What to Put in a Gift Hamper: Ideas for Creating Your Own

Wondering what to put in a gift hamper?

If you're creating your own gift hamper, the easiest approach is to start with the person you're buying for rather than trying to fill a hamper with a particular number of things.

Choose one main gift they'll genuinely enjoy, then add a couple of smaller treats that work well with it. Books, chocolate, candles, skincare, stationery, cosy socks and small gifts can all work beautifully.

A few things they'll genuinely enjoy will beat a hamper stuffed with random bits simply because there was space left.

If you want to choose everything yourself without buying it from different shops, finding suitable packaging and then posting it, you can create your own gift hamper with us instead.

You choose what goes in. We put it all together, handwrite your card and send it.

What are good things to put in a gift hamper?

There isn't a definitive list of things every gift hamper should contain.

A book can make a great main present for someone who loves reading. Chocolate, sweets or biscuits are easy treats to add. Candles, diffusers and pillow mists work particularly well for someone who enjoys their home comforts, while skincare or hand cream can add a little luxury.

For someone who loves stationery, you could choose a notebook, pen or bookmark. Cosy socks work particularly well in a night-in or get well soon hamper, while a candle or small piece of homeware can be a good addition to a new-home gift.

A reader might love a new book, chocolate, a bookmark and a candle. Someone who rarely reads would probably wonder what on earth you're trying to tell them.

How to create your own gift hamper

Start with one main gift and build around it.

That might be a book, candle, notebook, skincare or something connected to what they enjoy.

Then add a couple of smaller things that complement it.

For a book lover, you might start with a book and add chocolate, a bookmark and a candle. It's a simple combination, but everything has a reason for being there — preferably involving a sofa and an uninterrupted hour or two.

For someone who deserves a bit of spoiling, you could combine skincare or hand cream with a candle, chocolate and cosy socks.

For a stationery lover, try a notebook, beautiful pen or stationery, hand cream and chocolate. Particularly suitable for the person who already owns 14 notebooks but insists this one is completely different.

For someone recovering from an illness or operation, keep things comforting rather than complicated. A book, treats, cosy socks and a small gift can be more than enough. Just be conscious of dietary restrictions if they've been unwell.

And avoid gifts that create work.

Nobody recovering from an operation needs to receive a complicated craft project because somebody on the internet said hobbies were relaxing.

A new-home hamper can be equally simple. Irish chocolate, a candle, a book and one small gift for the home can work beautifully.

Consumable gifts are particularly useful when you don't know someone's interior taste. They can enjoy them without having to display the decorative object you confidently decided was very them.

For a thank-you gift, you may need even less. Really good chocolate and a handwritten card can be plenty, or you could add a book, candle or another small gift if someone has done something particularly generous for you.

If you want to do the choosing but would rather leave the packing to us, our Create Your Own Gift Box & Hamper lets you choose the individual products you'd like to include.

Once you've chosen everything, add our Signature Gift Box & Handwritten Card and tell us what you'd like written inside.

We'll pack everything together in Waterford, handwrite your card and send the finished gift directly to you or the recipient.

What if you're creating a hamper for someone who has everything?

The person who has everything.

Or worse, the person who has everything and immediately buys anything they want for themselves.

For these people, we'd avoid putting all your faith in one expensive, highly specific present unless you know they'll love it.

Instead, give them several smaller things to discover.

Think something to eat, something to enjoy, something to use and something personal.

Good chocolate disappears rather than creating clutter. A book gives them something to enjoy. A candle or skincare can be used. And your handwritten message makes the whole thing personal.

Several smaller surprises also give you more chances of getting it right.

And if even that sounds like too much decision-making, you can always hand the decisions over to us with a Mystery Box.

How many items should you put in a gift hamper?

There is no perfect number, but three to five well-chosen items is plenty for most gift hampers.

The size and value of the things you're including matter far more than hitting a particular number. Three substantial gifts can feel much more generous than eight little things added simply to fill space.

For a milestone birthday, wedding or particularly special occasion, you can obviously go bigger.

There are no gift-hamper police.

How do you make your own gift hamper more personal?

The easiest way is to choose things based on what the recipient actually likes rather than filling the hamper with generally popular gifts.

Do they read constantly? Start with a book.

Always have a candle burning? Add one.

Known for their chocolate stash? You know what to do.

And include a message.

The products may be what they unwrap, but the card explains why the gift came from you.

You don't need to be Shakespeare.

A few genuine lines are usually far more memorable than something copied from a greeting card.

Can I create my own gift hamper online?

Yes. You can create your own gift hamper online with The Book Resort by choosing the individual products you'd like us to include.

Choose from the products we have available, including books, gourmet treats, candles, skincare, stationery, home fragrance and gifts from Irish brands. This means you can build the gift around the person you're buying for rather than choosing a pre-selected combination.

Once you've chosen your gifts, add our Signature Gift Box & Handwritten Card and tell us what you'd like written inside.

We'll pack everything together in Waterford, handwrite your card and send the finished gift directly to you or the recipient.

No prices or receipts are included inside the gift.

It's essentially the best bit of making your own gift hamper — choosing exactly what goes into it — without having to find the packaging, wrap everything and post it yourself.

Create your own gift hamper or gift box.

Create Your Own Gift Hamper FAQs

How do I create my own gift hamper?

Start with the person you're buying for. Choose one main gift they'll enjoy and add a couple of smaller things that work well with it. Finish with a personal message. You can pack everything yourself or create your own gift hamper with The Book Resort and we'll take care of the gift box, card, packing and shipping.

Can I choose exactly what goes in my gift box?

Yes. When you create your own gift box with The Book Resort, you choose the individual products you'd like us to include rather than buying a pre-selected combination.

Can I create my own gift hamper and have it delivered in Ireland?

Yes. Choose the gifts you'd like to include and add your personal message. We'll handwrite your card, pack everything together in Waterford and send the finished gift directly to the recipient in Ireland.

What can I put in a gift hamper if they don't eat chocolate?

A gift hamper doesn't need to contain food. Books, candles, skincare, hand cream, stationery, notebooks, cosy socks, bookmarks, home fragrance and small homeware gifts can all work well, particularly if you're unsure about allergies or dietary requirements.

Creating your own hamper doesn't need to be complicated.

Choose something they'll love, add a couple of smaller surprises and don't forget the message.

That's really all there is to it.