25 Unique Hostess Gift Ideas from Our Editors

Updated November 08, 2019
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Peter Ardito
Giving one of these great gifts practically ensures that you get invited back next year.
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Peter Ardito

It's an age-old adage: Attending a party? You bring your hostess a gift. What that etiquette mainstay doesn't convey, however, is that it is just as important to treat your hostess to an item (or two) that she'll actually like. While her go-to bottle of wine will definitely be appreciated, we think you could do even better—that's exactly where we come in.

Ahead, you'll find a roster of curated selections chosen with your hostess in mind: She's a natural entertainer, one who is not just the source of the party, but the heartbeat of it. To show your gratitude—and guarantee an invite back to next year's celebration—present her with one of these thoughtful gifts. From entertaining-centric options, like pie plates (sourced from Martha's own collection!), elevated salt cellars, chef's knives, and a chestnut roasting pan (so seasonal!), to elevated just-for-her presents (think hand-cut soaps from Marseille, France, or a chic, modern vase), there are plenty of guaranteed winners in the slides ahead.

We're particularly fond of the gifts that err on the side of the unexpected. She likely didn't know that she needed a candle snuffer, for example, but she won't know how or why she lived without one before you introduced her to the handy object. As for our other favorite didn't-see-that-coming options? Infused honeys, date nectar (a vegan option to the former!), and delicious caramels are all fun and unique ideas (ones she and her family will definitely enjoy). Ahead, more inspired, elevated, and delicious gifts for your very own hostess.

Art direction by Laura Lutz; Prop Styling by Tanya Graff; Soft Styling by Claire Tedaldi at Halley Resources.

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Martha-Approved Gift Baskets

Courtesy of iGourmet

Martha personally curated each gift basket in her iGourmet collection, sourcing high-quality food items and ingredients from her favorite purveyors. Luckily, there are a myriad of options to choose from, from Italian themed boxes to a Spanish tapas collection.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart iGourmet Gift Baskets, from $49.99, igourmet.com.

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Chef's Knife

Kirsten Francis

Anyone can cut, dice, and slice like a pro with Thomas Keller's powdered-steel chef's knife.

Shop Now: Cangshan Thomas Keller Chef's Knife, from $199.95, williams-sonoma.com.

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Infused Honeys

Kirsten Francis

Nicolas Vahé honeys, infused with orange peel or walnuts, take her yogurt, toast, and cheese trays to euphoric levels.

Shop Now: Nicolas Vahe Honeys, $22 each, shopterrain.com.

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Elevated Hand Wash and Lotion

Peter Ardito

This luxurious handwash and lotion duo will transport a lucky someone to a vibrant spring garden, whatever the season.

Shop Now: Byredo "Tulipmania" Hand Wash, $65, www.nordstrom.com; and Hand Lotion, $70, www.nordstrom.com.

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Salt Cellars

Kirsten Francis

Believe it or not, these salt cellars were hand-carved out of salvaged Tuscan olive-tree branches.

Shop Now: Andrea Brugi Olivewood Salt Cellars, from $48 each, shop.healdsburgshed.com.

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Footed Bowls

Peter Ardito

Ceramist Marcie McGoldrick's footed bowls are delicate and drop-dead gorgeous—gift her one or a trio in coordinating colors.

Shop Now: Marci McGoldrick Small Footed Bowls, from $58, marcimcgoldrick.com.

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Contemporary Candleholder

Peter Ardito

Help her enhance her weekly dinner party's mood lighting with this blown-glass candleholder, forged in the prettiest amber shade.

Shop Now: Hay "Flare" Blown-Glass Candleholder in Amber, $25, us.hay.com.

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Artisanal Soaps

Kirsten Francis

Crafted by one of Marseille's oldest soap workshops, Christophe Pourny bars smell subtly of grapefruit, apricot, fig, and green tea.

Shop Now: Christophe Pourny Marseille Soaps, $30 for four, christophepourny.com.

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Pie Plates

Peter Ardito

Leave it to Martha—the ultimate hostess—to design and execute porcelain pie plates that turn your top baker's desserts into a united display.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Collection Porcelain Pie Plates, $25.19 for a set of three, macys.com.

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Martha's Cookie Book

Courtesy of Amazon

Gift her all the holiday cookie—and beyond—inspiration she needs with this beloved Martha recipe collection.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart's Cookie Perfection: 100+ Recipes to Take Your Sweet Treats to the Next Level, $18.29, amazon.com.

