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And who would turn their nose up at a Diet Coke lip balm?

As a BuzzFeed Shopping editor, my goal is to find all the products actually worth buying.

I know it seems like you have a lot of time to get your gift shopping done, but sometimes it sneaks up on you! Might as well do it all now and get it over with. These crowd-pleasers (butter coin, Ralph Lauren socks, yuzu seasoning, etc.) are perfect to have on hand in case of emergencies. 

Forage Candle Co is a small business that sells cozy candles, including scents inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Song of Ice and Fire. 

Promising review: "True book lovers will know what I mean when I say that the smell of old musty books is a sweet delight. I’ve been looking for a candle that replicates that experience, and this one really does the trick! I’ll definitely be ordering more of these candles as gifts." —Amy H.

Get it from Forage Candle Co on Amazon Handmade for $23.97.

I got the 'Impression Sunrise' keychain for a college friend, and she loved it! It's great for the price, and who could resist owning a tiny version of the artwork that scandalized the Parisian art scene way back when? 

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in six paintings). 

Promising review: "I LOVE the sound of this kalimba. I've been playing around with it for a little while, but like any other instrument, it will take time to play this without looking at my hands. For someone new to the kalimba, I'm so glad it came with all the accessories I will need." —Kathy

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "These were bought prior to Dolly Parton's passing. They were guaranteed to produce a smile and that is even more of the case now. I purchased this item several times as a gift, and they are a hit." —mlm

Because this squish is white, it's better for adults and collectors who won't be as hard on it. 

Promising review: "This squishy is a perfect addition for any Moomin lover. It's a slow, soft squish, and it's large. Love it. Super cute." —Luukela

Promising review: "Ooooh, this is so yummy. It definitely has a kick to it, so use sparingly at first and adjust to your level of spice, but that yuzu taste is nice and strong in this — it tastes SO good. I love yuzu in everything. The chili comes in two little plastic satchets. There IS room to put both satchets in there, but I decided to keep one sealed in the plastic in case emptying them both in there will take away some of the fresh yuzu flavor over time. The container is super cute as well and feels very retro." —Pandalu

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in six other flavors).

Wavelength is a social guessing game where players take turns being "the psychic" and try to get their teammates to correctly guess the location on the spectrum dial that is associated with their clue.

BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Danielle Healy has this to say about the game: "Everyone I know who has played this game loves this game! Brother, boyfriend, mom — everyone! You learn a little about the 'psychic' every time, and it's incredibly flexible to accommodate huge fluctuations in players (2—20). It's a simple concept with a lot of depth since you have to adjust your thinking every round to match that of the 'psychic.'"

Promising review: "Bought a six-pack for my neurodivergent family. We are all either ADHD or autistic. I struggle with compulsive hair pulling and bought these to help keep my hands busy. They are the perfect size, more satisfying than a stress ball, clean easily, fun to hurl at the wall or ceiling, and so far have lasted very well. I did test the durability of one and did break one when I pulled it as hard as I could — the inside looked something like shaving cream and didn’t smell or anything. But if you have a kid who is an aggressive chewer, perhaps keep an eye on them." —Amazon Customer

Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.48. 

Promising review: "I thought this looked intriguing; I love Winnie the Pooh and am a newcomer to the practice of mindfulness. This book is an absolute joy! I will be gifting this to everyone I can think of because, at the heart of it, it's about peace of mind and kindness. The short practices are easy to put into use every morning. What's even better is that when I'm reading it, I once again feel some of the happiest moments I had as a child. I've been starting every morning with a couple of pages to get my day moving in the right direction. What an interesting combination of playfulness, joy, and mindful awareness! The illustrations are also stunning. This is a precious gift! Many thanks to Dr. Parent for this beautiful book!" —D. Leon

Promising review: "My daughter is obsessed with butter squishes, so we ended up getting this to hang on her backpack and store her wired earbuds for easy retrieval. She loves it!" —Christopher

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in seven shapes). 

It also comes with an acrylic desk stand if you don't want to bother hanging it up at all. And there's an insert pot for drainage if you're using live plants.

Promising review: "I’m completely obsessed with this disco planter! I really liked that it came with the option to use a drip line bottom feed system. The macrame hanger was a nice bonus, too! Very cute planter that catches the light well. Looks like a million bucks in my collection." —Angela

Get it from Amazon for $20.78+ (available in three colors and three sizes). 

You can grab lip balms inspired by Diet Coke, classic Coke, Cherry Coke, and Fanta.

Promising review: "Smells just like Coca-Cola and makes lips really smooth and soft. Gives a light tint color. Love the design." —Bianca

Get it from Amazon for $5.69+ (available in six styles). 

Pro tip: Get it for yourself and throw the unwanted flavors into gift bags as extras. 

