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A higher price tag does not automatically make a better present. It does, however, improve the odds that the person opening it will be thrilled.
Nobody hands out luxury gifts to everyone on the shopping list. A few people truly deserve the splurge, though, and now and then you are simply in a position to go all out.
The best splurge gifts celebrate the finer things. Think of a top-shelf version of something the person already uses every day, or a coveted item they may not need but will love having.
Practicality is not the point here. These gifts lean toward the lavish and the opulent, and whether we admit it or not, they put a little extra spring in our step.
Below are fifteen ideas, from home bar gear to travel luggage, each one worth considering when the budget has room to stretch.
Smoke Cocktails at Home With the Crafthouse by Fortessa Smoking Box
Very few home bars come with a smoker of their own. That makes this box a standout present for the cocktail fan who already owns every piece of barware.
The build is solid, with a walnut wood base and a stainless steel frame. Glass walls on all four sides let you show off each drink as it soaks up the flavor of your favorite wood chips.
The chamber fits two cocktail glasses, so a pair of drinks can be smoked together. A handheld smoker comes in the package, which means the recipient has everything needed to start on Manhattans, old-fashioneds and martinis.
Expect it to get messy and very smoky. Even so, it turns a Saturday night of martinis with friends into a far more entertaining affair.
Old-World Charm in a Bottle: Trudon Ernesto Room Spray
Anyone can grab a can of air freshener to improve the smell of a room. This old world-style spray from Trudon does something different, because it brings real character along with the scent.
It can make you feel as if you are standing in a fancy hotel from many, many decades ago. The bottle holds 12.6 fluid ounces, which is a generous size.
The fragrance is extremely pleasant. Head notes of bergamot, grapefruit and rum come first, then the scent deepens into oak wood, clove, tobacco, amber and other layers.
The result is a complex, old-world scent that matches the bottle delivering it.
A Fur-Like Wrap for Couch Days: Cozy Earth Cuddle Blanket
This ultra-plush blanket is a luxury gift for anyone who loves curling up at home. The brand pitches it as an indulgent, warm cocoon.
The texture is fur-like and the weight is substantial, so it feels incredibly cozy. It looks gorgeous draped over the back of a sofa or spread across the whole bed.
Picture a fur coat that was made for sleeping in. Despite appearances, it is not real animal fur, since it is made from 100 percent polyester.
Two sizes are available: one that suits the couch and another made for the bedroom. Buy one, or buy both if you want to raise the luxury stakes.
Pro-Ject T1 Evo Hi-Fi Turntable: A Fine Way Into Vinyl
Few things say luxury like a music player built for a format that only collectors and devoted music nerds still embrace. That is what makes this entry-level record player from Pro-Ject Evo such a smart gift.
It pairs premium materials with a striking look and a rich sound quality. It is a perfect pick for someone who wants to get into the vinyl hobby.
The details show the care that went into it. You get a CNC-machined plinth, a heavy glass platter, an electronic speed changer and vibration-absorbing feet.
In short, it is a well-made turntable with audiophiles and avid collectors in mind.
Chewy Ice on Demand: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker
Among countertop ice makers, this is the one we rank first, and it still holds the top spot in its category. It is also very expensive, so it makes sense only if you are shopping on a luxury budget.
The machine turns out chewy Sonic ice, which is great in drinks and all sorts of icy treats. Impressively, the nuggets do not clump together, even after sitting in the integrated container tray for a while.
About 20 minutes after a cycle starts, the first nuggets begin to drop. From there, the machine makes one pound of ice every hour.
The extras are worth noting too. They include touchscreen controls, a companion app and a UV-based light cleaning system.
Paper Feel Without the Eye Strain: reMarkable Paper Pro
We believe this is the best E-Ink device available today, whether you want to read books or take notes. Nothing else in the category feels quite like it.
The 11.8-inch display does more than mimic the look of paper. It shows up to 20,000 colors, and the included stylus gives a paper-like texture as you scribble, so using it feels very natural.
There is one caveat. Pages with plenty of color do not display as smoothly as pure grayscale pages.
It makes an excellent luxury gift for readers and writers who cannot stand the eye strain of modern screens. It also suits anyone who finds physical notebooks awkward in this digital age.
Battery life lasts two weeks between charges, so it will not become one more device that needs plugging in every night.
A Bedroom Cinema You Can Aim Anywhere: Samsung Freestyle 2
When the original Freestyle arrived, it was not obvious how Samsung wanted people to use it. Now that it has been around for a while, it is our top pick for watching the big screen in the bedroom.
This second generation keeps the same 180-degree rotation as the first. You can beam it onto walls and ceilings alike, with shows and movies shown at up to 100-inch screen sizes in 1080p.
A set of automatic corrections lets you move and resize the picture on the fly, with no complicated fiddling. The built-in speakers get loud enough, with good clarity, for most bedrooms.
Streaming apps come already installed, and a browser and a Gaming Hub are built in too. It works as a standalone entertainment center, so no other device needs to be connected.
