A 2022 Gift Directory

A list of the best tried-and-tested gifts (treats and tchotchkes) to buy for others and yourself. Season’s greetings!

Treats:

Edible Gifts

Zealo

This artisanal food label's ladoos look like the petits bonbons you'd find in a Parisian vitrine. Brides and grooms, say “I do” to their luxury hampers packed and curated to suit your wedding theme, featuring ladoos and mithais but also the chic-est chikki, namkeen, nuts and granola; customisation also available for baby showers and birth announcements. Meanwhile, their gift boxes are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries and corporate gifting. The fact that everything is handcrafted in small batches without milk, processed sugar or artificial ingredients, makes a Zealo gift not just tasty, but thoughtful too.

Shop at zealofoods.com, call 9820821188, Instagram, starts at Rs 320, gift box size, design, message and logo can be customised, shipping across India.

VS Mani & Co.

Filter coffee, snacks and spices from a Chennai family home to yours. Our favourite thing to gift is their coffee pack coupled with a brass filter coffee tumbler and saucer so you can enjoy the experience the way VS, their Thatha did.

Shop at vsmani.com, Instagram, starts at Rs 90.

TwentySeven Bakehouse

Kouign-amman has been famously described by the NYT as “the fattiest pastry in all of Europe”. Baker and pastry chef Rachelle Andrade (ex Mag St Kitchen, Qualia)’s version for TwentySeven Bakehouse pushes that superlative to the max, by filling the confection with a lush salted caramel that makes you want to sit down in a quiet spot and focus on how indulgent the moment feels. Details on this new bakery by the owner of Masque, here.

WhatsApp 9372515271, Unit 27, Shree Laxmi Woollen Mills, Shakti Mills Lane, Mahalakshmi, Instagram, Facebook.

Sundooq

Gorgeous ready-to-eat/cook heirloom meals designed for the modern Indian table. These help you celebrate regional Indian kitchens, minus the complexity of sourcing the right ingredients and having the technical cooking expertise; try the Dohneiiong. Gift box versions are wrapped in lush silks, minimum 10 boxes required for customisation.

Shop at www.sundooq.in, 9910902546, Instagram, starts at Rs 290.

Sober & Co

Onyx coloured bottles hold the best ready-to-drink, handcrafted beverages designed for the sober and tipsy alike. Crack open and drink as is or spike and stir. Sober & Co’s mixologist Devi Singh (World Class Winner 2019) has ensured that there is a flavour profile for every taste bud, so shop and sip these delicious drinks: Spanish Margarita, Australian Sour, Goan Mule, Cuban Spritzer, Caribbean Punch, Mexican Mama. PS: they do fun hampers as well. 

www.soberandco.in, 8910248232, shop via Instagram or Amazon, starts at Rs Rs 99 for a bottle. A pack of 4 costs Rs 396 and a pack of 6 costs Rs 594. 

Purebrot

For friends who pick flours over flowers: a Loaf Mark awarded German style sourdough bread made in Alibaug and delivered across the sea to Mumbai. Look into gifting their bread subscriptions, order 48 hours in advance.

purebrot.com, Instagram, starts at Rs 195.

Pistabarfi

Is there anything sweeter than a box of mini kaju katlis swaddled in linen fabric and slid into a slipcase created by Padma Shri awardee Gond artist Bhajju Shyam? No, there isn’t. File this under ‘advertising professional takes over family legacy mithai shop’. Pan India delivery, great for thoughtful personal + corporate gifting

8169973967, DM @ Instagram, starts at Rs 399 for a box.

Parisserie

While swimming in an obsidian-black granite pool, surrounded by swaying pampas, is the first time we spooned a Parisserie orange marmalade-chocolate cake. The luxury of that moment can be found in everything else this patisserie crafts - French dessert with a present-day twist. Founders Nayantara Thomas (Le Cordon Bleu, London) and Farah Shroff (Ferrandi, The French School of Culinary Arts) are baking up a storm in anticipation of your festive needs (mixed boxes can be curated), with a spotlight on picture-perfect, super complex entremets (so pretty to gift!), as well as petit gateaux, handcrafted bonbons and marzipan chocolates.

Shop at www.parisserie.in, see menu here, 9619331166, Instagram, starts at Rs 300.

