I have a theory that Secret Santa was invented not as a heartwarming gesture of seasonal generosity, but as a chaotic social experiment designed to test the outer limits of passive aggression at the most festive of the time of year.
There is no gift quite so laden with subtext as the one you are obliged to buy for a colleague whose name you randomly drew from a hat (or, more likely, an Excel spreadsheet), capped at a painfully uninspiring £10 budget.
Will you go novelty mug or novelty socks? Scented candle or desk cactus? Attempt something genuinely thoughtful and risk being branded “that person who tried too hard”? The stakes are oddly high, given how low the expectations are.
And then there are the friends. Supposedly easier, though in my experience, just as politically charged. Do you buy something ironic and hope they see the joke? Something useful, and risk looking boring? Something luxe, and invite a crisis about the imbalance of your respective disposable incomes?
Of course, when done well — and we’ll get to that — Secret Santa can be genuinely charming: a small, sincere gesture that says “I thought about you, but not too much.” The sweet spot is somewhere between thoughtful and irreverent, with a dash of aesthetic credibility and zero potential for HR intervention.
So, whether you’re buying for your desk neighbour who’s made coffee their whole personality, or the friend who already owns everything and yet somehow still deserves more — here’s your cheat sheet for gifts that are inexpensive, inoffensive, and just offbeat enough to be memorable.
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Under £20
San Pietro Black truffle butter 300g
Everyone knows someone who’s obsessed with truffles – whether it’s on pizza, pasta or garlic bread. Allow the truffle-lover in your life to indulge all Christmas long with this luxurious black truffle butter from San Pietro, which is perfect for slathering on bruschetta, spaghetti, or cooking vegetables with.
Buy now £19.99, Selfridges
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, 9ml
A delectable unisex fragrance with year-round wearability, anyone would be delighted to receive a travel-safe Jo Malone mini – especially in Wood Sage & Sea Salt. The ultra-fresh aroma combines the minerality of fresh, broken waves with notes of earthy and grounding sage.
Buy now £18.00, John Lewis
Monchhichi Bearchichi Keyring
Think of Monchhichi as the cuter, vintage cousin of Labubu. Any keychain/bagcharm obsessive would be delighted to receive one this Christmas.
Buy now £16.00, UO
Herd Mentality Game
A cult-favourite, new-age board game for a reason. The surprisingly addictive and endlessly playable game is suitable from 4-20 players and is easy to learn: simply flip over a question and guess what your family and friends are thinking. If you’re the odd one out, you’ll be given the pink cow of doom.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
Under £15
Beaded Phone Ropes
Available in cobalt, blue, black and orange, these stylish beads actually serve as a functional phone charm - perfect for the person in your life who either loses their phone often, or simply needs it close by at all times.
Buy now £14.00, Not Another Bill
Barbera Sicilia Xtra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml
With the price of olive oil as it is, who wouldn’t appreciate a tin of luxury EVOO? It may be a cooking staple, but this Sicilian-made product is anything but basic thanks to the colourful, patterned packaging that will make it the star of the kitchen countertop.
Buy now £14.85, Waitrose
Splatter Portuguese Stoneware Mug
Whether the recipient you have in mind already has a booming mug collection or is yet to have their very own, very special office mug, this Portuguese splatter stoneware option from Anthropologie is sure to delight. It’s available in brown, green, lilac, red and pink.
Buy now £12.00, Anthropologie
Whittard Cookies & Cream Hot Chocolate, 350g
Know someone with a sweet tooth? This luxurious and indulgent Whittard’s hot chocolate is imbued with a delectable cookies and cream flavour.
Buy now £11.95, John Lewis
Under £10
Grind Coffee
London-based Grind has built a cult following with its pink tins and eco-friendly ethos, offering compostable pods and refill packs alongside beans. Their signature house blend, available pre-ground or whole, combines South American Arabica beans to create a profile that is smooth, rich and approachable. Expect hints of chocolate, almond and a gentle fruitiness, making it adaptable to most brew methods.
Buy now £9.95, Grind
Nee Doh Nice Cube Squish
An unbeatably satisfying fidget toy that isn’t just for kids, this cube-shaped stress ball is squidgy, soft and stretchy – designed to be moulded and squeezed.
Buy now £7.00, UO
Divine Soap
A dreamy collaboration between Archivist and a Provencal soap maker, these glorious soaps feature illustrations from Wanderlust on hand-marbled paper designs. Available in cherry blossom or shea butter. Divine, indeed.
Buy now £8.95, Not Another Bill
Fish Green Glass Candlestick Holder
Up your home décor game tenfold with these sweet, fish-shaped glass candlestick holders from Oliver Bonas. Sold separately.
Buy now £7.50, Oliver Bonas
Under £5
Perelló Spanish Gordal Pitted Green Olives, 350g
Like your olives on the spicier side? Feel like you’re sunning yourself on the Med with a handy can of the iconic - because at this point, is there any other descriptor? - Perello olives. These queen-sized Spanish beauties are giant, juicy and pitted sparing teeth from chomping down on a wayward stone. Chunks of guindilla green peppers make these truly addictive; why not forward plan and get a multipack instead?
Buy now £3.50, Sainsburys
Rex London Cerveza Española Metal Coasters
Filled to the brim with vintage charm, these metal coasters feature an old-school Spanish beer design. They’re each complete with a soft cork back to prevent slipping and scratching, and come housed in a handy tin.
Buy now £4.95, Amazon
Tony's Chocolonely
Who doesn’t love a bit of Tony’s? The Belgium-based, ethically-minded chocolatier is known for creating a variety of mouthwatering flavours – from Creamy Hazelnut Crunch ad Dark Chocolate and Sea salt to Milk Pretzel and Toffee or White Chocolate Raspberry Popping Candy.
Buy now £3.95, Not Another Bill
Tajin Keyring
Simply can’t bear the idea of bland food? Why should you, when you can add a Tajin charm to your lunch bag and enjoy chilli and lime flavours whenever the occasion calls? This one is refillable, so you can always have a stash of tasty seasoning when you need it.
Buy now £2.00, Mex Grocer