A Stainless Steel Upgrade for Cooler Fans: YETI V Series 55
Know someone who puts a favorite cooler through the grind? A cooler upgrade might be exactly the luxury gift that bowls them over.
Rotomolded plastic gives way to a stainless steel body here, and the result has an elevated look. Vacuum insulation keeps the contents cool for long stretches.
Because the walls are thinner, the weight stays manageable and it is easy to move from spot to spot. The spacious main compartment fits 60 12oz cans along with 30 pounds of ice to keep them cold, all in one go.
Scoop-Free Cat Care: Whisker Litter-Robot 4 Bundle
This modern litter box is a luxury gift for the cat owner on your list. It leaves clean litter behind after each visit.
It sifts out waste on its own and seals it inside a tightly closed chamber, ready for easy disposal later. That’s right, no more scooping.
Because waste is separated into a sealed container right away, nasty odors drop drastically. It is a much more hygienic way to share a home with cats.
Sensors and Wi-Fi tell you when a cat has used the box, or when one has skipped the day’s bathroom trips. It also weighs each cat on every visit, so you can keep track of how heavy your pet is.
The bundle comes with a non-slip mat and a ramp. Even smaller cats will find it easier to get in and out.
The Toy That Transforms Itself: Robosen Flagship Megatron
In our view, the auto-morphing Transformers from Robosen rank among the greatest toys ever made. Our pick of the lot is this Megatron, which stands 20.6 inches tall.
Inside are 118 microchips and 36 servo motors. They let it shift from robot to tank and back again, all on its own.
Its body carries 112 LED lights and several hundred prerecorded sound effects. Both forms are packed with fine detail.
Here is what the robot version includes:
- An Energon Maze
- Four tank shells
- The signature fusion cannon that Megatron is known for
- An Energon Sword that lights up
Tank mode rolls on real treads, each controlled individually. That lets it pivot turn just like an actual tank.
It is the kind of toy that would have blown your mind back when you were younger.
A Mini-Fridge With Big Ideas: Rocco The Super Smart Fridge
This is arguably the greatest mini-fridge ever made. It is probably more expensive than the fridge in your actual kitchen, and that is because it is something special.
For one thing, it is a beauty that could pass for a piece of furniture rather than a plain appliance.
It can hold as many as 77 12-ounce cans or 27 wine bottles. Its six shelves can each be rearranged to suit either cans or bottles, and the upper and lower halves can be set to different temperatures.
A unique vision system identifies every beverage in the fridge. The companion app then shows each one in detail.
It is thorough, too, recognizing even less-mainstream brands and flavors.
The fridge also offers several operating modes:
- Quiet Mode, which is our favorite
- Smart Mode, which automatically adjusts the temperature based on ambient changes
- Party Mode, which gets noisy but chills drinks at top speed
It stands apart from every other mini-fridge out there.
Rimowa Pilot Case: A Fresh Take on Iconic Luggage
Rimowa’s grooved aluminum suitcases are about as iconic as luggage gets. Our recommendation here, however, is the lesser-known Pilot Case.
It was originally designed for pilots. It is sized to sit flush between the two pilot seats in a cockpit.
It also slots in nicely in overhead compartments, so you can carry it on board in place of a traditional suitcase.
We like its unusual profile compared with typical luggage. It still keeps the iconic look that everybody knows and loves.
Skincare at Four Figures: La Prairie Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Face Cream
A four-figure price for a face cream sounds absolutely bonkers in any season. Since this is a list of luxury gifts, though, it fits: this sits at the very top end of anti-aging moisturizers.
The cream is Swiss-made. Its goal is to help skin last longer at the cellular level by stopping zombie cells from forming. Those cells pile up in our skin as we grow older.
The company says its formula regulates how cellular information is passed to young, healthy cells that divide and replace the ones before them. With continued use, it essentially resets skin cells to a younger state.
Does it work? We do not know, but at this price it had better. Stories from assorted users sound very promising, and the clinical trials brought positive results too.
A Personal Barista on Standby: Breville Oracle Jet
A good automatic espresso machine does not have to cost this much. Still, this one goes well beyond ordinary kitchen gear, because it is like keeping a barista on call.
It does most of the work for you. You enter what you want, and the machine handles the rest, down to tamping every puck evenly.
Thermojet heating gets it to perfect extraction temperatures in seconds. That makes it a standout for speed among espresso makers.
It can also make cold brew and cold espresso drinks, which adds a lot of versatility. For the serious coffee lovers on your list, it is the top luxury gift.
A Strikingly Beautiful Shoulder Bag: Alaia Le Teckel Medium in Nubuck Calfskin
Even untrained eyes can see how strikingly beautiful this bag is. It has an elongated shape, tubular straps and an overall look unlike anything else.
Picture a shoulder bag borrowed from a fantasy story that somehow still suits modern outfits.
Soft nubuck calf leather adds to the luxe feel. Little details give extra flair, including decorative ties, a double zip closure and a removable mirror in the inside pocket.
Natalie Ross
Crafting articles that stay helpful long after their publish date is what drove me into digital editing years ago. I love the quiet connection built between a writer and a reader, and I strive to make every piece a welcoming space for curiosity.