Off The Hook

Things are going swimmingly over at Off The Hook, which delivers astonishingly fresh, top quality lobster and ready-to-eat crab meat for your sexy festival soiree. PS: they also export seafood to luxe resorts in the Maldives, so you’ve probably tried their catch already. Wanna make a reel?

Shop at www.offthehook.in, Breach candy: 9819055705 /Bandra: 9920051600, Instagram.

Hemptyful

Hipster + health alert! Based on reams of research, Hemptyful stone grinds their hemp seed butters in small batches at their own FSSAI licensed facility to create 5 varieties - Unsweetened, Sweetened, Salt & Pepper Dip, Garlic Thyme & Chocolate. These are packed with superfood hemp, ensuring that your party grazing tables / gift boxes are LIT with protein, omegas, vitamins & minerals. Tip: the Salt & Pepper can be converted into a delish salad dressing by adding white wine vinegar, jaggery & lime; pair Chocolate with pancakes.

Shop at hemptyful.com, 9019598389, Instagram.

Gourmaison

The Goliath of all grazing boards, Gourmaison’s platters feature handcrafted cheese moulded into bonbons, studded with truffle honey nut crunch and chives, togarashi and sesame; plus fruit, crackers and other accoutrement. These come pre-assembled, ready to open up to “ooohs and aaahs” around a party table - yours or the host's.

9930173782, Instagram, starts at Rs 300.

The Fungamental Company

Imagine getting a box of tutu-pink trumpet mushrooms in the mail, beautiful fanned out fungi that were originally destined for a fancy restaurant kitchen. Say hello to The Fungamental Company, a new service - mostly B to B, but not for long - that grows and delivers luxe small-batch mushrooms like Golden Enochi, Japanese Lion's Mane, Pink Trumpets and 5 types of Oysters. Ask nicely and they'll try and include you in their mailing list when they have surplus stock. We're fans of this fungi!

6364859507, Instagram, starts at Rs 1,000.

Flour Girl

This Flour Girl, who spent most of the lockdown baking in Alibag and topping her creations with foraged flowers, is back in Mumbai! Her “pick-up only” policy is strict but worth it, when you bite into her chocolate-orange tart or cut into chocolate-rum cream cake festooned with florals.

DM on Instagram, 9769052654, pick up from Peddar Road, starts at Rs 500. 

Eighth by Anurita

Chef Anurita's toasted almond sponge cake bejewelled with fat, juicy strawberries, is a sweet reminder that Christmas is just around the corner. For years now, we've ordered and loved all her classics - cookies, tea cakes and birthday gateaux - but this month we suggest you dive into seasonal specials. Think berry chocolate eclairs festooned with flowers; fruit tarts; and a strawberry-cream cake that we dream of eating in an English field. PS: Eighth has a slick, new website that makes ordering super simple.

Shop at www.eighthbyanurita.in, 9820267003, Instagram, starts at Rs 250.

Craft Spirits

Cheers to these fun (some new) booze brands: Short Story spirits (grain vodka, white rum and dry gin); Goan craft beer Susegado; Earth Rustic Spiced Rum; handcrafted Valentino’s Bitters; Pursue hard seltzer; and Maya Pistola Agavepura, 100% agave, no-hangover spirit that’s finally slated to launch in Mumbai at the end of October!

PS: Susegao and Earth available only in Goa.

Commis Station

For seriously mean namkeen, order chef Divesh's tempura sweet potato fries and Jerusalem artichoke chips. The ex head chef from Mag St. Kitchen & The Table also whips up condiments, ready-to-cook staples, confectionery and baked goods.

7506430004, Instagram, starts at Rs 110.

Chocolove

A set of silken, glossy dragees enclosed in a see-through acrylic case is quite possibly the sexiest box of chocolates you can send out this holiday season. Chocolove's Chocolaterie Collection also stars artisanal handcrafted truffles (we love the Ghana Ganache), rich chocolate dates, Overload hazelnut barks, chocolate bars covered in freeze-dried raspberries, among other treats that are luxe enough to take to your fanciest party. See also their hampers & gourmet gift boxes

Order at chocolove.in or visit 401, Ramkrishna Chambers, opp Maple, Linking Road, Khar (W), 9820735358 / 8104142686, Instagram.

