When I was younger, I used to ask my mum what she wanted for her birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day… whatever occasion was next.

Her answer was always the same: “Some peace and quiet would be nice.”

At the time, I remember thinking: wrong answer.

Now, in my 30s, I completely understand.

Life feels relentless sometimes. There is always something demanding your attention. Notifications. Plans. Work. Noise. The pressure to keep up with everything, all the time.

The older I get, the more I realise peace is one of the most luxurious things you can give someone.

Not in a grand, dramatic way. In small, thoughtful ways. The kind that make everyday life feel softer.

So if you want to gift someone a little calm, here are a few ideas I genuinely love. Not because they are extravagant, but because they make ordinary life feel softer.

1. A Fragrance That Transports You Somewhere Else

Preferably a candle.

Not because candles are groundbreaking, but because scent changes the atmosphere of a room almost instantly. It can make a home feel warmer, quieter, slower.

Last Christmas, I went to a Flâneuse party in Ancoats and met Lucy, the founder of Natural Isle. You know when someone creates a brand that feels completely aligned with who they are? She gets it.

I’ve ordered from her twice since, and I already know another order is coming soon. Both scents I have bought, bring stories and feels intentional rather than mass produced.

I think when you genuinely connect with a brand, gifting becomes much easier. You are not just giving someone a candle. You are giving them a feeling. A mood. A moment.

The Signature Candle in particular reminds me of walking into one of those hotels that smells incredible the second you arrive. The kind of place that makes your shoulders drop slightly without you even noticing.

The blend is deep leather, soft spice, sandalwood smoke, rosewood, and amber. On paper, it sounds dramatic. In reality, it smells comforting. Familiar. Expensive in a quiet way.

What I love most is how a great candle turns ordinary moments into rituals.

Lighting it while reading.
Cleaning the kitchen on a Sunday evening.
Having friends over for dinner.
Making your home feel like somewhere you actually want to slow down in.

To me, that is the best kind of gift. Something that quietly improves everyday life.

2. A Camera That Helps You Slow Down: A Klik Camera

Somewhere between work stress, social media, and everything becoming hyper convenient, I think we forgot how nice it is to make everyday life feel special again.

There is something refreshing about taking photos you cannot instantly edit, upload, overthink, or delete five seconds later. It naturally slows you down.

I haven’t actually bought a Klik camera for myself yet, or gifted one to anyone. But one of my friends has one, and every time I see the photos she takes, I’m reminded how lovely it is to capture moments without trying to perfect them.

I think it would make such a thoughtful gift for someone who romanticises everyday life a little. Someone who loves documenting memories, but wants to feel more present while doing it.

Not every memory needs filters, captions, or approval from other people online.

Sometimes the best moments are the ones you keep to yourself.

And for someone who could use a little more calm in their life, a gift that encourages them to slow down and notice ordinary beauty again feels pretty special.

3. A Ritual That Forces You to Switch Off: A Sauna and Ice Bath Voucher

This one always takes me back to living in Helsinki, and memories of evenings spent in Sompasauna.

A Finnish sauna is a centuries-old tradition rooted in deep relaxation, cleansing, and harmony with nature. The Finnish understand something many of us have forgotten: rest is not something you earn only after exhaustion.

There is something healing about sitting in silence, warming up slowly, then shocking yourself awake in freezing cold water. For an hour or two, your brain finally stops racing through emails, notifications, to-do lists, and all the tiny worries you carry around every day.

You leave feeling lighter.

I also love that sauna spaces are starting to appear all over the UK now (can recommend Rooftop Saunas in Hackney, RAW in Ancoats and FIX MCR in Northern Quarter). It feels like people are craving slower rituals again. Places where they can properly switch off for an hour instead of endlessly scrolling or rushing onto the next thing.

And honestly, that feeling is probably one of the best gifts you can give someone.

Not more stuff.
Not something performative.
Just a rare moment of peace.

The best gifts make someone feel seen. They say, I thought about you when you weren’t in the room.

A thoughtfully chosen £15 gift will always mean more than something expensive, generic or bought because TikTok said it was trending.

People remember how a gift made them feel, not what it cost. As Maya Angelou famously said: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

The best gifts fit naturally into someone’s life. They are useful, comforting, beautiful, or joyful. They become part of daily routines rather than something left untouched in a drawer.

Experiences are underrated too. Food, drink, flowers, skincare, a candle burned on a slow Sunday morning. These gifts create moments instead of clutter. For people who already own everything, consumables are often the answer.

And for the love of God, personal does not have to mean personalised. Initials are optional just saying.

Personal means relevance.

A coffee gift for someone who romanticises slow mornings.
A running accessory for someone training for something big.
Something for the friend who’s always hosting and somehow makes everyone feel at home.

Relevance is the real luxury.

The best gifts also have a story. Why you chose it. What it reminded you of. Where you found it. Even one sentence in a card can turn something simple into something unforgettable.

Good gift giving is a skill, not a talent. It can be learned, refined over and over, and simplified.

You do not need endless options.
You need better ones.

That is the art.

Kurated by Kate was inspired by something friends have told me for years: “You always give the best gifts.” In 2025, on a hen do in Barcelona, a conversation with my friend Georgie about a gift I had chosen for her finally sparked the idea for this Substack.

After months of overthinking, rewriting, second guessing, and trying to make my first post perfect, I realised the whole point of thoughtful gifting is sincerity, not perfection.

So here it is.

A space for thoughtful finds, curated ideas, and gifts that actually mean something.