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Unusual gift ideas

Updated

A good unusual gift is something the person has not seen before but will still use or keep after the surprise: a mushroom growing kit, a star map of the real sky on the night they were born, or a one-day class in a rare craft such as glassblowing.

Unusual should not mean useless. Every idea below is something people eat, learn, use or hang on a wall. Each one says who it suits and roughly what it costs.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A mushroom growing kitA cook who likes experiments$25–$75
A star map of the night they were bornA friend who likes real factsFrom $49 per print
A fermentation kitA patient home cook$25–$75
A jigsaw puzzle of a place they loveA puzzler who likes quiet nights$25–$75
An open night at an observatoryA curious friend of any ageUnder $25
A one-day class in a rare craftSomeone who likes making things$75–$150
Heirloom seeds for their gardenA gardener ready for more$25–$75
A letter to open in ten yearsA close friend or a childFree
A family recipe in the original handwritingSomeone who cooks family recipes$25–$75
A skills swapA friend who wants to learnFree
A float or sauna sessionSomeone who has done spa days$25–$75
A hot sauce or spice tasting setA food lover who likes heat$25–$75

  1. A mushroom growing kit

    A box of substrate that grows edible mushrooms, such as oyster or lion's mane, on a kitchen counter. Keep it out of direct sun and mist it as the kit says. It suits a cook who likes experiments.

  2. A star map of the night they were born

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the real stars above a place at a date and time you choose, from 1900 to 2100. It is unusual because it records one real night, not a design. Use the city and time from their birth record, and add the Moon to show its phase that night.

    What a cute and funky way to cherish special moments (and a great gift for people)! I was very impressed with the quality of the print and will be recommending Star Crossed Skies to my friends.
    Emily, Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: A birthday star map

  3. A fermentation kit

    Jars, weights and airlock lids for making sauerkraut, kimchi or pickles at home. It suits someone who likes to cook and does not mind waiting. Add a recipe card with the salt amounts.

  4. A jigsaw puzzle of a place they love

    A puzzle made from a photo of their street, their hometown or a trip. Choose a photo with lots of detail and few large plain areas such as sky. A 500-piece puzzle fills one or two evenings.

  5. An open night at an observatory

    Many public observatories and planetariums run open nights where visitors look through a large telescope with a guide. Check the calendar and book a date with a guided viewing. It suits a curious person of any age.

  6. A one-day class in a rare craft

    Book a beginner session in glassblowing, blacksmithing, bookbinding, knife-making or letterpress printing. Many craft studios run one-day classes. They take home the thing they made.

  7. Heirloom seeds for their garden

    A box of heirloom vegetable or flower seeds chosen for their climate, with a planting calendar. Look for varieties that stores rarely sell as plants. It suits a gardener who has grown the usual things.

  8. A letter to open in ten years

    Write a letter to be opened in ten years, seal it, and write the opening date on the envelope. Add a photo or a newspaper from today. It costs almost nothing and is opened at a moment nobody expects.

  9. A family recipe in the original handwriting

    Scan an old recipe card in a parent's or grandparent's handwriting and have it printed on a tea towel, engraved on a board, or framed. Ask the family for the original card. It suits someone who cooks the family dishes.

  10. A skills swap

    Offer to teach them something you are good at, such as bread, a language or fixing a bike, over three evenings. Write the dates on a card. It is free and gives you time together.

  11. A float or sauna session

    Book a session in a float tank, a sauna or a cold plunge studio. Check the studio's rules for first-time visitors. It suits someone who has tried the usual spa day and wants something new.

  12. A hot sauce or spice tasting set

    A set of small bottles of hot sauce, or a box of single-origin spices, from mild to hot. Choose a set with tasting notes. It suits a food lover who cooks with heat.

How do you find an unusual gift that is not a gimmick?

Ask what the person will do with it a month later. A good unusual gift is used up, displayed or remembered. A gimmick goes in a drawer after the first laugh.

Start from something they already like, then go one step further. A cook gets a fermentation kit instead of another cookbook. A gardener gets heirloom seeds instead of a plant.

What makes a gift feel unique?

A gift feels unique when it is tied to one person: their birth date, their family's handwriting, their hometown. Nobody else has the same one.

Personal details matter more than rarity. A star map of the night they were born or a recipe in their grandmother's handwriting is unique because of the details, not the object.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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