Brown Koji Boy

Founder Prachet Sancheti is quickly becoming the face of ferments in India, supplying to some of the best Goa restaurants including Roboto, Makutsu and Sublime. His "no-fuss" preservative-and-additive-free product line uses Asian fermentation techniques to showcase Indian produce, resulting in the best Smoked Tomato Tamari, Vegan Mushroom XO Sauce and more. PS: some of his experiments include making miso from poie and beverages from Goan red rice.

Shop at brownkojiboy.com or DM on Instagram, starts at Rs 450.

Bottega Italica

It sure feels like Christmas when you’re eating cookies that call themselves Kisses of Angels. Made by Mirella Fiore, a multi-tasking Venetian in Mumbai - professional pianist, jewellery designer - the recipe for these biscuits - tiny mounds of hazelnut cookies sandwiching pats of chocolate - has been in Mirella’s Italian family for over 200 years.

Call 9820612888, follow on Instagram here, Rs 850 for 14 Kisses of Angels.

Bono

The Chesson sisters provide lessons in how to be cool, with their boutique ice cream brand, Bono, scooping up flavours like dark chocolate Italian truffle oil, birthday cake, lemon curd marshmallow, Nutella sea salt, vegan peanut butter jam & more. With degrees in pastry and psychology complete, Alyssa and Simone Chesson come equipped to create preservative free, cheeky flavours that are perfect to gift this season. While we have their Dark chocolate sea salt on repeat, they also urge us (and you) to stop by their brand new Colaba experience centre, where the Chessons are constantly experimenting with new flavours, which are continuously being churned & readied for you to spoon.

Order via Swiggy or visit Bono, 3rd Floor, Kamal Mansion, Apollo Bandar, Colaba & they also stock at Premsons at Breach Candy, Bandra: 9819758593, Colaba: 9820366520 & Alibaug: 7304452144, Instagram, start at Rs 150 for per scoop & Rs 210 for per tub -125ml.

Bombay Sweet Shop

Our favourite hip halwai has a chocolate-mithai alloy that they call the Indie Chocolate Bar. Layered with pepper caramel, coconut fluff, patissa and decadent dark chocolate, and dressed in vermillion red and caramel coloured wrappers, these are a joy to gorge and gift. See the rest of their seasonal offerings - including a cute Cutting Katli box - here. Delivery across India.

9136192636, bombaysweetshop.com, Instagram, starts at Rs 300.

Begum Victoria

Bangalore's dreamy artisanal cheese brand by chef Manu Chandra (ex Olive) is now well spread across Mumbai. While we love their sweet, buttery, mushroom-y brie & smoked apple honey, let us draw your attention towards this round gift box where you will find fan favourites - brie, cheddar and manchego, plus limited edition Pecan & Dill Soft Cheese, served with olives and crackers. All hail this Begum! PS: Chandra uses very very carefully sourced organic A2 milk to make cheese, which is their stand-out feature.

To shop, DM on Instagram, 09731669332, starts at Rs 270.

Basque

Best.Cheesecake.In.Bombay. This Basque-style crustless confection shows off a dark, glossy caramelised outside and a pillowy, buttery, melting inside. Available in vanilla, lemon, salted caramel and a new chocolate hazelnut; packed with brown paper & baby’s breath - great for gifting.

9611123201, Instagram, starts at Rs 1,100.

Appetize

What’s more festive than a crunchy snack made from pistachios and roses? This is just one of the many traditional Indian snacks, mouth freshers and palate cleansers that are re-imagined by Appetize in modern avatars and packed in pastel sachets for on-the-go, healthy snacking. Shop candied pecans, neem and acacia crunch, walnut sandwiches, spiced nuts to pair with your drinks. These gourmet edibles are clean, nourishing and guilt-free - great for gifting but also for bedside snacking.

9820345859, Instagram, starts at Rs 210 for 100 gms.

Aazol

Aazol sources traditionally-made authentic food products from self-help groups and women micro-entrepreneurs across Maharashtra at fair prices, and presents them to us as quality-checked, well-packaged edibles. Industrialist & gourmand Harsh Goenka enjoyed their Maharashtrian masalas enough to offer them a testimonial. Follow his cart lead but also shop soft coconut jaggery chikki, jumbo black raisins & mahua ladoos for your festival thali; plus Solapuri peanut chutney to elevate any party snack. That last one’s the Laxmi bomb!

