30 White Elephant Gifts You’ll Want To Keep for Yourself

The Cloudz Microbead Travel Pillow is a good budget pick that’s light, soft, and supportive. The surface is comfortable to the touch. One side is warm, cozy, and plush, while the other is a cooler spandex for the best of both worlds. Of the three travel pillows we evaluated, this offered the most support for the back of the head but didn’t provide as much side support, so if your head tends to lean to the sides when you sleep, it may not be the right choice for you.

For the one who’s dreaming of a summer garden chockful of fresh herbs, this set is not to be missed. Basil, oregano, and chives are just a few of the versatile herbs you’ll find. Pair this with a seed starter kit to help the giftee kick things off on the right foot.

This budget-friendly butter crock has a retro look, akin to something you’d find in an antique shop. It’s dishwasher-safe and comes in a plethora of colors, including robin’s-egg blue, classic red, sapphire blue, and white.

Veken Packing Cubes provide great bang for your buck. This set has the largest capacity among the cubes we tried, and you get eight different ones to stay organized: small, medium, large, and extra-large, plus a laundry bag, a shoe bag, a toiletries bag, and an accessories bag. The laundry bag, in particular, is on the larger side, which can be a real asset when you’re on a longer trip.

While our evaluators were certainly amused by the appearance of this mask, its strange contoured eye cups may be appealing to people with lash extensions or who dislike the feeling of fabric on their lids. But one evaluator found the material inside the cups a bit rough on her skin and too wide for her small face. If your head size is average or big, you might love the Nidra mask. The price is good, it offers lots of space for the eyes to flutter freely, and even the appearance can be cool if you consider it from a different perspective.

For more options: Best Sleep Masks

This practical lighter is windproof and flameless. It boasts a built-in rechargeable battery and a safety lock for peace of mind. Choose among sleek shades like champagne gold, rose gold, and mint green.

Indulge the bookworm on your list with a stack of good reads that touch on their love for nature. Jenn Frymark, the chief greenhouse officer of Gotham Greens, an urban agriculture brand that specializes in local produce, is an avid reader and recommends her favorites to plant enthusiasts. “The Nature Fix” by Florence Williams looks at the positive impact of nature on our health, happiness, and creativity.

Searching for an insulated bike water bottle that’s perfect for taking on the road? Look no further than this pick, which features a secure cap and double-wall insulation to keep cold beverages cold. You can give it a squeeze to allow for easy drinking, and it comes in two sizes and 13 colors.

For anyone who has ever struggled to open a bottle of wine with a waiter’s corkscrew (present company included), here’s one gift that will keep on giving.

"I almost exclusively drink wine at home and love this electric wine opener for opening bottles," says CR writer Jodhaira Rodriguez. "I struggled to get the cork out of bottles with a manual corkscrew for a very long time before my dad introduced me to the world of electric wine openers. This was a game changer for me."

Upgrade movie night with freshly popped popcorn right from the comfort of your kitchen. This model was a standout in a recent evaluation of the best popcorn machines because it delivered a lighter, toastier flavor with a pleasant snap in each piece. It takes roughly 2 minutes to pop a whole bowl and has a capacity of 16 cups.

Claire Chan, founder of The Elk, a specialty coffee shop and general store in New York City, prefers drinking cold-brew with a straw and over a lot of ice. So whenever she’s whipping up a batch at home, the coffee pro makes sure to put it in an insulated tumbler like this colorful option. “The insulation keeps it cold for much longer, and the straw is built in,” Chan says. “I know it might sound silly, but it really makes a difference.” 

The rubberized feet of the RüK hold the basin fairly still while you’re using it. The cutting top seals securely to the basin, too, so when you’re pressing down, the whole unit holds fairly still. The RüK features extra inserts not only for chopping but also for grating and mandoline work. Pop out the chopping lid for the grating/mandoline/julienne tool and slide in the blade you want to use and the working surface remains relatively low and easy to stabilize with one hand while you cut across the top with the other.

The Aerolatte To-Go is a nifty little handheld frother that’s capable of frothing up a variety of milks both hot and cold, including plant-based milks. Using it has a bit of a learning curve, but we were able to get the hang of it in a few minutes. This Aerolatte is also a cinch to clean: You simply run it in a cup of soapy water for a bit, then run it in the air to dry.

For more options: Best Milk Frothers

Give the java enthusiast a better vessel for their brew with a ceramic mug. According to Bernie Deitrick, a CR test engineer, compact mugs with multiple small servings (rather than one big pour) can optimize the flavor and retain the heat of coffee. These Fellow Joey mugs are up to the task.

For more options: Best Coffee Mugs for Keeping a Brew Warm

Inspire a budding bartender with the True Wooden Finish Cocktail Shaker, a well-priced product that’s best for beginners, with a built-in sieve for easy cocktail-making. But if you’re shopping for a hard-core mixologist in your life, it’s worth noting that this wasn’t the most durable of the bunch we tried.

For more options: Best Cocktail Shakers

Sol de Janeiro has amassed a cult-like following, and it’s not just because of its fun, tropical packaging. Its perfume mists and body care essentials, available in an array of dynamic scents, can also hold their own. Cue this travel-friendly bundle—featuring a body cream, shower gel, and perfume mist—that is poised to please. More notably, do it for the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, one of the brand’s iconic products, which promises to visibly smooth and tighten skin.

While the Jisulife Portable Neck Fan has basic features, it’s quiet and cool-looking. The product itself feels substantial and solid, as if made from quality plastic, but isn’t so heavy as to feel uncomfortable resting on the collar bones. Its cooling abilities, however, are more moderate than those of the dorkier Torras Coolify.

Beautiful packaging is just one reason to love these sweet confections, which come in a book-shaped box that opens to reveal six glossy, colorful domes of chocolate. The unique flavors are a bonus—including a “wild strawberry” that’s reminiscent of strawberry shortcake ice cream bars, and a black and white bonbon modeled after the iconic cookie that’s widely found in New York City bakeries.

For more options: Best Boxed Chocolates

Lego’s botanical collection is something out of a dream. Potted orchids and holiday centerpieces are just a few of the creative kits you’ll find, but we’re partial to this wildflower set, which is equal parts whimsical and artful. Once it’s complete, go ahead and display it in a vase. Why not?

Palais des Thés teas are the ultimate little luxury and this variety set is not to be missed. Inside, you’ll find an assortment of the brand’s signature flavors, such as South African rooibos with marigold petals and a limited edition 2024 version that’s a warming blend of oolong tea with lemon and maple syrup.

The Kodak Printomatic is the fastest instant camera of those we reviewed, producing a fully printed photo just 38 seconds after the shutter was pressed. Once printed, the photos have a sticky backing, which means you can easily tack them onto most surfaces. The model also stores photos on an SD card at a higher resolution than the other zero-ink cameras we tried, which is nice if you want to order a larger print down the road.

For more options: Best Instant Cameras: How Six Would-Be Polaroid Replacements Stack Up

Whether it’s for breakfast, tea time, or a midday nut butter sandwich, there’s something to be said of the versatility of jam. And if you’re all about the discovery of unique flavor combinations, this advent calendar from Bonne Maman, the famed French purveyor of spreads and jams, is for you.

This advent calendar doubles as a great excuse to kick off your day with fresh bread, good butter, and jam. Guava, yuzu, and pear with cocoa nibs are a few of the delectable, limited-edition jams included in this fruit-forward advent calendar.