13 Very Chill Gifts (for Very Hot Days)

New York Times

2 days ago

In this edition of The Gift, we're eyeing a few little cooling luxuries, including a lovely shower gel and gigantic gourmet ice cream sandwiches.
You know what. I'll say it. Summer is a scam.
For school kids and office drones alike, it's supposed to be a reprieve from year-round work drudgery with breezy days and balmy nights. But for many of us, it feels more like navigating around a boiling river in Dante's 'Inferno'.
On those hot days when steering wheels feel like rings of fire, city streets smell like hot garbage, and you just want to stick your head in the freezer, a little help cooling down and perking up goes a long way. Do your friends and family the favor of treating them to a cool pick-me-up with these shower refreshers, icy tools, and cold sweets: Beauty editor Jennifer Sullivan says she feels like she's 'cooler all day' when her morning shower has a little zest to it thanks to this bar soap. 'It's both minty and eucalyptus-ish and has little scrubby bits that I love,' she says. If your giftee is more of a shower-gel adherent, we're also fans of this chic eucalyptus body wash.
Our kitchen team has tasted their way through dozens and dozens of cold treats. If you want to impress a crowd, these ginormo chip wheelies stuffed with dense ice cream are real showstoppers. But if you just want to grab something quick at the grocery store en route to a hang, these soft, custardy ice cream sandwiches with fudgy wafers are the best.
In Japan, where the summers can be outrageously humid, kakigori (shave ice sweetened with syrups, pureés, and other toppings) is a choice snack. Families, entertaining enthusiasts, and more can churn their own sky-high piles of fluffy shave ice with this shave-ice KitchenAid attachment or this cheaper rotary grater.
This two-toned watermelon knife is just straight-up cute. But it means business: The long, sturdy, serrated blade makes quick work of juicy melons. And despite its name, it's no single-use tool — it can also slice tomatoes, bread, and more.
When it's this hot out, writer Hannah Frye uses a facial ice roller in the morning, after the gym, even post-evening shower. The beauty enthusiasts in your life might be especially appreciative, but others surely will too.
If your giftee has to spend sweltering days tooling around outside, or has any hot-weather travel on the horizon, this neck fan will bring the breeze right to them. It has three fan speeds and some color-changing lights on the side.
Practical but incredibly helpful — especially for anyone who's scorched their hands on their steering wheel or buns on leather seats — our favorite sunshade and breathable seat cushion can help keep cars parked outdoors as cool as possible.
For the canines in your life, our pet expert Mel Plaut recommends this rechargeable gel cooling pad, which is activated by the pressure of your pet's body and can keep cooler than many foam pet beds. It would be a boon to any panting pooch.
And lastly, if your giftee is a dedicated cook — even when turning on the oven feels unfathomable to most — Rick Martinez's Salsa Daddy cookbook offers enticing, tropic-appropriate sauces that are great for a store-bought rotisserie chicken or quickly seared steak. Every recipe of Rick's that I've made has been a certified banger.
As we head into the depths of August's wrath, I hope you find something above that offers you and your pals a sense of refreshment. Now, please excuse me while I take my second (or third?) cold shower of the day.
We, too, love the Owala. It's easy to drink from and comes in an array of super fun colors. The Gen Zer in your life might especially appreciate one.
Favored by ice cream shops everywhere, this scoop cuts into hard ice cream more smoothly, produces better spheres, and is easier to clean than any other model we tested.
Who says a fan can't double as a piece of home decor? This one works great, too.
My best friend just got married to her partner of 10 years. I'm totally unsure of what to get them because they didn't have a registry or a honeymoon fund — and they've lived together for years. Their house is already beautifully furnished, and I've used up all my creativity on birthdays and past holidays. Please help! — J.G.
From gifting expert Hannah Morrill:
I just saw these charming Mr. and Mrs. mugs at a friend's house a few weekends back. I know the style is very particular, but I found the hidden affirmations — inside, they say 'To have and to hold' and 'To love and to cherish' — quietly touching. (The Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. versions are great, too.)
Since it sounds like they have good taste, these matchbook prints come to mind. See if you can find a special one from the city or campus where they met or were wed, or splurge on a completely custom one. I also love these handblown glass photo blocks, engraved simply with their wedding date. Bonus points if you present it with a great photo of the couple, too.
And lastly for an equally meaningful, albeit more playful take, you can't go wrong with custom Funko Pop figurines, designed in their likeness. They're such a strangely heartfelt surprise.
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What I Cover
I cover a wide range of gift giving, with a specialty in food and drink gifts; I also touch on beauty on occasion. I work to ensure that we consider a diverse range of socio-cultural backgrounds in our guides.