The dreaded toiletries gift set, your recommendations please.

[TheDuchessofDukeStreet]

Hi everyone. DP has asked me to choose a toiletries gift set as a Christmas present for his sister. I do not know her very well but would say Bath and body rather than face/make up. Not sure what scent she likes either so would need to keep it subtle. I would really appreciate any suggestions. Free to spend about £30.

How old is she? Soap and Glory stuff is lovely quality and smells wonderful and has nice packaging, and you can get a lot for your money this time of year, but might be too young for her.

Hi Dovesong, she is early forties.

Lush X

Can't you just give her a £30 Boots gift voucher? I hated (though I appreciated the thought and effort) when I got bath stuff as I have very sensitive skin. I'm allergic to everything in Lush and a lot of other products too, including some perfumes. If I get a Boots gift card I can choose the brand and still get myself a toiletry thing :)

NEALS yard? Origins?
Have a look at John lewis, they have lots of posh and classy type gift sets, classy and hard not to like. For 30 quid you should be able to get a lovely one.

Korres

L'occitane almond shower oil. It's thick and luxurious. You can use it as a shower gel, bath oil or even rub it into your skin after a bath or shower. You can buy it alone or as part of a set and it smells gorgeous. That, or a bath oil from Jo Malone - some are around £30ish and I'd much prefer one quality thing to a mediocre set iyswim?

Philosophy. You can get gift sets in John Lewis, but you will get more bang for your buck from QVC.

I'd go for something ted baker, sanctuary or champneys from boots, maybe? They're pretty neutral but everyone seems to like them and you can get nice things for that price.

Thank you for the replies everyone. I see the point about the voucher suggestion and really that's what I'd prefer but DP is getting her an Amazon voucher as her main present and wants her to have a couple of parcels to open. I'm swithering between a more restrained present of a brand such as Clarins and a larger set of less expensive things.

Molton brown, I would love anything from their range, look out for the smaller mixed sets. As someone above said QVC often have good deals.

Rituals or L'occitane. Also Nuxe. I would personally get a few luxury items and not a bargain set.

Also White Company Seychelles. Someone bought it for me and I loved it. Then I bought it for my mum and she's asked for it again this year. I also bought myself some more with 20% off code floating around.

Oh definitely get something smaller from an expensive range. Neal's Yard or Clarins or Jo Malone (actually any posh brand) would be amazing but i would charity-shop anything like Champeneys.

Have a look at m and s. If you spend 35 you get a huge advent calendar with 250 pounds worth of goods for 30. I think that's the deal. They stock a wide range of brands. I think they're also selling a set for 30 instead of 60 which is very big but all nail varnishes etc so more make up. You could get to treat yourself at the same time basically.

The deal is still on and having just checked it I've convinced myself I need the advent calendar. It's bloomin huge!

Just had a look at the M&S advent calendar, it is certainly very fine and lovely. However, Sil would almost certainly not use the make up things. But I think you should go for it doublehelpings, you definitely need it!(grin).

Will you need it before Christmas? Boots normally reduce their toiletries sets just before Christmas to half price and you can get some amazing bargains. The sanctuary sets are normally half price and great - I stock up for the year

I would definitely prefer a Clarins hand cream t a big cheaper set as it is something I wouldn't buy myself

I would go for Jo Malone bath oil or Aromatherapy Bath oils set or if M&S have their 20% off offer on before Christmas something from Neom like the Moroccan Rose bath oil or body oil.

I like products from the White Company too - I think the bargain thread has a 20% off code mentioned ? I would choose for myself or dear friend the Winter diffuser, the winter candle, the Seychelles diffuser or perhaps something from the spa range ? Depending on colours etc and her likes maybe using the discount code one of the Pom scarfs - jigsaw have nice ones too but could be just over £30 budget.

Or failing all that so she has something to open that is useful but nice the Chanel compact mirror.

Molten brown, l'occutaine, space nk, nuxe are all brands I'd love to receive.

I really like the boots gift sets and would go with sanctuary, Ted Baker or Soap and Glory. But obviously if she has high end taste, go for something at John Lewis. It depends what her taste is. I wouldn't buy one classy product as 30 is just too much for one thing unless you know exactly what she likes.

I would go for ren neroli set

Although having a look at the lookfantastic Christmas body sets they have some brilliant things, you could get 2 or 3 little sets for that and there is always a 20% off code on hotukdeals.

L'occitane. Their stuff is lovely. I've been given Cow Shed stuff before & that's really nice too. I'd personally steer clear of cheaper ranges like sanctuary/champneys/soap & glory as its not particularly special.