Gifts for New-ish Partner in Your Life

We stand firmly behind the belief that candles are never a bad idea. This Malin + Goetz blend of beeswax, vegetable, and soy waxes stands above the rest. The dark rum scent is equal parts cozy and alluring, with notes of patchouli, leather, amber, and bergamot for a warm, slightly spicy finish. We wouldn’t blame you for wanting to keep this one for yourself.

BonBon is the Swedish candy company that has taken New York by storm, transforming pick-and-mix into something more luxe. Choose the sweet mix, the sour mix, or a combination of both (there’s even a gluten-free option). Whatever you choose, the fun is in the packaging: a pink box tied with a ribbon so you can skip the wrapping paper entirely

Chocolate at the twist of a dial? Yes, please. These M&M’s candy dispensers come in several designs — with options for birthdays, graduations, moms, dads, and more — but the real treasure is the bite-sized milk chocolates inside. That 3pm refuel time is about to be a whole lot more fun.

Cake is never a bad idea, and Eli’s Cheesecake — declared Chicago’s best back in 1980 — proves that. This sampler platter feeds 16, is made fresh, ships frozen with dry ice, and comes with four flavors: original, strawberry, chocolate chip, and candy bar (the latter made with Heath toffee bars). “Yum” feels far too simple a word to describe this sweet gift.

There are practical gifts, and then there are practical gifts they’ll truly get excited about. This Yeti is one of dependable items no one complains about receiving Durable, splurge-worthy, and totally leakproof, it’s the kind of bottle they’ll grab every single day. It’s dishwasher-safe, cupholder-compatible, and keeps drinks ice-cold or very hot for hours.

“Let me fry you a wing,” is probably something T-Pain thought when collaborating with beloved brand Spicewalla. This trio of seasonings takes boring wings and makes them Michelin-worthy, another excuse to host Sunday football hangs. Each flavor hits a different note — sweet, tangy, or spicy — so your giftee will have a whole roster of options to choose from. A little unexpected, a lot of fun, and something that’ll soften the blow if their team loses the game.

For the baseball fan who has memorized every stat about every player, ever. This Literie candle bottles up New York’s home teams in wax form: citrus notes for the freshness of the field and hops for the outrageously overpriced beers. A win whether rooting for the Yankees or the Mets, or simply if they’re a big fan the stadium peanuts.

These glasses are etched with hand-drawn illustrations of their university, making every toast a nod to their college days — despite being more than a little relieved to never have to worry about midterms or finals again. A little nostalgia, a little school spirit, and an excellent addition to any March Madness watch parties.

What’s better than two pints of beer? Two pints that come with built-in entertainment. These glasses feature a scannable QR code that unlocks trivia, history, and fun facts about the brew they’re sipping on. Ideal for casual get-togethers when explaining the rules of a board game feels like far too much effort.

For the person who’s sat through every single Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame showing and actually enjoyed the three-hour runtimes. Building it is half the fun, but displaying The Infinity Gauntlet on their desk is the real gift.

Occasionally a product comes along that makes you think: why didn’t I think of that? This “book buddy” is one of those products. This slips into the middle of a book to hold pages apart, so they can pore through the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy with one hand while sipping coffee with the other. It’s small, clever, and destined to live on their nightstand atop their book stack.

This portable dock turns their handheld Switch into a full-on game night for everyone. Compact but powerful, it supports TV mode with HDMI and USB ports so that Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. can move from their lap to the big screen. Bragging rights are now in high definition.

Reminder: Creative hobbies don’t require an art degree. This walnut-made palette is foldable, portable, and comes with a sketchpad, pen holder, clamp, and lanyard. Perfect for painting at the kitchen table, the park, or poolside. Beret sold separately (sadly).

The trick to not ruining or losing sunglasses? Actually liking them enough to take care of them. These Warby Parker frames make the cut: scratch-resistant, 100% UV-blocking, and customizable with lenses. Stylish for everyday wear and sturdy enough for travel, they’ll remember to pack these instead of accidentally abandoning them in the sand.

Like socks, but elevated. These bootie slippers offer the glove-like fit of their favorite pair of socks, but with slip-resistant patches on the sole to keep them from sliding around. Made from 100% deadstock yarn with a stretchy knit and fleece lining, they’re a gift that invites daily comfort into their lives.

This matching leather key ring splits a playing card in two, so you carry one half and they carry the other. Add a personalized message, and it goes from simple accessory to daily reminder that they’ve already won the hand (you, duh).

Homemade cocktails sound great until lime juice and tequila ruins the furniture. Enter this silicone bar mat: It keeps things neat while adding a cheeky “break out the good stuff” reminder. Looks like negroni nights and margarita Mondays are about to get an upgrade.

No outfit is complete without a great hat, and this corduroy trucker delivers. Easy to throw on, instantly cool, and versatile enough to become their go-to. We promise it won’t just end up forgotten in the back of their closet.