Secret Santa budgets are usually £5, £10 or £20, and the gifts that land well at that price have one thing in common: they get used or put on display, rather than going straight in a drawer. These are the pieces we would choose ourselves, grouped by budget. Prices were correct when we published this guide, and each product page always shows the current price.
Secret Santa gifts under £10
Crystal wax melts, £3.50
Our crystal wax melts are 50g snap bars set with real gemstone chips that appear as the wax melts, so there is a small keepsake inside once the fragrance fades. There are ten blends, from rose with Rose Quartz to spiced orange with Carnelian. Three or more bars are 10% off automatically, which helps if you are buying for more than one exchange.
A ceramic pebble wax burner, £6.95
A rounded ceramic pebble burner in speckled off-white or matt black, warmed by an ordinary tealight. On its own it suits a £5 to £10 budget; with one wax melt bar it comes to £10.45.
A mini glass terrarium, £7.75
The mini terrarium on natural tung wood is clear glass, about 13cm tall, and sits happily on a desk or windowsill with an air plant or a little moss. Plants are not included, so it suits someone who likes to choose their own.
Unscented candle sand, £9.60
A 300g pouch of unscented white candle sand, made in England, with four cotton wicks. Pour it into a heat-resistant bowl at least 10cm across, push in a wick and light it. Unscented is the safe choice when you do not know someone's taste in fragrance.
Secret Santa gifts under £20
A small recycled glass bowl on wood, from £14.50
Our smallest hand-blown pieces, such as the artfully misshapen bowl at £14.50 and the small molten glass bowl at £15.30, make good ring dishes and key bowls. Each one is hand-blown over wood, so the piece you give will be a little different from the photographs.
A bud vase or tealight holder, from £11
The small flower vase on wood at £12 holds a single stem, and the single candle holder at £11 takes a tealight. Both are easy to place on a desk, which makes them good office Secret Santa gifts.
Fragranced candle sand, £12
Our fragranced candle sand comes in ten scents, each in a 300g pouch with four cotton wicks: a make-your-own candle that can be topped up and relit.
A brass-finish glass terrarium, £16.95
The cube on corner terrarium balances a clear glass cube in a brass-finish frame on one point. It looks considered on a shelf, planted or empty. For more terrarium ideas by budget, see our gifts for plant lovers guide.
A wax burner with three melts, £16.40
Put a pebble burner together with three wax melt bars and the multi-buy discount brings the set to £16.40: a complete gift that is ready to use.
How to choose when you do not know them well
- Stay within the budget everyone agreed, and spend the time on choosing rather than the money.
- Pick something useful or decorative, not a novelty that gets binned in January.
- If you are unsure about fragrance, go unscented: plain candle sand, a glass bowl or a bud vase.
- For an office exchange, think desk-sized: a mini terrarium, a bud vase or a small bowl for paperclips.
Getting it there in time
We dispatch within 1 to 2 working days, and standard UK delivery usually takes 3 to 5 working days after dispatch. Delivery is a flat £4.99 per order, so if you have more than one Secret Santa this year it is worth buying together. Carriers get busy in December, so it pays to order early.
Common questions
What is a good Secret Santa gift for £10?
Something small that gets used: a crystal wax melt bar, a ceramic wax burner, a mini glass terrarium or a pouch of unscented candle sand. All of them cost under £10.
What can I get for a £20 Secret Santa?
A small hand-blown glass bowl or bud vase on wood, a brass-finish glass terrarium, a pouch of fragranced candle sand, or a wax burner with three wax melts.
Is candle sand a good Secret Santa gift?
Yes, if they like candles. It is a make-your-own candle: the wax pours into a heat-resistant bowl at least 10cm across, and the pouch includes four cotton wicks.
More gift ideas
Browse every stocking filler under £10 and every gift under £20, or see our Christmas gift edit.
