Unusual gifts: 7 original ideas with character
Looking for unusual gifts that are not a joke destined for the back of a drawer after a week? That is the tricky part with original presents: surprising someone is easy, holding up in everyday life is hard. The best gifts with character spark curiosity at first glance and turn out to be useful at second glance. Here are ideas that manage both.
What makes a gift original
A present feels original when at least two of these three things are true:
- Surprise: the person has not seen anything like it, or did not expect it.
- Use: it gets used, not just admired once.
- Story: there is something to tell about it, where it comes from, how it works or why it made you think of them.
Unusual gifts: 7 ideas with character
1. A sourdough starter from your kitchen
A jar of live sourdough with your favourite recipe on an index card. Unusual, personal, and with a little care it keeps going for years.
2. A cutting from your houseplant
In a small pot, with a name and care notes. Costs next to nothing and grows a bit more every week.
3. Music from their birth year
A record released in the year they were born, or an album that means something to both of you. No record player? Make a playlist with a short reason for each track.
4. A treasure hunt to the present
Hide the actual gift and set small puzzles around the flat or the neighbourhood that lead to it. It turns a small present into an experience.
5. A hands-on workshop
Pottery, screen printing, knife sharpening or bread baking. The result is a one-off object with a story attached.
6. A game hardly anyone knows
A small card or board game from a lesser known publisher. Ideally one you have played yourself and can explain.
7. The floating soap
More on this below, and full disclosure: it is our own product.
Original gifts for the bathroom: the floating soap
Soapi is a magnetic soap holder, and it reliably prompts the question: how is that soap staying up there? The answer is a bottle cap. A bottle cap, for example from a cola or beer bottle, is pressed halfway into a bar of soap. The soap then hangs from the magnet on the wall and almost seems to float. Guests look twice, and the conversation starts itself.
The practical side behind the effect:
- No soggy soap: the bar dries all round instead of going soft in a dish, so it lasts longer.
- Clean sink: no dish, no ring, nothing to scrub.
- No drilling: a waterproof adhesive pad holds securely on tiles, glass, mirrors, stainless steel or ceramic. Press it on and hang the soap straight away.
- Tough: holds bars up to 250 g, with a 10 year durability guarantee. The holder cannot rust because the magnet is fully enclosed in plastic.
And the story to go with it: Soapi is injection-moulded in Berlin. The housing is injection-moulded from recycled plastic, around 90 % of which comes from discarded fishing nets and ropes. Since 2023 it has been sold in more than 250 shops and holds 4.88 out of 5 stars from over 1,600 reviews.
Who is the floating soap for?
- Beer lovers: the cap from their favourite beer becomes the hook. More in Bottle cap ideas.
- Design fans: 10 colours, from black to petrol to yellow. See them all in the Soapi collection at €12.95 each.
- Couples and flatshares: the Soapi Trio with 3 Soapis for €24.99 covers the sink, shower and kitchen.
- People who are always hunting for their keys: the magnetic key holder for €11.95 uses the same technology and holds even heavy bunches with a car key.
Mix & Match: your own gift set
If you want to give several unusual little things, put them together with Mix & Match: choose 5 products, pay €50, free shipping within Germany. You can combine Soapis in all 10 colours, the key holder, solid soaps, shampoo bars and children's soaps. That works out at €10 per present.
Frequently asked questions
Is Soapi just a novelty?
No. The effect gets the first smile, but day to day it does something very practical: the soap stays dry, lasts longer and the sink stays clean.
Where do I get the bottle cap?
From any ordinary drinks bottle with a crown cap. With a single Soapi we add a cleaned bottle cap free of charge on request, and the Starter Kit always includes one.
Does it hold in the shower?
Yes, the adhesive pad is waterproof. It needs a smooth surface such as tiles or glass. Please do not stick it to painted or wallpapered walls.
In short
Original gifts surprise people and still get used. The floating soap does both for €12.95, and with Mix & Match it becomes a whole set. More ideas for tricky cases: Gifts for men who have everything.
