Cookbook, Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties, or a pre-order of The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook.
Luxury Candles
Candles get a bad reputation for being a “boring gift” or overplayed, but we couldn’t disagree more. Give us a Diptyque candle and we’ll wholeheartedly thank you.
Personalized Gifts
Who wouldn’t love the personal touch of a monogrammed item? Add one to a cashmere blanket or the classic L.L. Bean tote.
Subscriptions
What’s more of a little luxury than a subscription? Wind down with a mindfulness app like Open or Superhuman, or films on Mubi or Criterion Collection. Similarly, if you live in New York, The Roxy and Metrograph cinemas offer memberships as well.