Shop at aazol.in or 402 Sun Rise Building, Pali Naka, Bandra(W), 7400470490, Instagram.

Aasha Asia

Japanese organic farming expert Dr Teruo Miura taught famers in Allahabad how to grow Japanese produce, which they started supplying to Japanese corporates living in India. Now, you can order soy sauce, miso, Aigamo sushi rice, dried oyster mushrooms directly from them! Ms Keiko Kawaguchi over at the collective has a festive tip: “If you like kheer, our Japanese cracked rice works beautifully.” Well, arigato and season’s greetings!

8318562427 / 05322684306 or [email protected], Facebook, Rs 380 for 1,000 ml soy sauce.

Tchotchkes:

Objects of Our Affection

Zookeeper

This is where the wild things are. An e-boutique for children’s decor and lifestyle, the Zookeeper’s animal kingdom offers the cutest kiddie gifts like this All The Wild Things quilt; a snake skin print storage box that says ‘HISS’ (also the sound that fireworks make); and a Treasure Hunt height chart with important lessons - ‘a butterfly is tiny but can fly high’. Plus, animal face wall masks that work for grown up rooms too. I bought a zoo!

Shop at zookeeper.store, Instagram, Facebook, starts at Rs 1,500.

VOLT

Wouldn’t it be great if your sheets smelled like Morning Dew or if your favorite Indian-wear that's been sitting around in your wardrobe, smelled like a Zen Garden? Presenting VOLT’s eco friendly, chemical-free, hypoallergenic Laundry Fragrance Boosters for the ultimate posh wash in your spring cleaning routine.

Shop at www.volthome.in, Instagram, starts at Rs 575.

Valliyan

This multi-coloured Cuban chain crafted with Swarovski crystals is the sparkle of the season. Designed by designer-influencer Nitya Arora (there’s a matching bracelet too!) it goes with any Indian ensemble, as do these polki inspired ones. PS: Valliyan’s bling has been spotted on celebrities like Katy Perry and Ranveer Singh! Our fav: metallic shell pendant necklace that at once works for festive nights and Goa days.

Shop at valliyan.com, Instagram, starts at Rs 1,800.

Typsy Beauty

Typsy Beauty's goods are equal parts sexy and sassy, a "millennial beauty brand" that sells rose gold-encased lipsticks, credit-card enclosed highlighters and faux lashes that can make hearts flutter. Developed at top labs in Italy & Korea, we love how a whole batch of their products perform double duties. See dual eyeliner + kajal pen (our fav!); three-toned Cha-Ching blush; multi-tasking eyeshadow palettes & more. For the indecisive, Typsy has created assorted gift sets, great for back-presents, and later this year for stocking stuffers.

Shop at www.typsybeauty.com, Instagram, starts at Rs 650.

Tula

Tula is envisioned as “a symphony of small gestures where each object is a note”, resulting in a string of the loveliest everyday products. See hand-knotted jute Mandi Bags; sun-coloured Rozana glasses; ivory Meena cups; and our favourite Pankha hand fans fitted with leather handles. Air to the throne, this one. PS: all products are slow made in small batches and no two objects are ever exactly the same.

Shop at tulahome.in, Instagram, starts at Rs 500.

The Metal Project

Here, metal arches gracefully to the will of its maker - design architect Dishaa Saigal - who crafts furniture for homes in need of an elegant upgrade without breaking the bank. Our favourite pieces cover our (and your) two favourite pastimes - reading & cocktail-ing. This monochrome Mini Bar and Vault Cabinet are all curves and storage; while this Mesh bookshelf and Chao Cabinet can hold all your stories, even the most audacious ones.

Shop at www.themetalproject.co.in, 9820211190, Instagram, Facebook, starts at Rs 2,000.

Sunday Forever

Everyday essentials are elevated at Sunday Forever where silk is sourced from a region that has a 4000 year history in quality silk rearing. So, every handcrafted noir scruchie and sleep eye mask, champagne gold pillowcase and headband, and metallic grey cami night suit feels like an investment in self-love. Great for Christmas and bridal gifting.