I loooove this calendar! It's a fantastic value, and every single flavor is a hit. I love that the jars come in lil' paper present boxes so you feel like you're getting a gift every day in December. I sampled early, so I can report that the best flavor is mango with ylang ylang. 

Promising review (2025 version): "This is my favorite Advent calendar ever! For the past three years, my partner and I have made a piece of toast every night in December to taste our way through this Bonne Maman Advent calendar. First, the flavors are NOT going to be found anywhere else except this! (But hi, Bonne Maman, if you’re reading this, please release some of these flavors into the large jar retail market. PLEASE!) They are excellent and change yearly! Is it a little pricey? Yes. Is it absolutely worth it if you are a lover of quality preserves? 100%. If toast is your favorite snack and any quality jam makes you happy, add this to your cart before it sells out, because it *will* sell out and you’ll be left waiting all year to get another one!" —Carly

Founded by Jing Gao, Fly By Jing was inspired by the amazing flavors of Gao's hometown Chengdu and its famous fly restaurants — described on the website as "soulful hole-in-the-wall eateries so good they attract diners like flies.

Promising review: "This is amazing and filled with so many goodies to try! I can't wait to try the…oops, don't want to give away the surprises!" —Joann

This is compatible with 2600 and 7800 games and works with the original joystick as well. 

Promising review: "I think the first thing that comes to mind with the old Atari 2600 was the design. This new Atari 2600+ looks just like it but it is a little smaller. I love the HDMI port, I connected my 4K TV to it with no issues. It comes with 10 games, but to be honest, I wanted to try out my old original cartridges. I got out the unforgettable Pac-Man game and Space Invaders and they worked like a charm. Mind you, this new Atari 2600+ does not come these two games, they are from my personal collection. Then I tried my old 7800 cartridge games. Those worked as well. Atari really did a fantastic job with this system. If you are ready to go back down memory lane, drag out some old game cartridges and get playing, this system is for you. It’s pretty stiff. You will need to break it in a bit or better yet, plug in your old joystick. Have fun!" —Living Life

Promising review: "My husband and I played this with our 7-year-old grandson and 9-year-old granddaughter. They really enjoyed it! So much so that the next day we toted it along to a local restaurant and played while we waited for our food. The size is convenient to carry, and the setup is easy. It is sturdy and well-made. Lots of fun, especially if the goal is to familiarize them with bird identification. The egg playing pieces are great." —Rita

Promising review: "Bought these as a gift after the recipient liked the longer-length crew socks just like these. They look great. He says they’re a very comfortable thickness, fit great, and provide support. They wash up wonderfully and seem to be durable. The price is very good for such high quality, the delivery was quick, and the range of colors makes it easy to match outfits and is fun, too! Highly recommend." —Stephanie

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $30.98+ (available in men's sizes 6–12.5 and 12–17, and nine colorways).

Or you could get them socks with their face all over it. 

Promising review: "I bought the socks for a Christmas gift for my 7-year-old! She absolutely loves her socks! The quality of the socks and image were great! I would recommend them to anyone."—Geraldine M.

Get it from Amazon for $13.95 (available in 39 styles).

Promising review: "Like most seekers of knowledge I am always searching out unusual and unique books on a wide range of topics. When I saw this huge hardcover 704-page book on Amazon for a bargain price, I just had to have it. The twenty-two chapters cover an enormous amount of interesting and informative information on numerous topics. If you love books that are full of facts and information on a wide range of subjects, you need to have this book in your personal or even public library donation." —Joseph J. Truncale

Done Lucky is a small business that specializes in specially curated food and drink gift sets. 

Promising review: "The quality is absolutely amazing!! This made for the perfect gift for my boyfriend for his birthday. He loves to cook, so this was a win!! We tried all the seasonings, and they are AMAZING!!! Totally recommend." —Payton avila 

Get a set of six from Amazon for $44.99 (also available in a set of nine). 

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter's eighth birthday and she LOVES it! It actually works way better than I expected! It makes a perfect 3D sticker every time and the sticker choices are great! I love that you can put sprinkles, confetti, or stars inside the sticker... My daughter likes shaking it around and thinks it's really cool. :) For this price, I am surprised at how awesome this thing is! I highly recommend!! Kid AND mom approved, lol. :)" —KBrick216

Promising review: "I confess I have been having more fun than I expected. I don't think I am a true geek, but having an animated GIF hanging on my wall makes me giggle in silence countless times throughout the day. You can leave the 'cloud channel' on, and random stuff will keep playing. Or you can pick something specific to play on loop. Or you can use myriad smart functionalities like calendar, weather, currency exchange, stock market, crypto, etc." —Fabrício

Promising review: "A nice treat that can literally last you a week to eat. I love Reese's and can down a few in one sitting. First of all, it's like an even bigger and thicker mooncake. It tasted like the regular-sized Reese's and it wasn't melted at all. I think it would be a nice gift for a Reese's lover and would probably last longer than buying a whole bag of snack-size ones." —Becka

Get a pack of 10 from Compartes for $45 (available in milk or dark chocolate). 

