Every pick is chosen for someone specific, with a reason to buy it and an honest reason to skip it.
Thanksgiving
Small, well-made things to bring when someone else is cooking.
Sunday, October 25 · new picks daily
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of other retailers, we earn from qualifying purchases. How it works
BoseFor him
For the frequent flyer
Over-ear noise-cancelling headphones with up to 30 hours of play, spatial audio and USB-C audio for calls. In our judgment, the travel upgrade he'll notice most on a long flight.
Skip it if he prefers earbuds or finds over-ear headphones too warm
MALIN+GOETZ
For a study or reading chair
A lighter take on a spiced bay-rum scent in a 9 oz natural wax blend with about 60 hours of burn time. Dark and warm for winter without the sweetness of most holiday candles.
Skip it if the recipient avoids any boozy or spiced fragrance
$68.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
Editor’s pickVossAginFor her
A milestone anniversary
A two-carat round lab-grown diamond, F–G colour and VS1 clarity with AGI certification, set to float on the chain in 14k white or yellow gold. A milestone piece with a certificate to go with it.
Skip it if you'd rather give a natural diamond or she seldom wears necklaces
VossAgin offer
$1,921 off
Enter at VossAgin checkout. Valid through March 31, 2027.
$2,720at VossAgin as of Oct 25, 2:12 AM ET Details
See it at VossAgin
Breville
For the couple who wants café coffee at home
An espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder, 25 grind settings, assisted tamping and a steam wand for milk microfoam. It handles dosing for you, a sound choice for two people learning lattes together.
Skip it if you have limited counter space or prefer a one-button pod machine
$799.95at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
Slip
For the light sleeper and the frequent flyer
A sleep mask in 22 momme long-fiber mulberry silk with an elastic strap, designed to block light and to be gentle on skin and hair. Small enough for a carry-on, and a nicer object than the airline version.
Skip it if they find anything over the eyes uncomfortable, or already travel with a silk mask
$72.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
Saltverk
For the cook or griller
Four Icelandic sea salts in one box: flaky, black lava, birch-smoked and Arctic thyme, about 12 ounces in all. Made with geothermal energy and harvested by hand.
Skip it if they rarely cook or are cutting back on salt
$45.99at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at AmazonPicks we already recommend, cheaper today by the retailer’s own numbers. Prices checked hourly.
Maison MargielaFor her
For an anniversary, if she likes warm scents
A warm, subtly sweet amber skin scent that Margiela frames around an ideal partner, in eau de parfum strength for longer wear. The romantic story makes it, we think, a natural anniversary pick.
Skip it if she wears only fresh, citrusy or green scents
$172.49Limited time dealEnds by Nov 4List Price: $230.00 (25% less)at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
Felco
For the gardener
Swiss-made bypass pruners with forged aluminum handles and a hardened steel blade for branches up to about an inch. Every part can be replaced or sharpened.
Skip it if the gardener is left-handed or has small hands; this is a large, right-handed model
$67.95List Price: $86.71 (22% less)at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
Baxter of CaliforniaFor him
For the man who skips skincare
A fragrance-free, oil-free moisturizer for normal to oily skin that absorbs quickly and dries to a matte finish, which suits the man who dislikes the feel of lotion.
Skip it if his skin runs dry; this formula is made for normal to oily skin
$23.80List Price: $28.00 (15% less)at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
Maison Margiela
For someone who likes to try new scents
Four 0.24 oz eau de toilette minis from the Replica line: Beachwalk, Jazz Club, By the Fireplace and Afternoon Delight. A way to try several scents before committing to a full bottle.
Skip it if the recipient has worn one signature scent for years
$49.30Limited time dealEnds by Nov 4List Price: $58.00 (15% less)at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:30 AM ET Details
Fujifilm
For starting a shared photo album
Prints credit-card-size photos in seconds, with a selfie mirror, close-up mode and a self-timer that make two-person shots easy. A small, practical way to start a physical album of the year ahead. Film is sold separately.
Skip it if they would rather keep every photo on their phone than pay for and store prints
$78.00List Price: $89.95 (13% less)at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
Maison MargielaFor him
For a partner who likes warm scents
A warm, spicy scent of pink pepper, rum, tobacco leaf and vanilla, in the apothecary-style Replica bottle. Choosing a scent says you know him well, which is why this is a partner's gift.
Skip it if he has a signature cologne he loves, or prefers fresh citrus scents to warm, sweet ones
$144.49Limited time dealEnds by Nov 4List Price: $170.00 (15% less)at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
Jenni KayneFor her
For a wardrobe built on good basics
A lightweight cashmere V-neck with ribbed trim, cut in Jenni Kayne's relaxed fit. Gray works under a coat or over a shirt, which makes it a sweater she is likely to wear most days of the colder months.
Skip it if you don't know her size, or she tumble-dries everything; cashmere needs a gentle wash and drying flat
$325.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
Tory BurchFor her
For her daily commute
A roomy pebbled-leather tote with gold-tone hardware, a structured base on metal feet and a detachable zip pouch inside. Big enough for a workday's things, in a brown that goes with most coats.
Skip it if she carries little more than a phone and keys, or prefers a crossbody
$395.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
VossAginFor her
For her dressiest evenings out
Four carats total of AGI-certified round lab-grown diamonds, F color and VS2 clarity, prong-set as a flower cluster in 14k white gold, with a lobster clasp. A pendant for evenings and big occasions.
Skip it if her taste runs minimal; the floating solitaire is the simpler choice
VossAgin offer
$2,691 off
Enter at VossAgin checkout. Valid through April 23, 2027.
Parfums de MarlyFor her
For a lover of rose fragrances
A 75 ml parfum that opens on lychee and pear over a heart of Damascena rose and incense, settling into vanilla and musk. Warmer and more intense than a fresh floral.
Skip it if she has a signature scent or dislikes sweet, rosy fragrances
$430.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
Ray-Ban
For daily drives and weekend trips
The 1937 pilot's design in a light black metal frame with green crystal lenses and full UV protection; a case and cleaning cloth come with it. A classic for drives and trips in every season.
Skip it if they already own aviators they love, or have a narrow face; this 58 mm pair is Ray-Ban's medium size
$191.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
TissotFor him
For a milestone birthday
A Swiss automatic with an 80-hour power reserve, sapphire crystal, see-through case back and 100 m water resistance, on a quick-release steel bracelet. A milestone watch he can wear with a suit or a T-shirt.
Skip it if he wears a smartwatch daily, or a pale blue dial is louder than his taste
$850.00at Amazon as of Oct 25, 3:17 AM ET Details
See it at Amazon
Gifts for teachers: 7 teacher appreciation gift ideas they'll use, plus what schools allowA good teacher gift is small, useful and comes with a note from the child. Five picks under $50, two class gifts worth pooling for, when a gift card is better, and the school rules to check first.
Thank you gifts for friends: 8 personal ideas, matched to what they did for youThe right thank you gift says you noticed what your friend actually did. Eight small, well-made picks, mostly under $100, sorted by the favor, with what to write in the note and an honest reason to skip each one.
Luxury gifts worth buying on Black Friday, and how to tell a real dealBlack Friday is a good time to buy a few kinds of luxury gift and a poor time for others. Ten picks worth buying at their regular price, so any discount is a bonus, and a short way to check that a sale price is real.We don’t run a testing lab and we won’t pretend to. Every pick is chosen from the maker’s and retailer’s own information, with our reasoning shown and a reason to skip it.
How we pick