Shop at www.sundayforever.in, Instagram, starts at Rs 1,299.

Secret Alchemist

You know that friend that you love but who makes you want to tear your hair out? Gift her Secret Alchemist's Nourish Hair Oil; and the cousin who texts in the middle of the night? She would benefit greatly from the Dream Sleep Inducing Oil. In fact, brewed by a mother - daughter aromatherapist duo with over two decades of experience, we're betting that Secret Alchemist offers a wellness product perfect for all the eccentric extras in your life. Plus, everything is eco-friendly, super effective, 100% natural and made with yummy, balanced ingredients like juniper, lavender, rosemary and more - so don't forget to shop for yourself.

Shop at www.secretalchemist.com, find them on Instagram, Rs 999 for Revive Anti Hairfall Oil.

Sadhev

Better than a bunch of flowers: to be gifted rose water that’s built on the back of 200 year-old ancestral wisdom. Take your gift cart to Sadhev this season, a luxe beauty brand run by a family of artisanal ayurvaids whose roots go back to Kerala. Everything sounds festive in the way of clean, new beginnings and rich Indian ingredients: think Saffron Gel with Kumkumadi Thailam; coconut shower oil, rose water and Blue Water Lily lotion. Also see Sadhev’s gift boxes where bestsellers are grouped together in pretty floral boxes.

Shop at www.sadhev.com, Instagram, Facebook, starts at Rs 800.

Rasā Beauty & Wellness

Permission to pitch chyawanprash in a chic, new avatar please? Presenting Rasā Beauty and Wellness’ potent health tonic, Ojas - “chyawanprash in liquid form”- which can be added with a dropper to water, juice, tea. As you may have guessed, this online apothecary specialises in formulations with deep roots in alternative medicine, from luxurious plant based Ayurvedic oils for skin & hair to nourishing Badri cow ghee and small batch honeys from the higher elevations of the Himalayas. From the beauty shelf, seek out their rich, golden Supercritical Saffron Face Oil, Carū that feels vital and velvety and won’t break the bank.

Shop at www.rasabeauty.com, call 9821338699, Instagram, starts at Rs 200.

Pahadi local

Stay high with Pahadi Local, one of our favourite beauty and wellness brands that brings the bounty of the mountains to stressed out city folk. What first relied on intuition and founder-led foraging at local orchards, now also makes room for professional researchers, scientists, horticulturists. Together, they create magic via saffron mists, acacia honey, face wash made from sediments of high altitude Ladakh lakes, Himalayan clay masks, cold pressed almond oils, apricot exfoliators and more. 

Shop at pahadilocal.com, 7506336263, Instagram, starts at Rs 500.

The Oddyssea

Don't be surprised if you hear the ocean when you hold a candle from The Oddyssea up to your ear. Shell out your gift budget for their Maiden Voyage collection of candles inspired by all things nautical. No matter which of their three fragrances you choose to light - Driftwood, Re Ashore or Sail Away - we promise that your experience will be akin to a relaxing day spent at the beach. It doesn't hurt that these luxurious candles are vegan, paraben-free and built with lead-free cotton wicks, high quality fragrance oils and natural soy wax. Best of all, they sell candle refills - this sustainable ship is one of our faves!

Shop at www.theoddyssea.com, 9930015518, Instagram, Rs 999.

Native Apothecary

Swap fresh blooms for zero-waste, luxurious dry flower arrangements courtesy Native Apothecary that first introduced us to Bunny Tail stems - adorable, sturdy and zero shedding. They also do bunches of fresh to dried lavender, and a pastel arrangement they call Casatta ice cream. Heart melt.

Shop at www.nativeapothecary.in, Instagram, starts at Rs 899.

Little Flower Farms

Rekha Thomas runs a lovely B&B in Kerala’s hill station Vagamon, where a grove of pine trees were imported from Europe and planted thirty years ago. Every year, she makes Christmas wreaths made with foraged pine cones and leaves from those very trees, but also with scraps of red and green Kalamkari and block printed fabric which lend the wreath a cute Indian aesthetic. Proceeds go to a charity of her choice; details out on their Instagram next week.

To order, DM them on Instagram, starts at Rs 1,000.

