38 Unique Birthday Gift Ideas From A Shopping Expert

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6 days ago

A bestselling succulent sun catcher that's gonna make you thank the universe for the talented crafter in this world who has created the *best* gift this side of the sun.
A paper incense tin to add a little pocket-sized luxury to their life. Inside the wrapped tin is a decorative paper envelope filled with 48 teeny tiny incense papers. To use, they'll clip one piece of paper to the tin and wait as it burns (for about five minutes). After that, the soothing smell should fill their space for up to a few hours.
A pickleball set with two paddles, two balls, a net bag, AND a Little Women-worthy pair of patterns so darn darling your birthday bud may find themselves too dazzled to hit anything with them. The set works great for the game, but feel free to skip the exercise and just enjoy picnicking together beside a beautiful pair of paddles.
A hooded shark "blanket" (really just an oversized onesie) they can scoot on into when movie night calls for some extra cozy attire. Honestly, now that you know this *treasure* exists, it'd be fishy if you didn't get it. It's gonna be dropping ~Jaws~ at the birthday party — that you can count on!
A keychain bracelet to bequeath unto friends who suffer through an eternal game of hide-and-seek with their house/car keys.
Snif's Dead Dinosaur perfume for anyone who loves the smell of gas stations so much they dream of a world where they can shower under the gas nozzle like it's gosh darn body wash. This body spray really does have notes of gasoline along with pink pepper, ginger, cedar wood, and magnolia flower.
A cotton tote *with a zipper pocket* — this is gonna be a great choice if you know they'd prefer a practical gift. It can be a real ~pickle~ finding something equal parts cute and useful, but you've done it! Now just click "add to cart" and get ready to feel cool as a cucumber knowing their present is gonna be a hit.
A northern lights projector that'll play soothing noises and double as a Bluetooth speaker! If you are both planning a trip to see the aurora someday but currently have the budget to travel no farther than down the block, this satisfying gift can give you a slice of the northern lights from the ceiling.
A 1,000 piece puzzle with illustrations that are equal parts obscure and dreamy, for puzzlers who are up for an added challenge. Different puzzles is just that, different. Rather than the final image being displayed on the box, each completed puzzle has a slightly altered illustration (which means surprise pieces and no idea where to put them!). Like the brand says, "These aren't your grandma's puzzles."
A mini charm bracelet FOR THEIR TUMBLER, because your water bottle and your BFF's water bottle are *also* best friends and they deserve best friend bracelets to prove it!
A water bottle *bag* that'll hook comfortably snug around their beloved tumbler so they can carry it like a crossbody bag. This has room for a phone, chapstick, cards, and even includes a clip to hang keys from.
A minion wifi router — now that you know these helpful buds exist, it'd be positively *despicable* to not gift Bob or Kevin to the minion lover in your life.
An Our Place Dream Cooker that's not just a pretty face. If your bud lives off of takeout, take this gift on over to them! It can slow cook, sear, saute, and pressure cook. Having one multi-use appliance can help keep their kitchen from feeling cluttered, encouraging them to cook more often because it's actually a NICE place to be. Dream Cooker? You're dreamy.
An insulated seagrass picnic basket sure to be the highlight of your BFF's birthday gift haul. This features both handles and a shoulder strap for easy carrying. The loose fabric bow top ties open and closed, leaving space for the baguette they *better* bring to snack on alongside some brie and rosé the next time you picnic together.
A giant balloon dog (we're talkin' over 4 ft. wide and 5 ft. long!) that'll keep your friends feeling cool in the pool even during those *ruff* dog days of summer.
And a disco ball balloon dog sure to look doggone delightful when the sun hits it just so, creating a light show in their living room.
Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors — gift this book so your travel-loving friend can have a laugh over the most ridiculously negative reviews national parks have received.
A Dunder Mifflin Polly Pocket filled to bursting with easter eggs and special accessories — fans of The Office are sure to love using these little bits and bops to recreate favorite scenes from the show (at a pint-sized scale).
