Hollywood, movies and celebrities might have us think that Valentine’s Day is about expensive and grand gestures, this day is definitely not about the money but about expressing your love and sharing time together. And yes, the idea of Valentine’s being just for couples… is over. One of the things that many of us have learned from 2020 is the importance of self-care, self-love and friendships. Giving a nice gift to yourself or friends can really reset the way we see Valentines Day. Here are some fresh gift ideas to say ‘I love you’.
Experiences together
According to the psychology of Hedonic Adaptation, experiences are one of the best things to spend money on because each time we relive our memories we get an injection of those endorphins. So gift time together! Gift an experience like a cooking class or a floristry workshop for you and your friends or your partner, or a special dinner or coffee date. Hong Kong has a great variety of restaurants and cafes, from cute and cozy to elegant and michelin. Of course, you can always bring the fun home and prepare a homemade dinner, order some wine and light up some candles. And how about have a cheese and wine night and send your friends the same so you can enjoy it together while being apart?
Chocolates and candies
These are a must-have for any occasion but boyfriends and girlfriends go over the moon for Valentine’s Day and you can find so many options now. Classic chocolate bars, bonbons, vegan, with milk, dark, with fruits and nuts, in a basket, sweet skewer, heart-shaped and sushi-shaped. Mr. Simms Olde Fashioned Sweets Shoppe is a walk into a classic British sweet store, a visual and olfactory experience in itself. Any gift here is Valentine’s Day ready and the fun part is the browsing and selection together, if you cannot be there, Mr. Simms is an Instagrammable place with lots of fun things to discover.
Flowers
Beautiful, elegant, and a joyful accent in any home. Flowers can easily get a bit pricey in Hong Kong but you can find affordable options as well. A flower tip: before the petals start to fall, hang some of the flowers and let them dry. Now you can have a dried flower bouquet for a long time, or use them to make a nice bookmark with a piece of cardboard!
A Fragrance Experience
Every guy or girl loves a distinctive fragrance that will subtly linger and help them create their own personal perfume stamp. Carthusia’s Fiori di Capri Eau de Parfum exclusively at Scented Niche in Hong Kong has Lily of the Valley and wild carnations with base notes of sandalwood, ylang-ylang and oak. Their Mediterraneo is a sunny perfumed lotion of lemon leaves and sparkling tones of green tea. These are a luxe complement to wild fresh flowers.