Inka

Inka celebrates all there is to love about home. Honouring their artisans and the ancient craft of hand block printing, each collection offers beautifully hand printed bed linen - sheets, razais, duvet covers, dohars, throws and an array of cushions. Snuggle up in their Guldasta crimson razai or spend a cozy Sunday afternoon in their Fleur ombre throw; indulge yourself or gift their lovely Jali indigo or Ruhi Raspberry bath linen collections to friends and family. Standing by Inka's motto, "love where you live", they are environmentally conscious too, and aim to do their bit to protect the home we all share.

Shop at inka.co.in, Instagram, starts at Rs 550.

Half Dot Design

This Jaipur gem combines the joy of old-world craftsmanship with modern design blueprints to bring us playful objects that are so much fun to buy and gift. Here, wood and cane combine with ease to make wall clocks and bar trays, a sculptural tissue box reminiscent of an art deco doorway, and a little lamp called Touch Wood, which at Rs 1,700 is a cheap-chic present to send friends in need of a bedside reading lamp. Combine with a novel (see our recommendations here) and you've got yourself a winning duet.

Shop at www.halfdotdesign.com, 9462268677, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin, starts at Rs 250.

Gradient

We first spotted this Gradient piece inspired by Japanese sand art, on the Instagram feed of Samir Wadekar , interior stylist to the rich and famous. Since then, we've been goggling at their minimalist artworks that employ a playful fusion of art and design techniques from around the world. Thumb through their feed or DM for a catalogue to find ultra cool geometric works crafted mostly from plaster; think terracotta spheres, thick ivory strokes, ochre dunes and sometimes, just to surprise you, pops of turmeric yellow circles on canvas. These are custom made and surprisingly inexpensive.

Visit www.gradientindia.com, 8308095710, Instagram.

Eira

Appearing like luxurious little pats of butter, Eira’s box of vegan Wax Melts are seriously wick-ed. Just pop one of these wax cubes in the top cavity of your oil diffuser, burn a tea light underneath et voila! Available in 5 woody, floral, citrus and herbal fragrances, each provides up to 30 burning hours and this gift set is just so apt for Christmas. Apart from these, Eira makes some seriously sexy good-for-the-earth-and-you candles as well.

Shop at www.worldofeira.in, 8296038927, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook, starts at 1,100.

Ecru

Two besties - Noor and Nur - bring all the light to us via Ecru, a Kuwait based lifestyle brand that’s “inspired by the ethos and culture of Arab hospitality”. Recently, Ecru gained a gorgeous Jaipur address, but they let you shop online too, selling pricey but pretty palm etched glasses; hand-carved marble juicer; calligraphy grazing board; beach mattress, brass Arabic alphabet charms.

Shop at ecruonline.in or B8 Durgadas Colony, Bhawani Singh Road, C Scheme, Jaipur, 8905940804, Instagram, start at Rs 1,200.

Dehaati Design

A maker from Kachchh presents a clutch of pure clay products, created by traditional potters in Gujarat. Shop calming white clay water jugs coiled with hemp; and red clay water bottles braided in cotton. Idea for when you want to keep your drink and head, cool. 

Dehaati Design Studio, Kutch, Gujarat, www.dehati.in, 9712955081/9586855083, Instagram.

Curiouser

The surrealism-meets-minimalist designs at Curiouser remind us of a visit we made many years ago to the Lrnce studio in Marrakesh; and they have the added benefit of being much closer to home. The line drawings of sisters Priyanka and Sravanti - invoking fat-lipped ladies and large flowers - find their way onto stationery, prints, and a set of stoneware that feels fresh and perfect for the holiday season. We especially love a set of inky platters called Secret Ingredient, perfect for your most mysterious friend.

Shop at www.curiouser.in, 9108338185, Instagram, Facebook, starts at Rs 490.

Curated Curiosities

Last seen at New York Fashion Week this year, Curated Curiosities makes bold acrylic earrings in super striking colours. In addition to using discarded acrylic, they also upcycle waste fabric and wood to ensure that their gems are green and good for the environment.

Shop at curatedcuriosities.in, Instagram, starts at Rs 1,250.