The kit comes with two landscapes and one portrait of Bob.

Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross) and What a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" —slb m

For Elementary puzzles, you need to find the suspect, location, and weapon. For Occult Medium puzzles, the added challenge is that the murderer always lies, and the other suspects tell the truth! For Hard Boiled puzzles, you also need to find a motive. And for Impossible puzzles, you have to discover all four elements and deal with the lying witness statement from the murderer. Each puzzle has a logic grid to help you keep track of the evidence. 

Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, storylines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativeness! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for a while!" —Liz Gately

And when they need more puzzles, they can check out Volume 2 for $9.51.

Promising reviews: "Beautifully packaged, kinda like an Apple product. VERY easy setup. Added two friends via app, and now I'm receiving photos from across the county during social distancing! A must-have." —NHA4wine

"I was gifted this frame for Christmas and loved it so much that I bought one for my mom for her birthday. It’s so easy to use and upload photos. She gets daily pics of the grandkids sent right to the frame." —hopeful but sad

Get it from Amazon for $158.50+ (available in two sizes).

The board arrives frozen (free shipping!) and ready to bake. It serves up to six people and comes with the following flavors: 

Blueberry, Vanilla, and Thai Ginger: Brie, blueberry vanilla goat cheese, and sweet Thai ginger

Truffle, Fig, and Orange: Brie, truffle moliterno cheese, Turkish figs, and candied orangeChocolate, Espresso, and Raspberry: Brie, red berry milk cheese, espresso, dark chocolate, and raspberryRosemary, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Olive: Brie, rosemary asiago cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and mandarine chili olives

Promising review: "I was given this as a gift and it was so delicious that I have since given it as a gift to two others, and plan to give a third one shortly. They have all also exclaimed about how delicious it was. I would highly recommend it as a gift or for yourself." —Boarderie Customer 

The scanner works with any device that can connect to Bluetooth 4.0 or higher. See a TikTok of the scanning pen in action.

Promising review: "This is quite possibly the best product I have ever bought. It has cut my flashcard-making time down by at least half. I ordered it thinking it might be okay, but it worked way better than I ever expected it to. Once you learn how to use it (which doesn't take that much time) and scan at the right speed and angle, the mistakes will be minimal. There are still far fewer mistakes than when I just type it myself, and it is way faster than typing. This has completely changed my entire school experience. On top of that, the customer service is great. I got a new computer and couldn't find the product key to reinstall it. I sent them an email, and I got a new product key in a few hours. Anyone who makes flashcards on a computer needs to buy this product." —Josh

Get it from Amazon for $149 (available in six colors).

These 123-piece puzzles can take up to three hours to put together!

Promising reviews: "I love 3D puzzles and have done a few in the past, and was really excited when I saw this one. You do have to be careful with any 3D puzzle because it's easy to break off tabs or bend pieces. I definitely wouldn't get this for a young child, but it would make a great gift for pre-teens and up. The instructions are very clear, and it's easy to assemble and take apart for storage!" —alexismu97

"My son loved this 3D puzzle set. He is a big Godzilla fan, and he loves recreating scenes from the movie. They really hold up. Pretty good quality. Great value for the money, and my son absolutely loved them." —Leticia Rdz.

Get it from Amazon for $19.39+ (available in seven different cities).

My favorite TikTok account uses this ice cream maker! See it in action here.

Promising review: "I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this ice cream maker. I never purchase store-bought ice cream anymore. I make non-dairy ice cream. My children, husband, and everyone who tastes it can't believe I made it." —Elise

For extra pizzazz, throw in these cute ice cream bowls.

Promising review: "This was a fun anniversary present to my husband, which I get to enjoy, too! Makes us feel like we're at the ballpark enjoying a treat while we're watching our Phils on the TV. They are sturdy, easy to hold and hold a lot or a little ice cream. Love them!" —Joho

Get them from Uncommon Goods for $49 (available in 18 teams).

Promising review: "We have been building Legos since the original 1970s sets (gifted by a Danish friend before you could get them in the USA; wish I still had that original set). The wifey is REALLY into these art sets. She was delighted with this one. Amazing detail and a fun build. Happy wife, happy life. Thanks, Lego!" —Caddy Zaddy

And throw in a pizza cutter while you're at it!

Tip: This works on the grill and the oven. If they're baking it, make sure they put the stone in the oven *before* turning it on. Let the stone preheat for an hour to get that coveted crispy crust. 

