Gifts for Men: Natural Aromatherapy Gift Ideas for Him

Every year it's the same. The list is nearly done, and then you get to him. Your dad, your partner, your brother, the friend who "doesn't need anything". The men who are impossible to buy for, mostly because they'd never dream of buying anything nice for themselves.

Here's something a lot of people don't realise: alongside the candles, bath treats and roller balls, I blend a whole range of things with men in mind. Handmade beard oil. A moisturiser made just for men. Bath salts for tired muscles. And earthy, woody scents for his home, his evenings and even his car.

So this is the men's edit. The natural gifts for men I'd wrap myself, a quick guide to choosing a scent he'll love, and a few gift set ideas for every budget. Every one is blended by hand here in Stratford-upon-Avon with 100% pure essential oils. Nothing synthetic, nothing rushed.

Why aromatherapy makes a good gift for men

Most men's toiletries are built around synthetic fragrance: loud, sharp and gone within the hour. Aromatherapy is different. Pure essential oils like cedarwood, sandalwood, frankincense and vetiver are naturally warm, woody and grounding, the kind of scent that settles rather than shouts.

They also turn the everyday into a small ritual. A few drops of beard oil after the shower, a candle lit at the end of the day, a hot bath after training. It's a gift that gives him a moment to himself, and that's often the thing he needs most.

 

How to choose a scent for him

Not sure what he'd like? Start with the kind of scent he already reaches for:

•      Woody and earthy: Oakmoss & Sandalwood or Patchouli Deep. Rich, grounding and our most popular scents for men.

•      Warm and festive: Three Kings. Frankincense, myrrh, orange and clove, for a grown-up Christmas.

•      Fresh and woody: our Handmade Beard Oil, with bright bergamot over cedarwood and vetiver.

•      Calm and relaxing: Chill Out. Lavender, patchouli and bergamot.

 

The men's edit: natural gifts for every part of his day

After the shower: Handmade Beard Oil, £17

A wash bag essential for any man with a beard, stubble or moustache. Grounding cedarwood, uplifting bergamot and earthy vetiver on a base of organic jojoba, which is light, non-greasy and very close to the skin's own natural oils. It conditions and softens the hair, nourishes the skin underneath and helps with beard itch. Free from synthetic fragrance, parabens and mineral oils. Shop the Handmade Beard Oil.

Before he heads out: Defend Moisturiser for Men, £23

If his skincare routine is currently "whatever soap is by the sink", this is the upgrade. Defend Moisturiser for Men is a lightweight but nourishing botanical cream with olive oil, sunflower oil and shea butter, and a subtle, grown-up scent of cedarwood and frankincense to calm and balance. It isn't heavy or greasy, it works for all skin types, and it's especially lovely on skin that feels dry or sore after shaving. It comes in a 58g jar.

On the drive: Aromatherapy Car Diffuser + Oakmoss & Sandalwood Essential Oil, £26

A natural wood vent clip that turns the commute into a few minutes of calm. Add a few drops of essential oil to the wood, clip it to the air vent and let the fan do the rest. No plastic, no battery, no synthetic "new car" smell. I'd pair the Aromatherapy Car Diffuser (£14) with our Oakmoss & Sandalwood Essential Oil (£12): warm, woody and grounding, like a walk through the woods on the way home.

After the gym (or the football): Muscles Bath Salts or Bubble Bath

For the man who comes home aching after training, a round of golf, a day in the garden or a long day on his feet. Our Muscles Bath Salts (£25) and Muscles Aromatherapy Bubble Bath (£16) are blended with pure essential oils chosen to help the body relax and tired muscles unwind. Run a hot bath, add a generous scoop, and leave him to it.

Winding down: Chill Out Body Wash or Bubble Bath, £16

Lavender, patchouli and bergamot, blended to feel calming and grounding at the end of a long day. Our Chill Out Aromatherapy Body Wash (200ml) turns a quick shower into a proper reset, or choose the Chill Out Aromatherapy Bubble Bath if he's more of a bath man. Both are free from synthetic fragrance, parabens and SLS.

His space: Oakmoss & Sandalwood

Rich, earthy oakmoss with smooth, creamy sandalwood. It's one of our most grounding blends, and the one I reach for when I want a room to feel like a sanctuary. Choose the format that suits him:

•      Oakmoss & Sandalwood Diffuser, £31: 100ml, lasting around 4 to 5 months.

•      Oakmoss & Sandalwood Candle, £36: 30cl, around 60 hours of burn time.

•      Oakmoss & Sandalwood Room Fragrance, £18: a quick spritz for his study, office or car.

•      Oakmoss & Sandalwood Essential Oil, £12: for a diffuser, oil burner or his car diffuser.

Evenings in: Patchouli Deep Candle, £36

Earthy patchouli and smoky vetiver make a grounding base, softened with creamy vanilla and lifted with a bright note of orange. Warm, calming and made for the darkest evenings of the year. Shop the Patchouli Deep Candle (30cl, around 60 hours of burn time).

The festive one: Three Kings Candle, £36

Frankincense and myrrh, warmed with orange, clove and a breath of eucalyptus. A rich, resinous blend that's grounding and uplifting all at once, and smells like Christmas in the best, most grown-up way. Shop the Three Kings Candle (30cl, around 60 hours of burn time).

When you can't decide: a gift voucher or a workshop

A Rebecca Tracey gift voucher starts at £5 and is delivered by email. Or give him an experience: a place at one of our fragrance workshops in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he'll blend a scent that's entirely his own. Get in touch to arrange a workshop voucher.

 

Build him a gift set: men's gift ideas by budget

Can't choose just one? These pairings work beautifully together. Add both to your basket and wrap them up as his own gift set.

•      The Commuter, £26: Aromatherapy Car Diffuser + Oakmoss & Sandalwood Essential Oil.

•      The Grooming Duo, £40: Handmade Beard Oil + Defend Moisturiser for Men.

•      The Unwind, £41: Muscles Bath Salts + Chill Out Aromatherapy Body Wash.

•      The Den, £67: Oakmoss & Sandalwood Diffuser + Patchouli Deep Candle. Over £50, so delivery is free.

•      The Full Ritual, £76: Handmade Beard Oil + Defend Moisturiser for Men + Three Kings Candle. Also free delivery.

 

Gifts for men under £20

Small enough for a stocking or a "just because", and all handmade:

•      Handmade Beard Oil, £17

•      Oakmoss & Sandalwood Room Fragrance, £18

•      Muscles Aromatherapy Bubble Bath, £16

•      Chill Out Aromatherapy Body Wash, £16

•      Chill Out Aromatherapy Bubble Bath, £16

•      Aromatherapy Car Diffuser, £14

•      Oakmoss & Sandalwood Essential Oil, £12

•      Gift vouchers, from £5

For more ideas for everyone else on your list, see our full natural Christmas gift guide.

 

A simple, natural men's skincare routine

If he's never had a skincare routine, don't hand him ten steps. Three is plenty, and the whole thing takes about two minutes:

1.     Wash. Warm water and a gentle wash, morning and evening. Our Chill Out Body Wash is a lovely way to start or end the day.

2.     Moisturise. A small amount of Defend Moisturiser for Men massaged into clean, dry skin on the face and neck, morning and/or evening, and after shaving.

3.     Beard oil (if there's a beard). 3 to 5 drops of Handmade Beard Oil, warmed between the palms and worked through from root to tip, then massaged into the skin beneath.

 

Winter is hard on skin. Cold air outside and central heating inside both dry it out, so this is the time of year when a moisturiser makes the most noticeable difference.