Wellness gifts: relaxing ideas for women and men

Looking for a wellness gift for someone who badly needs a breather? Then you know the problem: the shelves are full of ready-made sets with three plastic bottles and a bath sponge that end up unopened in a cupboard after Christmas. A good relaxation gift is something the person actually uses, on a completely ordinary Tuesday evening. Here are ideas for women and men, ideas that cost nothing, and how to put together a small wellness set yourself.

What makes a good wellness gift

• It gets used. A towel, a soap, warm socks: things someone holds every day remind them of you every time.
• It fits their routine. Someone who never takes a bath will not be thrilled by a bath bomb. Someone who showers in a hurry every morning will love a soap that smells good and hangs within reach.
• It gives time. The most valuable part of wellness is the quiet hour. Sometimes a voucher for that is worth more than any product.

Wellness gifts for women

There is no single woman for whom everything works, of course. These ideas tend to go down well, though:

• A really good dressing gown or a big, fluffy bath towel.
• Cosy socks and a hot water bottle for the dark evenings.
• A scented candle in a scent you know she likes.
• A voucher for a massage, the spa or a day at the hammam.
• A lovely soap with a holder. A Soapi in lavender, peach or mint with a fragrant bar: the soap hangs from the magnet on the wall, dries all round and no longer sits in a puddle. Ready made, that is the Starter Kit for €14.95, with a lavender soap from Marseille, 100 g, handmade in Marseille.

Wellness gifts for men

For many men, wellness stops at the 3-in-1 shower gel. There are better options:

• A sauna day or a spa voucher. More on that in our sauna gift guide.
• A heavy terry towel that does not turn scratchy after three washes.
• A shampoo bar, such as the birch shampoo bar from Skargard, for hair and body and handy for travel because nothing can leak.
• A soap with character. Charcoal Gold from Stone Soap Spa is black with real 24 carat gold leaf, which gives it its distinctive look, and has a fresh, cooling note from tea tree and peppermint. Pair it with a Soapi in black or dark grey.

And honestly, most of these ideas work for anyone, whatever their gender.

Something special: stone soaps

If the gift should look a bit more special, the stone soaps from Stone Soap Spa are a lovely choice. They look like polished stones, are shaped and marbled by hand, and no two are the same. Stone Soap Spa is a brand from Norway, made in Thailand, because that is where the ingredients grow: coconut, rice bran and sesame are processed fresh on site. Alongside Charcoal Gold there is the colourful Rainbow with lemongrass and lavender, for example. Quantities are small, so you will find whatever is currently in stock, from €13, in Soaps & Shampoos.

Relaxation gifts that cost nothing

• An evening off: you take over the children, the dog and the washing up, they get the bathroom to themselves.
• A spa night to take home: write the steps from our home spa guide on a card and tuck it in with the present.
• A phone-free walk with a flask of tea on a cold Sunday morning.

Build your own small wellness set

A set you have packed yourself feels more personal than any boxed one. With Mix & Match you pick 5 products, pay €50, and shipping within Germany is free. A few ideas:

• Self-care set for one: 1 Soapi in peach, a lavender soap from Marseille, a soap from Grete Manufaktur, a shower bar from KLAR and a shampoo bar from Skargard.
• Two presents in one go: 2 Soapis in mint and lavender, 2 soaps from Blaull and a Skargard shampoo bar. Split it up and you are done.
• For the whole family: 2 Soapis, 2 children's soaps from My Happy Cow, Pig or Tiger and a soap from Marseille.

Put everything in a basket with a towel and a candle from your own cupboard and it looks like more than it cost. For wrapping individual bars, see how to give solid soap as a gift.

Frequently asked questions

What do I give someone who is stressed?

Something that does not create another task. A voucher for free time plus a small thing they can use straight away, such as a good soap, usually beats a big set that first needs exploring.

How much should a wellness gift cost?

Less than you might think. A Soapi costs €12.95, the Starter Kit with soap €14.95. For €50, Mix & Match gets you five products, which is a generous set or several small presents.

Where does Soapi go?

On smooth surfaces such as tiles, glass, mirrors or ceramic, in the shower, above the bath or by the sink. Please not on painted or wallpapered walls.

In short

The best wellness gift is one that gets used day to day and brings a little calm with it. A lovely soap hanging dry on the wall is part of that. Put together your own set with Mix & Match.