Promising review: "This product is UNBELIEVABLE!!! I’ve been in the business for 20 years and could never get a commercial-grade product replicated at home. This product makes pizza EXACTLY like a $10,000 pizza oven. Not an exaggeration; this steel is unbelievable. If I ever have an issue with my pizza oven, I know with certainty that I can throw one of these steels in my regular oven and produce the same product. The pictures speak 1,000 words. Great product invention. I’m floored." —rlett

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in four styles). 

They can opt for notifications when birds come to visit (reviewers note that can be overwhelming if they have a lot of birds in the area) and save videos for later. The videos are high-def and have night vision so they can see every feather on that cardinal's head. 

Promising review: "Got this for my 95-year-old dad. He loves watching the feed of the birds come to visit, and I get to watch his feed from my home, too. I recommend this for any bird lover." —Cathy W

Get it from Amazon for $161.99 (available in two colors and a solar AI feature). 

Fun fact: This was the most funded puzzle on Kickstarter at the time, raising over $3 million.

Promising review: "Just got this puzzle for something to do at home over the holidays. Seriously... I have never seen a puzzle quite like this! It’s very impressive and exceeded my expectations already. The packaging is beautiful inside and out. Everything about it shouts quality. I particularly liked the envelopes inside for the puzzle pieces and mystery. Heavy weight and substantial. The one holding the 1,000 puzzle pieces stays closed with Velcro! How cool! And the secret mystery envelope has a cool string loop tie. Makes you remember you can’t open it until the puzzle is done. The whole vibe of The Mystic Maze is quality and fun and also looks like a challenging puzzle. Looking forward to getting started on this. Certainly a good stay-home fun activity. Highly recommend!" —Kyle Fletcher

If you've given this puzzle in the past, or they're already a fan, consider one of the other versions. 

Promising review: "It's exactly what I expected. The paper is lovely to write on, and there is just enough space to put in the day's basics. I like that it's an easy/short diary entry, which makes me more likely to write stuff. The text of the diary is entirely in Japanese, which I do not speak, but this does not impact my using the diary, and the year flows from left to right like most Western books." —ComfyHappyFeet

Promising review: "Love this lamp so much! So easy to put together, and love that they give gels to create your own little mix-and-match of color. The lights are pretty bendy and don’t get too hot even after hours of use (you can still touch and bend them without getting burned). VERY bright light but creates a great wash for ambient reflective lighting." —Max Ferg

Promising review: "This is better than Laneige and Farmacy beauty lip masks and soooo much cheaper. The others made my lips feel dry, but this one stays all night and actually improves the condition of my lips. I promise, this is good stuff." —The Eckstein's

Get it from Amazon for $6.49 (available in four scents and variety packs).

The 1.5-liter kettle is made of stainless steel and turns on with just a press of a button. Fellow is a small business known for their high-quality appliances. 

Promising reviews: "It’s absolutely GORGEOUS — I love how the matte black finish looks in my kitchen. It’s beautifully made and just seems so high quality. I also like how fast it works and how easy it is to use!" —Tiana 🤍

"I struggle to carry big objects because I have weak wrists, but I was pleasantly surprised by the balance of the kettle. Not only that, but the handle has a soft, sponge-like feel that makes it so easy to maneuver. My weak hands are very thankful. 😌 Plus it looks gorgeous on my counter!" —Lucina Rodriguez

Get it from Amazon for $99.95 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Best thing since sliced bread! I hate it when my coffee gets cold. I was originally looking for one of those warming coasters, but then I saw the Ember mugs...there was no turning back. I can take my coffee with me into my boss's office and it still stays hot?? Yes, please. I used that app and have adjusted my temp down to 127 degrees. It stays at that temperature the entire time. I’ve not had an issue with battery life either; it doesn’t take me more than an hour to polish off a cup of coffee. I HIGHLY recommend." —Debbie

Get it from Amazon for $89.95+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Out of Print sells literature-themed merch and has donated over 5 million books to communities in need and supported various charitable partners like We Need Diverse Books, Books For Africa, PEN America, and GLSEN’s Rainbow Library.

Promising review: "Everything came as expected, this is the perfect small lamp to keep on your bedside table. It came charged and has three different lighting settings!" —hmmmgabi 

Get it from Urban Outfitters for $50 (available in two poses). 

* There Are A Lot Of Fall Birthdays Coming Up, So Let Us Help You Find The Perfect Gift

* Just 30 Gifts That’ll Leave Them Absolutely Speechless (In A Good Way)

* Gifts For The Busiest Person In Your Life, Because They Could Really Use A Treat

* Toys And Games Reviewers Say Are Perfect Birthday Gifts For Kids

* Just 33 Under-$25 Gifts That Say “I’m Thinking Of You"

Plus, gifts we gave 2026 Buzzy Awards to, cheese subscription boxes, and finds from Amazon, Macy's, Rifle Paper Co., and Uncommon Goods.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.