I've been with Matt for nearly 8 years now and I still get really giddy over Valentines, which is why I love putting together my Valentine Gift Guide every year! Love it or hate it, think it's commercialised or not, I don't really care, I personally love it as gift giving is one of my love languages so if you're like me, it's a time to be over the top, a little bit cheesy. Yep, my love language is definitely 'gifts'. I truly thrive when it comes to gifting so any excuse to treat someone, even if it is just something small because often the thoughtful things are the most important. If you're reading this I assume you're on the lookout for the perfect Valentines gift for you partner and you have come to the right place with my Valentines gift guide! Whether it's food or candles, I've covered almost everything that I think would be a lovely Valentines gift. So keep on reading if you are looking for Valentines gift ideas and enjoy my 2023 Valentines Gift Guide and gift ideas.
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Food
This year I have dropped a tonne of hints to Matt that I would like a food hamper. Food is very important to me, as we know, and I love receiving little treats - like personalised brownies or boxes of chocolates. Plus a hamper is a great gift to share also - you can spend the evening lounging on the sofa digging into that box of chocolates... My favourite hampers are either Harvey Nichols - I spotted this one, their 'Decadence Hamper' which sounds divine. Or you could go for the ultimate classic and treat them to a Fortnum and Masons hamper. I'm always picking up 'The Fortnums Collection' which includes all of the Fortnum and Mason staples you could need!
While browsing Fortnum and Mason I also spotted they're doing a St Valentines Tea, so if you have a tea lover in your life then this is a lovely present! If your partner has a sweet tooth and you're based in London, then Creme Cookies is where it's at. You can order a box online - I personally love the Chocolate Banana or the White Chocolate Miso. Yum! I would love it if Matt treated me to a box... I also want to mention Baked by Steph. She creates the loveliest sugar cookies and has a Valentines range that is available now and she also does personalised cookies - so you could have it made specifically for your partner.
If you'd rather gift them something homemade then why not do the classic and make some chocolate covered strawberries? It's so easy you really don't need to be a culinary genius to pull it off! You can wake them up with a plate and then a bottle of champagne also! My favourite has always been Taittinger. Or you could do a joint gift and pick up a waffle maker and you can both spend the morning making waffles!
Or if you're spending the day at work and want to do something special in the evening, how about a Fondue Set? Here's a great John Lewis one I found. What an indulgent and fun evening that would be!
Shop the Harvey Nichols 'Decadence' Hamper here
Shop the Fortnum & Mason St Valentine tea here
Shop the John Lewis fondue maker here
Fragrance
A really classic Valentines gift, fragrance is a relatively easy one. I think a fragrance is such a special gift because it can evoke memories and help bring back old ones too. Sometimes it can be hard to know what your significant other would like so I've listed some of my favourites that I always come back too.
First off - Viktor and Rolf. Specifically Flowerbomb and Spicebomb. These are both such classic scents and suitable for anyone. They're both extremely popular so I am certain that your significant other would love them.
Jo Malone is also a fail safe. They have such a range of fragrances it can be difficult to know which to go for so I would just stick to the classics if you're unsure - Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir, English Pear and Freesia and then Myrrh and Tonka. I've also seen that they have released a special limited edition range to ring in Valentines Day... If your partner is a lover of anything Rose scented then it's definitely worth having a look. Aside from their classic Red Roses scent, Jo Malone have also released Rose Water & Vanilla and Rose Blush.
If you want to treat them to something extra special then Chanel fragrances are such classics. I personally love Chanel Coco Mademoiselle - it's feminine and musky but in all the best ways. Bleu de Chanel is a great option for a more masculine scent.
I also really love L'Occitane for mens fragrances. This is one of Matts favourites. It's very woody and spicy. I've also recently seen they've launched two new fragrances for women - Rose and Pear and also Herbae Par L'Occitane Spartium. The whole range includes body washes, hand creams... anything and everything! They offer little gift boxes, like this rose and pear one here, so potentially grab one!
For him, I also love Givenchy scents. There are so many good ones to choose from and great for someone who likes designer.
Shop Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb here
Shop Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb here
Shop the Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin heart gift box here
Tech
Tech is a great one as there normally always seems to be something that your partner needs or wants to purchase but keeps putting off.
First off if you really want to treat your partner this year, then the Apple AirPods Max are the ultimate gift! I've been seeing these all over the place and have heard how amazing they are.
Another great techy gift for all those music lovers out there is a B&O Speaker. I linked these also in my Christmas Gift Guide for last year and I'm doing it again now. Honestly they're the best speakers and so if partner loves music this is a wonderful choice for them.
