The annual help a useless man find a gift for his wife thread

[Carleatspeas]

Hello Mumsnetters,

Me again with my annual thread looking for gift advice for my wife. In return, I will give top tips on male gifts (no we don't want cheap cycling gear. Yes we do want expensive hiking boots).

My wife (46, outdoorsy, dog loving) has had a rough few months with the passing of her father, so I'm keen to get her something special. Holidays are out as we have one booked in Feb. All I have to work with this year is that she seemingly loves everything from Wolf and Badger, likes Penhalligon's perfume and I have a note in my phone that says "Rosa's T Gloves" but no idea what it means. Only that I made a note of it when she mentioned them at some point...

Help!

Ah it’s you again, hello yearly poster!

Yep, I've had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra

You have lots to explore there OP. I lost both my dad then my mum in the last year, it's lovely that you want to make this year special for her.

Just remembered. She likes Bum Bum cream too, so I have looked (and failed) for a large gift box from that brand.

I was maybe thinking of a ring this year. That's a minefield that fills me with fear.

How did last year's present go down @Carleatspeas?

Le Chameau wellies. Not sure they’d come under ‘special’ but they are a little fancy (for wellies!) and she can use them all the time.

I’m a similar age to your wife and the presents I most appreciate are the ones I get to use frequently. My favourite presents from the last couple of years are the aforementioned wellies, decent running trainers and an Apple Watch. I’ve been given some lovely jewellery but it stays in the box most of the time as I feel it’s a bit much for everyday wear.

Is there anything that would link to a nice memory of her Father or would that upset her?

Plenty of sol de Janeiro bum bum sets on LookFantastic etc

What about one of those bracelets or necklaces that you can get a teeny tiny photo into?

From what I can remember, it went pretty well. I got her a bracelet and a trunk of various make ups/ beauty stuff which she really seemed to like.

This is so nice though.

All good ideas. She has Le Chameau wellies and loves them. I'm always nervous of buying something like running trainers. Dangerous territory.

I wouldn't want to veer to close to it, but he was Scottish so anything Stag like might go down well.

If you can't find a suitable gift set just buy a wicker basket and make it up as a gift hamper yourself. Gives you scope to put various other things in there too.

That's a good idea. Could maybe put one of her Dad in it.

I'd keep away from the stag themed things just because he was Scottish. That's a bit 'first thing that popped into my head'.

If you have any old cards or anything signed "love dad" that she has kept, you can get the writing scanned and made into a silver pendant. A friend of mine did this for her sister when her sister got married. Not sure of the company she used, but the gift was very appreciated.

I don't know which company she used, but if looked a bit like this... www.wildhoneybee.co.uk/products/molly-actual-handwriting-ncklace?variant=42859207983274&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAmZGrBhAnEiwAo9qHiXXiAlWu9--xIZlQPJ7Ngbe9ufV8tizVCJYDr2Nu7j0X1XsWS4U2ExoCt2gQAvD_BwE

Something like this -

https://www.drawelry.co.uk/product-personalized-projection-necklace-custom-multiple-photos-creative-gifts-cid77-drjn0334?currency=GBP&lang=en&country=GB&masterattrdictionaryidentifier=yellowgoldplatedsilver&utmsource=google&utmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=surfaces&gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxt7UhrnkggMVe5JQBh1-1gsLEAQYFyABEgKpnfDD_BwE

Sorry, I don't know how to condense a link!

My husband is thoughtful, but not in a putting yourself in a nest of vipers way! I hope you get some good ideas.

I tried that once. It was a fifty percent hit rate but including lots of makeup for different skin tones didn't work very well. Who knew it was so complicated!😀

Lovely idea, I clicked on the link and the necklace brought tears to my eyes - in a good way.

If she doesn't have it already, the Penhaligon gift set of samples would let her try pretty much everything, and you could add an IOU for the perfume of her choice after she's tried them all.

There's either the 5 miniature bottles at 5ml for £40 or 10 samplers at 2ml for £30, which I'm pretty confident comes with a voucher off a full sized purchase

https://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/categories/gift-sets/shop-all

That's a good idea. I'll do that. I was in an airport recently trying to buy some and the selection of Penhalligons was overwhelming, to say the least.

@Carleatspeas - Scent is so very personal - what smells nice on one person may smell totally differently on another because of their body chemistry. Trying is very important.

This way she has 10 possible perfumes from their most popular ranges to try out. The so-called Gentlemen's range is where my preferred perfumes come from.

Does she have a favourite podcast? My best present last year was a subscription to extra content to my favourite.

Have you done a silk pillowcase yet? Cliche, but a good standby for glamorous (non-vegan) women - if she likes it you can get her another one for when the first is in the wash.

Why don't you ask her what she wants?

@Carleatspeas my DF died last year and DH bought me the Liberty beauty advent calendar as a special treat after a shitty year. I was just touched that he had remembered me saying I’d always fancied one. I’d be trying to decipher the gloves note if I were you maybe? You sound lovely by the way! .