What presents do you always get that you don't like (but are too polite to say)

[yellowflowers]

People always get me mulled wine sets and scented candles. I can't stand either and put them straight back into the present cupboard to be recycled. Dh always gets ties which he hates as he likes to choose his own.

Toiletries - the only thing I use is a basic shower gel and cheap shampoo, but I get given boxes of various lotions and potions that all smell sickening. I am quite fussy about smells and tend to prefer more 'male' ones.

Things like herb/spice mixes and flavoured oils, or chutneys etc. Herbs/spices I prefer to choose my own balance and hate mixes. Flavoured oil - well if I wanted something to taste of chilli or garlic or basil I'd use them. Chutneys etc we just don't use.

I don't have a dressing gown either. Maybe you're all getting MY presents

I have a cupboard full of cheap scented candles and sets of smelly stuff. Ugh. I hate that my ILs just haven't got a CLUE what makes me tick. One year I persuaded them to give the money to charity (felt a bit scroogey asking them to do that, but it was better than writing a thank you letter for something that went straight to the charity shop), but they didn't like it, so goodness knows what will arrive this year.....

Also hate getting h&m pyjama bottoms (sorry dh)....

And yes yes yes to sets of 6 types mustard in tiny (useless) pots. Annoying.

I always get makeup. It's always in weird colours..like burnt orange and blue.

Cheap toiletry gift sets. I blame boots three for two

Oh and DH ALWAYS gets me a book that's too- hard-- too much for me to cope with in my limited leisure time.

He never reads them either...I think he has me down as an intellectual and just buys the most "Intelligent" looking book he can find!

MIL always gives me teatowels. I suppose at least i can use them and they are better than much of the other 2nd hand WI tat she gives me, but still

I will take the cashmere jumpers and smelly candles though

wine
i am a wine snob. i like to choose my own. i definitely don't want a bottle from a brand that has sponsored a bad channel 4 comedy show

and kitchenware. i do like to cook. as such, I have already bought myself all the key bits. if i don't have a bit of kitchenware then it's because I don't want it. unless it's one of those badass japanese knives you need a second mortgage for. that would be lovely, thanks.

i will gladly swap the above for any of your unwanted socks/dressing gowns.

(whistles and sets up trestle table full of smelly, headache inducing gift sets...)

My inlaws bought DH, their own flesh and blood, cheap deodorant four years in a row. No, dear, you smell lovely. It's not a hint. They were on offer.

openerofjars!

sue You can have it, wotcha got that I can have

Just like the toiletries sets, I always get one of those really cheap make-up pallet things from my aunt, last year it was heart shaped and had lots of sections that fanned out to reveal 8000 shades of eye shadow and sticky lip gloss. the worst thing is I can't pass them on as I don't want to put my name to such a thing!

feel very ungrateful...

I don't normally get much at all, usually can count presents on one hand so am just utterly grateful for anything including tat from my cousin from Poundland

Stuff for my house. It always goes straight to charity. I'd much rather have a bottle of wine and some bubble bath.

I could do with some pjs and dressing gowns!
I don't get much really, only child and, apart from the first few years when she gave me a box of pound shop tat, mol gives us cash for the whole family.
My mother is usually good with cosmetics but I haven't told her i've stopped using all creams (sensitive skin went crazy and reacted to every cream on the market) so i'm sure i'll get something I can't use at all this year. Shops are usually good for swapping them out though

I get worthy historical novels from my MIL. I read a lot, just not Philippa Gregory tosh. Last year I got Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth. At least the ladies on the recent "best book you ever read thread" have convinced me to try that one. Whenever she calls she always asks what I'm reading so she must be able to work it out!

My aunt always buys me clothes in black. The only time I've worn black in the last ten years was for my father's funeral.

My SIL always chooses something really luxurious like expensive shower gel or a pashmina in just the right colour. She tries really hard.

That's the sad thing head, only cheap scented candles and I give them to the SIL.
I shall have to wait until Dec 26th for swapsies. I swapped a bracelet and a book last year cos they were duplicates/not my thing, hopefully they suited other people much better.

lollipoppet I used to lust over pages in the back of catalogues covered in those make up sets. Mind you, that was 1988

I'm with pictish on smellies - they are too personal to be a good present, you never know if someone has sensitive skin or, if you're me, hates strong chemical smells. The only smellies I ever want are Lush products, and no one ever gets me them. Last year my stepmum gave me a Body Shop voucher with the words "I know you like their stuff". Um, no.

My mother is famous for giving me things I never use. She opens the door to the homeless sellers and buys everything they can offer.

Chintzy crap from Cath Kidston et al

Calendars with kittens on.

dust gatherers ornaments

I wish she would give the money to charity, as I think it is so wasteful to give me things that I don't need.

to be honest sue, last years cashmere jumper was actually a duffle coat. It's not quite my colour, but quite nice. Weighs a ton when it rains though cos it's a proper wool one :o

Like star bodyshop vouchers I get them every year and never know what to spend them on everything in there is nasty and chemically these days. I mourn the old bodyshop.

I always get scarfs, gloves and socks all of which is great, but theyr're never the kind I like, pink sparkly or with pom poms or some such horror.

(am an ungrateful bitch)

at the duffel coat that used to be a jumper.
My fave last year was a set of plates in the shape of lettuce leaves. Though when I mentioned them on the swap thread, people were quite keen . I couldn't swap them though, it would have been noticed.

This is why I try to not give/receive adult presents. But I imagine that certain people in my family would still give DD second-hand, slightly broken dressing-up costumes that smell strongly of Other People's Attics.. It's a good job I love Christmas and my family despite it all....

yeah, adult presents are tough. I've made most of my adult presents. That way they can't seriously be regifted, if only because of the guilt involved in giving away something someone else has slaved over :o