I'm sure we've all seen the love for the Dyson Airwrap and if you manage to get you hands on one then go go go. I guarantee your other half will be over the moon! However if you are struggling to find the airwrap or would like a less expensive option then I've heard incredible things about the Shark Flexstyle Air Styler. Essentially the same thing, but a fraction of the price!
Lastly recently Matt and I got an Ooni pizza oven and it's actually changed our lives. We love pizza, but always found ourself ordering. Now we have our oven it makes it so much easier for us to just cook at home! We also host lots now too. So if you partner is a pizza love I couldn't think of anything better.
Shop the Apple AirPods Max in Black here
Luxury Goods
Sometimes all someone needs is a little bit of luxury. I tend to always suggest the same items but I truly think you can't go wrong and these are forever pieces.
Firstly with a luxury scarf. We're still in the middle of winter, it makes sense to invest in a scarf that's going to last a lifetime! My personal favourite has always been a Burberry scarf. I've had mine for years and love it as much as I did when I first got it. You can get one here and here.
Speaking of scarves, another great unisex option is a Burberry scarf. I've had mine since I was 21, they really do last a lifetime. You can get them online here, here and here.
I've also just recently got a Gucci scarf and am loving it! Again, I think this is going to be such a classic in the future and one that someone would absolutely love. Grab one here and here.
A wallet is also another great gift for someone special - I gifted Matt a Montblanc one for Valentines day years ago and it's still in brand new condition now.
If you're looking for a purse then I personally love the Saint Laurent ones, I think they're so classy and classic.
If you're wanting something different but equally something really lovely for your significant other to open on Valentines day then how about a Passport case? I really love this Aspinal one (and it's on sale!) as is this Smythson one too!
Shop the Gucci Scarf here
Shop the Saint Laurent Cassandra wallet here
Shop the Aspinal Passport cover (on sale!) here
Jewellery
Jewellery of course! Is there anything better to gift on Valentines Day? For the ultimate romantic gift I think it just has to be Tiffany. If your partner is a silver love then this diamond pendant necklace is so beautiful and classic. If they prefer gold then I really love these diamond stud earrings.
Monica Vinader {shop via my link and you get 25% discount automatically applied at checkout!} is my all time favourite for jewellery. These chunky hoop earrings are so popular at the moment and such a great staple for everyday. I also love this little diamond ring it's so lovely!
I've also recently been having a look at and loving Pandora! I've always loved Pandora as find their pieces so beautiful and collectable. If your partner already owns one of their charm bracelets, a great idea would be to get a charm for them. I love this little open heart one, perfect for valentines day! They also offer really incredible jewellery too - I love this super sparkly ring.
Shop the Tiffany Diamond Necklace here
Shop the Pandora Princess Wishbone Ring here
Beauty & Pamper
There's nothing better than a little bit of pampering and a great way to show your partner some love is to get them something so they can take 5 minutes and relax. We all have busy days, we all need a moment to ourselves. The first thing to a relaxing moment is a candle. There's something about lighting a candle that instantly calms the mood down.
I love Diptyque candles especially. Baies is my all time favourite but for Valentines Day Roses may be a really romantic option.
If their more into skincare then there is nothing better than the Elemis Cleansing Balm. This has gone viral and for good reason! It's the most luxurious cleanser. Feels wonderful on your skin and smells like you've just stepped into a spa. If you use the Elemis promo code EM25 you can get 25% off! Shop here.
For a gift that keeps on giving, I always recommend a Beauty Pie membership - The gift that keeps giving, a Beauty Pie membership with access to luxury beauty and wellbeing gifts all year round. My Beauty Pie promo code EMSENTME saves you money.
If you've got a man in your life who is more obsessed with haircare than yourself (Matt, I'm looking at you here!) then I would recommend picking up the Fudge Matt Hed Gas hairspray. Matt swears by this product and it manages to keep his hair in place all day! It's his holy grail so definitely worth grabbing one for that haircare lover.
Pampering isn't just for her, the men in my life LOVE Elemis muscle soak and don't forget to use Elemis promo code EM25 for 25% discount on Elemis.
But I think the ultimate pamper and probably the most amazing gift would be a massage. I know I would love it if Matt gifted me one! I've used UrbanMassage App many times for a massage and they therapist they sent me was incredible. If you do book through the app (and I really recommend you do!) make sure to use my referral remshel9v.
I also think something like a hair cut or blow dry is a great gift, I would book Matt into Aveda for a hair cut {or myself for a treatment and blow dry!} or you could book someone in to get their nails done, for GALentines I have booked my friend in to get her nails done. My favourite spots in London are London Grace and Townhouse for nails. It's such a useful gift because it's something that makes the recipient feel good, pampered but also, for someone who loves beauty treatments it's perfect.
