Best Valentine's Gifts (2021): romantic presents they'll actually like
No corner shop chocolates, it's time for the ultimate heartfelt gifts
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Valentine's Day, though sweet, can sometimes be a little naff. Chocolate boxes and roses are all well and good, but they are clichés. If you're with someone who's not into traditional romance those gifts are probably not going to go down particularly well, either.
So in the name of love (and in the name of you not getting in trouble this February 14th), we've collected some actually good Valentine's gifts. Romantic, luxurious and classy, these will put you in the good books for at least another year.
Below you'll find a book, quality booze, some bigger buys and Valentine's-appropriate clothing that won't make your eyes roll out of your head.
And if you don't have a special someone? Well you may as well treat yourself to something nice...
- The best gin, taste tested
- The best flavoured gin: pink, orange and more
Valentine's Day: non-naff presents they'll actually like
If your other half is always on the lookout for new and exciting gins, this could be the perfect present. The Drinks by the Dram set contains five 30ml wax-sealed drams of gin including offerings from Elephant Gin, Herno Gin and That Boutique-y Gin Company’s Rhubarb Triangle Gin. To make it feel extra special, the set comes decorated with a marble-effect sleeve that even has room for you to write a small heartfelt message.
Ever thought about reducing your carbon footprint by buying that special someone something sustainable? Tree Nation's idea of a flowering tree is the ideal way to give back to the planet. With a number of initiatives and varieties of tree available, each tree has its carbon offset listed so you know exactly how much you're giving back to the planet. Starting at €1, there's really no reason to side step this as a potential winning present
Designed to slide into your pocket, this men’s fragrance from Yardley London is perfect if you’re just looking for something small (but not pointless) to give your other half. The scent is a combination of bergamot, lavender and tarragon, combined with the richer notes of sandalwood and patchouli. Ideal for men who travel a lot (as it’s hand luggage friendly) or who simply don’t like to carry a bag.
Looking for a present for the wine lover in your life? Does that wine lover also happen to be a fan of music? As it so happens, this horn-shaped horn decanter combines the best of both worlds and might just be the present you've been hunting for. Sure, it's not the cheapest of price tags, but if you're looking dig deep this Valentine's Day, this beautiful piece of glassware is well worth considering
If you're struggling to melt someones heart, look no further than Mochi Japanese ice cream (for something that will, quite literally, melt). Available in 12 flavours, including Salted Caramel, Match Green Tea, Madagascan Vanilla, Strawberries & Cream, the flavour combinations are definitely intriguing. The limited-edition Valentine's offerings are available at pop-up stores for £10 making them the perfect alternative dessert this Valentine's Day.
Taking inspiration from the classic cupcake, this limited-edition flavour has a fantastic dusky pink colour. That distinctive Baileys taste is still there, but is combined with additional flavours of chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting. A glass of this is the perfect accompaniment to a cozy night in. Rather have the cake? You can now buy Baileys Red Velvet Cupcakes thanks to The Hummingbird Bakery.
Cooking fans already drool over Le Creuset's beautiful kitchenware. So why not make it extra-romantic with this heart-shaped casserole dish? And it's not just stews or casseroles you can put in this bad boy: it can also be used for baking. So as well as looking good in the kitchen, it can also produce some very sweet looking heart-shaped cakes.
This handheld games console will make anybody happy this Valentine's Day. There are a huge host of games to buy for the console, too – Zelda, Pokemon, Super Mario Odyssey and more. Won't hurt for you to sneak a few plays, either...This is the cheaper version of the Switch, one that can't be docked to play on your TV. But we find we play handheld 90% of the time anyway.
This will really get you in somebody's good books – Jo Malone is a prestige brand for a reason. This richly scented candle also comes beautifully wrapped, so it'll look good when you hand it over, too.Scents include Lime, Basil & Mandarin, Wild Fig & Casis and Peony & Blush. But we have a particular soft spot for its Pomagranate Noir, which has notes of plum, raspberry and pink pepper as well as pomagranate.
For those of you with bookish partners, this London Review of Books essay collection combines romance with literature in utter style. Pieces about sex come from Mary Beard, Adam Phillips, Frank Kermode and more.It's no trite Hallmark card affair, though. Here's the description from the LRB: "the pieces in this book look at divorce, bisexuality, boy toys, masturbation, impotence, bodice-rippers and involuntary celibates (incels), as well as the erections of Christ and the erotic fantasies of the French Surrealists."
This delicious citrus scented soap from Acqua di Parma will make your partner smell amazing – so you'll reap the benefits too.You might not want to make this your sole Valentine's gift, unless you are trying to prove an unsubtle point about hygeine. But this makes a classy add-on present, particularly as the soap is made in Italy.
Want to play it slightly safer? You can't go wrong with bubble bath, and this luxury bath foam from organic brand Neom is just the ticket. Made with marshmallow, aloe leaf, coconut and sweet almond, a blend of essential oils makes this the ultimate calming gift.
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As Content Director of Shortlist, Marc likes nothing more than to compile endless lists of an evening by candlelight. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.



















