Christmas gift ideas from the team: what we need and what we want
Every year we ask Team Scandi the same question: what would you like to receive? This year we made it a bit harder. One thing you need, and one thing you want.
Here are our answers – from the sensible to the pure indulgence. Use them as Christmas gift ideas for someone else, a treat for yourself, or as a tactful (tactical?) hint to your nearest and dearest.
Our Scandinavian gift picks from the team
Lucy. “Nice things make tidying up a lot more attractive, so a proper dustpan and brush is genuinely top of my list – and Iris Hantverk's are so nice you don't need to hide them in a cupboard. The Crackle vase, though, is pure want.”
Lucy's need: Iris Hantverk Dustpan & Brush
A dustpan and brush that's nice enough to leave out. Iris Hantverk's set is handmade in Sweden, in oiled beech and horsehair – a properly practical present for anyone who likes their cleaning tools to look good.
Lucy's want: Kosta Boda Crackle Vase
Mouth-blown from recycled glass by Åsa Jungnelius, the Crackle vase has a crackled texture that means no two are the same, in pattern or in colour. This is the large round one in blue – a real statement piece.
Rachel. “Yes, I picked Gabba Gabba Hey last year. No, nobody bought it for me. I still love him. The garlic press is the sensible one – it'll get used a lot.”
Rachel's need: Zone Denmark Garlic Press
A neat little matte steel garlic press that lives in the drawer – small, clever and genuinely useful, which makes it a great present for anyone who cooks.
Rachel's want: Kosta Boda Gabba Gabba Hey
A handmade crystal gorilla from Kosta Boda's My Wide Life series – a sculptural gift with a lot of character, for someone who'd rather have a gorilla than a candle.
Gayle. “Last year the Kreafunk speaker was a want. This year I've decided it's a need – I have to have music everywhere. And the brass mistletoe candle holder is just too pretty to leave on the shelf.”
Gayle's need: Kreafunk aGO 2 Speaker
A water-resistant Bluetooth speaker with up to 25 hours' play, wrapped in soft fabric (this one's plum). Small enough to go from kitchen to garden – ideal for anyone who wants music everywhere.
Gayle's want: Broste Brass Mistletoe Candle Holder
A 25cm-tall brass mistletoe candle holder from Broste Copenhagen, with ivory glass berries. Festive without being fussy, and pretty enough to stay out long after Christmas.
Caitlin. “Soap is a need, isn't it? The Hetkinen hand wash smells like a walk in the woods and the glass bottle looks nice, too. My want is a Flensted mobile. Drifting Clouds is so calming to watch.”
Caitlin's need: Hetkinen Wabi-Sabi Hand Wash
Natural, vegan and refillable, this Finnish hand wash comes in a 500ml glass bottle that looks good beside any sink. A very giftable way to make washing your hands feel like a treat.
Caitlin's want: Flensted Drifting Clouds Mobile
Wood and gilded steel clouds in constant, gentle motion. Flensted's Drifting Clouds mobile is the sort of gift that's calming to look at – and it hangs happily from a ceiling or a shelf.
Isabelle. “Coffee's a must and I'm always on the go, so a new reusable cup is long overdue. And the Lovi ram is my want. He makes me smile and will feel right at home at ours.”
Isabelle's need: Aya & Ida Cup2Go
A 380ml thermo cup in driftwood brown, with a one-handed click lid. A reusable cup for anyone who's always on the go – and who likes their coffee hot when they get there.
Isabelle's want: Lovi Ram
Made from Finnish birch plywood, Lovi's ram slots together without glue and arrives flat-packed. He's a smile-inducing decoration for a shelf, a windowsill or a table – and the 22cm natural mix has a black head and legs.
Sam. “I don't take care of my hands, so really need to get – and use – some decent handcream, and the Skandinavisk ones smell nice, too. And yes, it's another Lyngby vase for my want (thanks, Santa). The Tura jug vase has those classic lines, with generous proportions.”
Sam's need: Skandinavisk Fjord Hand Cream
Organic and softly scented with apple and pear blossom, Skandinavisk's Fjord hand cream is a lovely way to look after your hands. If you'd like something for a stocking filler, there's a 30ml mini too.
Sam's want: Lyngby Tura Jug Vase
White porcelain with the classic Lyngby grooves, generous proportions and a height of 27.5cm. It's a lovely vase for flowers or branches – and equally good standing on its own.
Lisa. “Candlelight, without having to worry about candles (and with the remote, so I don't have to get up to switch it off), is a proper need. The Glow Rod is what I want – rechargeable, with a soft, flickering glow. Lovely.”
Lisa's need: Uyuni LED Pillar Candle
Made from real wax, with a flickering 3D flame and a built-in timer, this flameless pillar candle is safe around children, pets and the forgetful. Add the remote control for a dimmer and more timer options (batteries not included).
Lisa's want: Uyuni Glow Rod
An acrylic rod on a sleek black aluminium base, the Glow Rod gives a soft, inviting light – choose a candle-like flicker or a steady glow. It's rechargeable (60–70 hours per charge), with timer options, and the charging base is sold separately.
Lorna. “The Karl speaker is my 'need' – compact but powerful enough to fill a room, and I can move it from room to room. For want? A Pernille Corydon necklace, in gold, please!”
Lorna's need: Kreafunk Karl Speaker
A compact, water-resistant Bluetooth speaker wrapped in recycled fabric, with up to 30 hours' play and wireless charging. Sleek, easy to carry from room to room, and a good one for anyone who loves music.
Lorna's want: Pernille Corydon Elements Necklace
Danish designer Pernille Corydon's Elements necklace is made of delicate 18k gold-plated spheres in subtly varied sizes, adjustable from 38–42cm. It looks lovely worn on its own or layered with other pieces.
Want more inspiration?
- For flower lovers (and vase collectors), see our favourite vases
- For those who love to cook, see the kitchen gadgets we love and use ourselves
- For tea and coffee lovers, our favourite Nordic coffee & tea essentials
- For candlelight and cosy evenings, our pick of the best lighting and candles
- Skandinavisk candles, hand care & gift sets, beautifully scented and ready to give
- Jewellery is always a good bet
- And if you really can't decide, there's always a gift voucher
See more gift guides:
See all our gift guides →
We've also got all this and more in our Helensburgh shop, including gift ideas we don't stock online – like Jellycat toys, chocolate, books, bags, jewellery, toiletries and more.
Updated for Christmas 2026.