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Candle Snuffer

Peter Ardito

This handy tool extinguishes candles with ease (no flying wax!) and will have your host asking, "How did I live without this?"

Shop Now: West Elm Brass Finished Snuffer, $11.20, westelm.com.

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Roasting Pan

Peter Ardito

This carbon steel chestnut roasting pan has an extra-long handle that can be held over a roaring fire or her stovetop.

Shop Now: Shed Chestnut Roasting Pan, $32, healdsburgshed.com.

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Chic Vases

Peter Ardito

These chic vessels have removable toppers that cradle a bulb above water, letting its roots dip elegantly beneath.

Shop Now: Kinto Aqua Culture Vases, from $18.80, kinto-usa.com.

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Date Nectar

Peter Ardito

Delicious over waffles or swirled into marinades, this mild syrup is a vegan substitute for honey, with 25 percent less sugar.

Shop Now: D'Vash Date Nectar, from $6.99, dvashorganics.com.

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Soap and Body Butter

Peter Ardito

Gentle and rich, these soaps and body butters are handmade in Charleston, South Carolina, and come in an array of lovely scents (plus fragrance-free, for purists).

Shop Now: Old Whaling Co. Soap $6, oldwhalingcompany.com; and Body Butter $12, oldwhalingcompany.com.

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Linen Toiletry Bags

Peter Ardito

For the weekend jaunter or global jetsetter: These waterproof linen wash bags keep toiletries and makeup beautifully contained.

Shop Now: Utopia Goods Linen Wash Bags, $55 each, utopiagoods.com.

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Caramels

Courtesy of Big Picture Farm

Rich and creamy, with just a hint of vanilla, Big Picture Farm's award-winning caramels are made with fresh milk from goats raised on their pastoral Vermont farm.

Shop Now: Big Picture Farm Caramels, from $12, bigpicturefarm.com.

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Single-Origin Spices

Peter Ardito

Beloved by chefs at top restaurants like Eleven Madison Park, Blue Hill, and Quince in San Francisco, Burlap and Barrel works directly with small farmers and cooperatives in 10 countries to source exceptional single-origin spices like cinnamon from Tanzania and smoked paprika from Spain.

Shop Now: Burlap and Barrel Spices, from $6 for one jar, burlapandbarrel.com.

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Ultimate Apron

Courtesy of Food52

This apron is tricked out with built-in pot holders, pockets to spare, and a handy conversion chart tucked into one style, so your resident chef will never have to scramble to look up how many fluid ounces are in a pint.

Shop Now: Five Two Ultimate Apron, $45, food52.com.

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Metal Spoons

Peter Ardito

Give a loving—and lasting—spoonful with this exquisite handmade work of art, available in brass or sterling silver.

Shop Now: Sophie Lou Jacobsen Silver Spoons, from $140, sophieloujacobsen.com.

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Danica Taper Candles

Courtesy of Hawkins New York

These gorgeous candles, hand dipped in Maine, are unscented and won't take away from the gorgeous appetizers she's put out.

Shop Now: Hawkins New York "Danica" 13" Taper Candles, $8 for set of two, hawkinsnewyork.com.

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Amber Carafe

Courtesy of H&M

This handsome carafe—which she'll use on any and every occasion—plays double duty as a vase.

Shop Now: H&M Home Glass Carafe in Brown, $7.99, hm.com.

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Striped Apron

Courtesy of Heather Taylor Home

There's no cuter way to bake up a storm this holiday than in these darling aprons. Available in blue-and-white gingham, black, or juniper pink, each apron is handwoven out of 100% cotton by artisans in Mexico.

Shop Now: Heather Taylor Home Apron in Juniper, $98, heathertaylorhome.com.

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Cote d'Azur Incense

Courtesy of Amazon

Obsessed with Oribe's signature fragrance? Now, the same fragrance is infused in these chic incense sticks crafted by renowned incense makers in Japan.

Shop Now: Oribe Cote D'Azur Incense, $65 for 50 sticks, amazon.com.

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Pedestal Bowl

Courtesy of CB2

Talk about stylish serveware. This contemporary bowl looks just as sleek on her holiday table as it does on her coffee table, all year round.

Shop Now: CB2 Black Pedestal Bowl, $59.95, cb2.com.

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