Gifts for your best friend: 20 ideas she'll actually love

Looking for a gift for your best friend and ending up with a scarf, bubbly and chocolate again? You could. But your best friend knows you in sweatpants, with smudged mascara and on the phone at 3 a.m. A good gift shows that you know her just as well. It doesn't have to be expensive, it has to fit: an inside joke, a line only the two of you laugh about, or time you spend together. Here are 20 ideas, sorted by occasion and budget, from small treats under €15 to shared experiences.

What makes a good gift for your best friend?

The best gifts have three things in common:

• They're personal. An inside joke beats any brand logo.
• They fit into her everyday life. Better something she'll actually use than another dust collector.
• They say something. "I thought of you" lands, even when the gift is small.

Keep these three questions in mind and choosing from the list below gets a lot easier.

Personal gifts with an inside-joke factor

If you've known each other for years, you have your own language. That's exactly what candles with sayings are for: they look good, smell good and say what you'd otherwise only send as a voice message.

1. Candle "Bitch you're my soulmate"

For the friend who knows more about you than your diary does. The message is loving, just not in greeting card language. Perfect if that's how you talk to each other anyway. Shop the "Bitch you're my soulmate" candle for €24

2. Candle "You're my favourite person to be antisocial with"

You're happiest on the sofa with snacks and no other people around? Then this is your candle. A gift that says: with you, even doing nothing counts as a plan. Shop the "You're my favourite person to be antisocial with" candle for €24

3. Candle "Lover of cancelled plans"

For everyone who's secretly relieved when the 8 p.m. meetup gets cancelled after all. Honest, a little cheeky and a guaranteed laugh when she unwraps it. Shop the "Lover of cancelled plans" candle for €24

Tip: Add a handwritten greeting card. A few lines from you turn any candle into a personal gift.

4. Engraved jewellery

A simple bracelet or necklace with your initials, a date only the two of you know, or the coordinates of your favourite place. Small, wearable every day and a daily reminder of you. Many jewellers and online shops offer engraving for a small extra charge.

5. The playlist of your friendship

The song from your first party, the one you always sing too loudly in the car, the break-up anthem that got you through tough weeks: put together your shared playlist and give it to her with a short note on why each song is on it. It costs nothing but time and goes straight to the heart.

Gifts for tough days

Not every gift needs an occasion. Sometimes a bad day, a break-up or exam season is reason enough.

6. Candle "Britney survived 2007 you can handle today"

When life is a bit much right now, a dose of pop culture perspective helps. Every evening, the candle reminds her that this day will pass too. Shop the "Britney survived 2007" candle for €24

7. Candle "Girl you need to calm the fuck down"

For the friend who takes care of everything except herself. Light it, breathe, put the phone away. Care with a wink. Shop the "Girl you need to calm the fuck down" candle for €24

8. A self-care evening to give away

Pack her an evening just for herself: her favourite chocolate, a sheet mask, a tea she likes and a scented candle. Our tip: the Island Dream scented candle in a glass with coconut, sandalwood and vanilla (€24). It smells warm, soft and a little like holidays. You put the rest together yourself, and that's what makes it personal.

9. Her favourite food, delivered to her door

Sometimes the best gift is that she doesn't have to cook tonight. After a hard day, have her favourite food delivered or drop off a portion yourself. Add a short message and it's care she'll feel right away.

Birthday gifts for your best friend

Birthdays can be a little cheekier. You'll find more ideas in our Birthday Energy collection.

10. For milestone birthdays: "Quarter life crisis" or "Talk thirty to me"

She's turning 25 and questioning everything? Then "Quarter life crisis" fits. She's turning 30? Then "Talk thirty to me". Both cost €24 and are a birthday speech in candle form, only shorter.

11. Candle "I was going to take you out for your birthday but there's rice at home"

For everyone who'd rather cook for their friend at home than go to a pricey restaurant. Or for everyone who simply gets the joke. Shop the "…but there's rice at home" candle for €24

12. Tickets for a concert, theatre or comedy show

Her favourite band is coming to town, or there's a comedy show you've been talking about for weeks? Two tickets are a gift and a night out together in one. Tip: tuck the tickets into a card and write down what you'll do before or after.

Decor with attitude

13. Body candle Nomi or Rumi

Body candles are decor and a statement at the same time: they show real, different bodies and stand for body positivity. A lovely gift for a friend who champions self-love, or one you want to remind how amazing she is. The Nomi body candle starts at €21, the Rumi body candle is a limited edition for €21. Read more about the background in our article What is body positivity and why does it matter?

Time instead of stuff: gifts to experience together

The best gift for your best friend is often time together. A few ideas you'll both enjoy:

14. Candle workshop in Vienna

At our candle workshop you pour your own scented candles in two hours and take them straight home. No experience needed, drinks are included. It costs €60 per person and is for ages 16 and up. Ideal if you live in or near Vienna or are planning a city trip anyway.

15. A day trip together

A day just for the two of you: spa, hike, flea market or a city trip by train. Write the destination on a card and add it to your gift. The anticipation comes free.

16. A photo book of your friendship

Gather the best (and most embarrassing) photos from your years together and have them printed as a photo book. It mainly costs time, and that's exactly what makes it so special.

17. "Open when …" letters

Write her a few letters for specific moments: "Open when you're sad", "Open when you doubt yourself", "Open when you miss me". It costs almost nothing and she'll keep them forever.

18. A year of friend dates

When life gets busy, you see each other less than you'd like. Give her twelve homemade vouchers, one for each month: brunch, movie night, a walk with coffee, flea market, karaoke. That way your time together is planned for the whole year.

Small gifts for your best friend under €15

19. Small treats that still say something

Not every gift has to be big. For in between, as a little something or as an add-on, try:

• Macaron wax melt for €5: looks like a pastry and scents the room for hours in a wax warmer.
• Small Golden Hour candle with tobacco, honey and tonka for €12.
• A greeting card with a saying for €4.
• A cutting from your houseplant in a pretty pot: costs almost nothing and grows along with your friendship.

You'll find all ideas in this price range in our Small treats under €15 collection.

Last minute: when it has to be quick

20. Gift card by email

Our candles are hand-poured in Vienna, and production takes 4 to 8 working days plus shipping. If her birthday is tomorrow, the gift card saves the day: it arrives by email, starts at €10 and you can even choose the day it lands in her inbox. That way she can pick her favourite candle herself.

Frequently asked questions

What is a personal gift for your best friend?

Personal is anything that only fits her: an inside-joke saying, a shared experience, a photo book or a handwritten letter. What matters isn't the price, but that she immediately notices you were thinking of her.

What is a special gift for your best friend?

A gift becomes special when it tells a story. That could be a candle workshop for two, a trip to your favourite place or a candle with a saying only the two of you laugh about.

How much should you spend on a gift for your best friend?

There's no fixed rule. More important than the amount is that it suits your friendship and your budget. A thoughtful little something under €15 often goes down better than an expensive standard gift.

What should I get my best friend for her birthday?

Birthday gifts with a wink work well, for example a candle with a birthday saying like "Talk thirty to me", paired with a card and a shared plan for the evening. If it has to be quick, a gift card by email is the safe choice.

Conclusion

The best gift for your best friend is one that could only come from you. Whether it's a cheeky candle with a saying, a self-care evening or a workshop together: what counts is that she realises, as she unwraps it, how well you know her. You'll find even more ideas in our gifts for your best friend collection.

About the author: Chichi founded Makagi and hand-pours the candles in Vienna.