Waldorf woodland creatures — each open-ended shape is designed with holes that'll easily fit different twigs, stems, petals, and leaves they find while on nature walks. If you know they wanna spend more time outside but need a *purpose* to get themselves out on a walk, creating tiny woodland creatures may be just the thing!
A set of Troll Doll lighter cases just might be the chaotic treat they need on hand 24/7. Forget worry stones, if they dig in their bag and pull out a flaming troll head, ALL their worries will be gone in an instant. That's simply science.
A tomato table lamp that's less than half the cost of the Urban Outfitters' version (which is always sold out), and reviewers think it's even better! This is sure to ~produce~ some smiles from your birthday bud!
Cookie Swap!, a cookbook with 50 recipes: everything from thumbprints and oatmeal to flaky cardamom palmiers and matcha sandwich cookies with almond cream.
A pack of Zombie Plant seeds — this plant pretends to be "dead" when touched, folding into itself. It's the perfect gift for people who kill their houseplants so often that you figure you might as well buy them a plant that's into it.
A fire and ice candle kit that'll transform from a ring of ice to a mini serenity pool as the tea candle inside melts the ice around it. Shake up your classic candle gift and snag this set for anyone on the hunt for unique home decor that's equal parts subtle and surprising.
Cryptid Construction Kit magnets for the Big Foot believer in your life.
A strawberry tea kettle becasue it'll look ~berry~ cute on the stovetop of the tea-lover in your life.
A shaved sheep plushie for people who aren't ~sheepish~ about giving their friends an unnecessary gift that'll cause them ~shear~ joy.
A modern knife block — the five stainless steel knives are nestled in an ash wood block, helping them stay sharp and easily accessible. Whether you're gifting someone their first set of knives or giving these to a cooking pro in need of an upgrade, this gift can make all the difference in their kitchen.
A handmade suitcase portable turntable with a design that suggests you snagged it from the set of Mad Men, even though the tech is anything but old school. This can convert your bud's records into MP3 files, and it's compatible with 33, 45, and 78 rpm records.
A mini highland cow plush (that can be heated AND cooled!!), because everyone would say "yes" to receiving an actual mini highland cow if they could. I mean, if someone offered me one, I would take it and just...not tell my landlord. It would work! Stranger things have happened!
A combined floor lamp and end table with lampshades in colors that'll look at home both in your warm and whimsical bedroom and in your best friend's dark academia den. Better get two!
A pair of sticky hand earrings sure to solidify your position as the most creative gift-giver in your friend group. Give your friend the gift of nostalgia through this unreasonably clever accessory.
A darling 12-cup programmable coffee maker with a warming plate that'll last two hours (and then automatically turn off) and the ability to schedule their perfect pour whenever you need it!
A reviewer-favorite Alleyoop 4-in-1 makeup brush designed with an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, a brow brush, *and* a blending sponge — all in one! This beauty tool is about to become your best friend's new best friend, adventuring with them (because it's small enough to fit in your bag for quick touch-ups) every single day.
A pretzel-making kit with bakers of all ages in mind (the illustrations are technically for kids, but we visual learners know they're just as useful for adults). The kit includes color-coded ingredients and step-by-step instructions so your pretzel-loving pal has all the help they need for making this dreamy treat.
A chic SodaStream sparkling water bundle that's so good-looking it basically doubles as decor. With this, they can enjoy freshly carbonated water or flavored seltzer at the press of a button.
A chic side table made of a solid piece of metal (no assembly required! Woohoo!) for folks who know a curious piece of furniture elevates a room tenfold. This three-tier piece has a lip on the top, making it a safe space for jewelry and trinkets that'd otherwise roll off a flat surface.
An Embark dog DNA test that'll find their fluffer's family connected to over 250 dog breeds (including wolf, coyote, and village dog ancestry!).