Shop Diptyque Roses Candle here
Flowers
Is there anything better? I love receiving flowers, whether it's valentines day, a birthday or even just randomly. I know I find myself always wanting to send them and so I wanted to recommend who I think are the easiest companies to use for quick flower delivery.
First and foremost, Marks and Spencer are brilliant. They do next day flower delivery (although double check this with Valentines Day) and their flowers are always beautiful. Selfridges, too, have a wonderful selection of flowers on their website from a handful of florists throughout London.
If you've got a Bayley and Sage near you, then they always have such beautiful flowers outside their storefront. So if it's a very last minute grab and go head over to them.
I actually got my Mum a year long flower subscription for Christmas, it's a good gift idea as it's a gift that keeps giving.
Lastly, always have a look with your local florist! They would be more than happy to create something bespoke for you if you wanted and it's always important to support your local businesses.
Experiences
Sometimes, it's really nice to get away for a bit during Valentines. Coming off the back of Christmas, where you have family with you at every turn and then heading straight into January and starting back at work, it's hard to find the time to spend with your partner.
Which is why every year Matt and I decide to stay the Royal Lancaster Hotel for the night. It gives us time to just be with each other and have an amazing staycation! It truly is one of my favourite hotels in the world, with incredible views, elite service and the location is right by the park so it's perfect for gorgeous walks. We have a delicious meal, relax in the spa and take a walk around Notting Hill which is very close to the hotel. We both love it and look forward to it every year.
You can even do something like an IOWEYOU for a restaurant, there are SO many good restaurants in the world whether it's Gaucho, The Maine or even a home cooked romantic dinner with beautiful candles.
If you'd rather have more of an experience then have a look at Red Letter Days. They offer a huge selection of experiences for the two of you to enjoy on Valentines Day. I've booked for Matt and I to have afternoon at The Langham. But you could also book a trip to Paris or even an experience such as bungee jumping! There are endless options. Some of my favourites include dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Petrus restaurant and gardening at The Belmond hotel in Oxford. I just think an experience is something you can remember forever. Their website is great too as you can buy it as gift voucher and redeem it on a date that suits you both.
To be honest, I would LOVE something like gym classes or personal training for a Valentines gift. Matt and I got to David Lloyd together and adore it, I really think buying someone something useful like gym classes or a PT would be such a useful gift.
Other Bits and Bobs
The White Company and Anthropologie are always my go to when it comes to something a little bit quirky or different. Whether that's homeware or a coffee table book, both of them always have something that I know would just work perfectly.
Starting with Anthropologie, I loved these little 'Perfect Catch' chocolates! Perfectly apt for Valentines day. They also have such a great selection of coffee table books. This Architectural Digest one is an interior lovers dream! And for the traveler then I love this 'Let's Get Lost' book - such wanderlust!
Anthropologie also have the most gorgeous photo frames and what's better than getting a photo frame with a photo of the two of you inside? I love these mother of pearl ones.
If you're also cooking for you significant other this year I spotted and also purchased these adorable heart fluted glasses - you couldn't get much more perfect for Valentines Day!
The White Company have such a huge range of gifts I'm sure anything you can pick out will be lovely. I personally think their candles are some of the best out there and I particularly love their Spa range.
Their Spa candle smells exactly like stepping into the most luxurious spa!
If your other half is a foodie and loves to cook up a feast, I love this 'Celebrate' plate. Especially with Easter coming up and all the hosting duties, this could be perfect.
I also really love The White Companies robes - so so soft and cosy. I love this one in Navy (good for us girls and our problem with makeup transferring!) and also this super snuggly one too.
Shop the Anthropologie 'Perfect Catch' chocolates here
Shop the 'Let's Get Lost' coffee table book here
Shop the White Company Spa candle here
Shop The White Company snuggly robe here
And with that my Valentines Gift Guide for 2023 was finished! I hope you manage to find it useful. I think it's an important time of the year - for all the commercialisation, we're celebrating the one we love and that's so important.
If you're still struggling to find the perfect valentines gift please don't hesitate to get in contact with me over on my Instagram @emshelx. More than happy to help you on your search!
I will also be vlogging my own Valentines plans, but until then make sure to keep up with me over on Youtube as I'm vlogging over on there - here's me!
Other than that, I'm wishing you all the most lovely Valentines. If you don't have a partner this then don't worry. Celebrate yourself instead! We should all be doing a lot more of that.
Lots of love, Em x
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