This Not That: 12 Unexpected Valentine’s Day Gifts They’re Sure to Remember (2024)

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Love is in the air! Or is it? February 14—that heart-laden day with a fanciful origin tale—can magnify the full spectrum of emotions in any relationship. But whether or not Valentine’s Day envelops your own heart in a rose-colored veil, symbols of love are inescapable this time of year.

While there’s hardly a need to go all out on a gift, small tokens of affection are always appreciated—no matter how long your love has been blooming. For those with a strong feel for the holiday, our Valentine’s Day gift guide has small and grand gestures alike to pin down their love. For those looking for inspiration beyond the beribboned drugstore chocolates and hard-to-nab dinner reservations, our edit here is filled with ideas that are equal parts cheeky wink and wonderfully charming. Let’s jump right in.

Instead of an overpriced pre-fixe dinner…

Forgo the 7 PM Resy alerts! If the way to their heart is through their belly, chef up at home with a pasta kit from Roscioli—your tesoro will be most excited, almost more so than if you surprised them with a round-trip ticket to Rome. (Just kidding, that would indeed be better.) Embroidered placemats from Misette set the table, while anything—water included!—tastes better when sipped out of a Sophie Lou Jacobsen totem glass.

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Roscioli

signature pasta kit

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Misette

set-of-four linen placemats

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Sophie Lou Jacobsen

Totem glasses

Instead of grocery store flowers...

We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with raiding Trader Joe’s fresh flower stand, but if you want a true show-stopping arrangement that will blow up the group chat, a flower delivery is the way to go. Most of these can be shipped with or without vases, ahead of time, or a mere 24 hours before, and sometimes with chocolates for a little extra treat.

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Urbanstems

The Grower's choice

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BloomsyBox

pink peony tulips

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Flowerbx

roses and chocolate gift set

Instead of borrowing theirs…

Get yourself some sleepwear that’s chic and supremely comfy. Self-gifting is always in style.

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Comme Si

La Boxer Alta

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Birkenstock x Tekla

striped shorts

Instead of another candle…

Scented matches!Incense sticks! Room spray! Your favorite plus-one might not live in a three-story townhouse on the Upper East Side, but that doesn’t mean their one-bedroom can’t smell like a home featured in an AD spread. These set a mood, and aren’t a fire hazard when you leave the kitchen unattended for… personal matters! A win.

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Buly1803

scented matches

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Ginori 1735

scented incense

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Loewe

Ivy room spray

Instead of second-guessing your relationship status…

No time like the present to lock it in.

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Chefanie

Relationship Status co*cktail napkins

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Georg Jensen

heart keyring

Instead of an awkward couple’s massage…

Explore a new kind of intimacy with a sensual body stone and oil that you can put to good use long after the clock strikes midnight.

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Kate McLeod

heart-shaped body stone

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Damask rose and bergamot body oil

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Joanna Czech

dry massage body brush

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Frédéric Malle

Editions de Parfums Portrait of a Lady hair & body oil

Instead of a Birkin…

Who knows when their Baby Birkin will arrive? Until that fateful call comes, your sweetheart can gaze longingly at the bag’s muse, Jane Birkin, all while shuffling through the house in a pair of fuzzy Birkenstocks. It’s called manifesting!

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Sonic Editions

Birkin Paris​ 1970 print

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Birkenstock

Boston shearling clogs

Instead of a coffee date...

Perfect for the newly-coupled, skip the queue and brew cortados for two at home with fresh beans from Partners, then serve them in artful cups sure to spark a lively conversation.

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Anissa Kermiche

set of two coffee cups

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Partners Coffee

Elevate espresso

Instead of drugstore chocolates…

Spoil your sweet with treats almost as irresistible as they are, like cherries dipped in chocolate or matchsticks for your forever flame.

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Lavoratti 1938

Library box chocolates

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MarieBelle

chocolate-covered cherries box

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Choc on Choc

Perfect Match Belgian chocolate

Instead of a trail of red roses on the floor…

Romantic movie gestures aside, these won’t require any tidying up but get the sentiment across all the same.

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L'Objet

Rose Noire gift set

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Diptyque

roses scented candle

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Gucci

Rouge à Lèvres Voile

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Pat McGrath Labs

Skin Fetish Divine blush

Instead of playing games…

Challenge your knight in shining armor to a game of speed chess—the melty pawns are made of chocolate, after all—or a round of hearts if three’s a crowd.

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Compartes

Grandmaster chocolate chess set

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Bottega Veneta

playing cards

Instead of heart-shaped jewelry…

A set of heirloom-worthy earrings to remind them of your affection.

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Dorsey

Sabine lab-grown white sapphire drop earrings

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David Yurman

sculpted cable stud earrings

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or emotions, but I can provide information on various topics. Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th each year. It is commonly associated with romantic love and is a day when people express their affection for one another through gifts, cards, flowers, and other gestures of love. The origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Roman and Christian traditions. Today, it is celebrated in many countries around the world as a day to celebrate love and relationships.

Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

This article provides various gift ideas for Valentine's Day. Here are some of the concepts mentioned:

  1. Pasta Kit from Roscioli: Instead of going out for an overpriced dinner, the article suggests cooking a special meal at home using a pasta kit from Roscioli.
  2. Flower Delivery: Instead of buying flowers from a grocery store, the article recommends ordering a flower delivery for a show-stopping arrangement.
  3. Chic Sleepwear: The article suggests getting yourself some chic and comfortable sleepwear as a self-gift.
  4. Scented Matches, Incense Sticks, and Room Spray: Instead of another candle, the article suggests trying scented matches, incense sticks, or room spray to create a pleasant ambiance.
  5. Locking in Relationship Status: The article suggests using Chefanie's Relationship Status co*cktail napkins or a heart keyring from Georg Jensen as a way to symbolize commitment.
  6. Sensual Body Stone and Oil: Instead of an awkward couple's massage, the article suggests exploring a new kind of intimacy with a sensual body stone and oil.
  7. Fuzzy Birkenstocks: While waiting for a Baby Birkin bag, the article suggests wearing fuzzy Birkenstocks and manifesting the desired item.
  8. Brewing Coffee at Home: Instead of going on a coffee date, the article suggests brewing cortados for two at home using fresh beans from Partners.
  9. Treats and Chocolates: Instead of drugstore chocolates, the article suggests spoiling your loved one with treats like chocolate-covered cherries or matchstick-shaped chocolates.
  10. Romantic Gifts: The article suggests gifting items like scented candles, lipstick, blush, or a chess set to create a romantic atmosphere or engage in playful activities.
  11. Heirloom-Worthy Earrings: The article suggests gifting a set of heirloom-worthy earrings as a symbol of affection.

Please note that the information provided above is based on the content of this article. If you have any specific questions or need further information, feel free to ask!

This Not That: 12 Unexpected Valentine’s Day Gifts They’re Sure to Remember (2024)

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