Clayventures

Sally Rooney would approve of this Conversation with Friends, a clay story that can complete the narrative at any grazing table. The Chip&Dip two tier bowl is the cool, complex protagonist in this collection (best party host gift!), with nude multi-faceted tea cups, Grooving pasta bowls and cerulean blue coasters making for a perfect supporting cast. PS: Founder Raji Devta is a product designer who went to The Golden Bridge pottery school in Pondicherry. Aura-ville!

Shop at www.clayventures.in, 9904401068, Instagram, starts at Rs 420.

Celsius

We may as well hand over our passports to our new flames over at Celsius, whose candles are meant to let you “travel to far away places without ever leaving home”. Their new line of six fragrances - Calm, Happy, Awake, Fresh, Relax and Focus - offer good scents of mango sherbet, vanilla musk, Himalayan Magnolia and more. Yum! Each comes with a maximum burn of 40 hours, available as single candles or Best Buds Bundle (set of 3).

Shop via Instagram or Whatsapp on 919429988760, starts at Rs 799.

Bombay Kids Company

It’s not all child’s play over at Bombay Kids Company that sources the best gifts for grown ups too. First, a Sunny Life line for the best pool paraphernalia and loungers: barely there, see-through holographic float beds and metallic wine coolers for Maldivian moments and Alibaug host presents. Next, super chic French brand OMY’s giant colour-in posters as well as the cutest OOLY stationery; see erasable highlighters and sketch pads.

Shop at www.bombaykidscompany.com, Instagram, starts at Rs 1,500.

Beyond Milk

When a family-owned cow farm thinks beyond milk, the result is a range of by-products that are at once, super sustainable & super cool. For instance, they make floral and woody incense cones from dung(!) that are free of chemicals, cruelty & air-polluting bamboo. These are packed in the cutest illustrated boxes, a LIT present for your fiercest eco-warrior friend. PS: first-timers, lighting these cones is like conducting a mini havan to bring good vibes.

Shop at www.beyondmilk.co.in, Instagram, call 8928818753 for corporate & wedding gifts.

Art And Charlie

We’re canvas-ing for this new Pali Village art gallery, which also houses a design store stocked with hot hipster prezzies - zines, prints by emerging artists, art objects and totes. Our favourites: Princess Pea figurines; Why Can’t Bras Have Buttons zine; Handful of Lightning print by Aayna Vinaya; Daak Vaak’s postcard sets. The gallery has a mini Subko too, so although you can shop online, we recommend you drop by for brush hour.

Shop at www.artandcharlie.com, Design Store at 71A Pali Village, Bandra (W), 9913568686, Instagram.

Angel Figurines

You’ll be the new angel investor in town when you splurge ten thousand and up on Wishing Well’s pretty, made-to-order Burton-esque angel dolls that go from two feet to ten feet high. Former ad professional and fashion mag editor Soojata uses a combination of fabric treated with a leathery, water-resistant finish, ceramics, dental plaster, M-Seal and papier mache to create each doll whose skirt, torso and wings are detachable (how deliciously dark!). Also, each angel is home delivered in "long coffin-like boxes". Have yourself a m-eerie little Christmas! 

Call 9870098635, starts at Rs 10,000.

Akiiko

Best.gift.box.ever! Half waffle cloth, half kraft paper, Akiiko’s present packaging solution almost makes the inside gift irrelevant. We said almost. This eco-conscious Indian label with Japandi (Japanese + Scandinavian) sensibilities, also crafts magnificently minimal white dining set gift boxes filled with things like foldable bread baskets, mats and cutlery cases made with canvas.Their tea box set uses cotton rope and linen to bind together tea mats, coasters, napkins and handmade chocolates. PS: their mesh bag linen scrunchies & pencil sets are the cutest!

Shop at www.akiiko.com, Instagram, start at Rs 399.

Agaro Jewels

“A grand heirloom that demands to be worn everyday” is just the kind of fabulous and functional jewellery we should be gifting each other. For instance, Agaro adds a distinct vintage vibe to super fun 22K charms and brings back the fading art of enameling to create necklaces, bangles and rings that at once belong in a miniature painting and on an Instagram story. Our favs for this season: hexagon floral necklace, dainty ring stack, mismatched lotus hoops.

To shop, DM on Instagram or mail [email protected], www.agarojewels.com, starts at Rs 50,000.

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