Whether you are buying for your dad, your partner, a brother or a friend, the hardest part of a Christmas gift for him is avoiding the same socks and gadgets as everyone else. These ideas are small, useful and a little unexpected: a bold scent for the evenings, something good-looking for the desk, or a first terrarium for the man who has started collecting plants. Everything here is under £30. Prices were correct when we published this guide, and each product page always shows the current price.
The short answer
For under £20: a matt black pebble wax burner with three bold crystal wax melts (£16.40 with the automatic 10% off three bars), a glass cube terrarium for his desk (£16.95) or a pouch of smoky candle sand (£12). For under £30: the large diamond terrarium (£29), a striking geometric piece with room for a couple of air plants.
For the man who likes a good scent
1. A matt black wax burner with bold scents, £16.40
The matt black pebble wax burner (£6.95) is a smooth, modern shape that suits a study or living room. Add three crystal wax melts, each a 50g snap bar set with real gemstone chips, and the three bars come to £9.45. The bolder scents in the range:
- Obsidian Shield: resinous Dragon's Blood.
- Tigereye Strength: vanilla sandalwood.
- Emerald Forest: an earthy deep forest scent.
- Carnelian Fire: spiced orange, the most Christmassy of the four.
2. Smoky candle sand, £12
A 300g pouch of candle sand with four cotton wicks, poured into a bowl of his own to make a candle. Spirited is black, with bergamot, blackcurrant and smoky birch; Azure Noir is warm grey, with citrus, incense, cedar and sandalwood. It needs a stable, heat-resistant bowl at least 10cm across with at least 5cm of sand; see what to burn candle sand in.
For the man with a desk
3. A cube on corner terrarium, £16.95
The cube on corner terrarium, a glass cube in a slim brass-finish frame balanced on one point, looks like a small piece of architecture beside a monitor. Add an air plant on sand and it needs only a soak every week or two. Plants are not included.
4. A catch-all for keys and coins, from £14.50
A small glass dish by the door or on the desk ends the hunt for keys. The artfully misshapen bowl (£14.50) and the mini blue bowl (£18) are hand-blown glass on wood, so each one is slightly different.
5. A small diamond terrarium, £12
The small diamond terrarium, about 14.5cm tall in a brass-finish frame, fits on a shelf above the desk or a crowded windowsill. Our desk decor ideas show how to style it.
For the man who is getting into plants
6. The large diamond terrarium, £29
The large diamond terrarium, about 20cm tall, has room for a fern and an air plant on moss, a good first project. Our guide to the best plants for a terrarium will help him choose.
7. The large pentagon terrarium, £19.95
The large pentagon, a tall geometric terrarium in a brass-finish frame, suits two air plants on sand on a windowsill.
Small sets under £30
- The evening set, £16.40: the matt black burner and three bold wax melts.
- The desk set, £26.50: the small diamond terrarium (£12) and the artfully misshapen bowl (£14.50).
- The scent pair, £15.50: a pouch of Spirited candle sand (£12) and an Obsidian Shield wax melt (£3.50), for someone who already has a burner.
Ordering for Christmas
We dispatch within 1 to 2 working days, and UK delivery is a flat £4.99, usually arriving 3 to 5 working days after dispatch. Carriers are busy in December, so order early.
Common questions
What can I buy a man for Christmas under £30?
A wax burner with a few bold scents, a glass terrarium for his desk or windowsill, a hand-blown catch-all for keys, or a pouch of smoky candle sand.
What is a good Christmas gift for a man who likes plants?
A geometric glass terrarium such as the large diamond or cube on corner, with an air plant or a small fern added. Plants are not included, so pick one up from a garden centre.
Are wax melts a good gift for men?
For anyone who likes their home to smell good, yes. The resinous and woody scents, such as Dragon's Blood and vanilla sandalwood, are a safe start if you are unsure.
What do I get my dad who has everything?
Something he will use up or look after, rather than another object for a drawer. Our guide to gifts for someone who has everything has more ideas.
Browse every gift under £20, or see our Christmas gifts for mum, for her and for nan, and stocking fillers for adults.
