How to Curate a Thoughtful Valentine's Day Gift Basket
Assembling your own Valentine's basket lets you tailor every item to your partner's tastes, from champagne and chocolates to spa vouchers and keepsakes, rather than settling for a pre-packed option.
By Avery Howard
The best Valentine gift baskets are full of individually chosen and personal items.
Pre-assembled Valentine's Day baskets are widely available for purchase, yet crafting one yourself carries a more intimate and creative touch. A local craft shop can assist you in choosing the container and filler materials — shredded tissue paper or faux flower petals, for instance — along with a sizable bow, floral accent or attached gift for embellishment.
Champagne Selections
French Champagne has long been part of romantic evenings.
Authentic French champagne, sourced from the Champagne area in northeastern France, offers a romance and sophistication that nothing else quite matches. A taste of the genuine article would surely delight her. That said, California sparkling wines produced from pinot noir or chardonnay grapes serve as a worthy alternative. A bottle of fine champagne can anchor a Valentine's gift basket, particularly when paired with two crystal flutes.
Handcrafted Treasures
Hand embroidered items are precious gift basket additions.
An increasing number of men have embraced knitting in recent years as a rewarding way to counter everyday stress. Should you be among them, a scarf made from mohair, wool or alpaca would make a lovely surprise for her. If knitting isn't your craft, browse a nearby craft shop or an online artisan marketplace for distinctive handmade pieces — a raku pottery cup or bowl, ornamental ceramics, embroidered sachets or jewelry, for example.
Personal Care Products
Keep her skin soft with high quality creams and lotions.
A Valentine's Day basket benefits from the inclusion of creams and lotions, such as massage oils, scented oils, UV-protective face and body lotions, lip balm, foot creams, fragrant and natural soaps, and facial masks.
Spa Visits and Massage Sessions
A full body massage is a long lasting Valentine's Day gift.
A gift certificate to a nearby spa makes a wonderful present, with options like a 60-minute full-body massage, foot massage, facial or pedicure. To help her make the most of her complimentary treatment, recommend arriving a quarter of an hour before the scheduled time so she can review available services and tour the facility beforehand.
Chocolate Assortments
Add a delicious chocolate in an elegant porcelain box to her Valentine's Day basket.
When your Valentine adores chocolate, make certain the basket holds enough variety to satisfy her cravings for a week or more. Spanning dark to smooth milk chocolate, the selection might feature premium chocolate bars, truffles, chocolate-covered cherries or nuts, liqueur-filled candies, chocolate-dipped cookies, and artisanal chocolates that please both the eye and the palate.
Coffee and Tea Varieties
Include a delicate porcelain tea or coffee cup with your gift of coffee and tea samplers.
Although she may enjoy coffee and tea nearly every day, she might not have explored the more unusual blends available worldwide. A sampler of fresh, top-quality tea and coffee is ideally bought separately from a local purveyor, who can guide you toward a flavorful assortment. Pairing these with two bone china or porcelain cups could further elevate her tasting pleasure.
Keepsakes with Meaning
A heart-shaped locket belongs in your Valentine's gift basket.
Items that feel personal and convey your affection and closeness will likely become her most treasured picks in the basket. Consider adding a small, elegantly framed photograph of the two of you, a locket set with her birthstone, a DVD of music you both have loved, and a bracelet or ring she can wear as a reminder of you.
Romantic Dinners for Two
There's no substitute for an intimate dinner for two on Valentine's Day.
Create a handmade certificate promising a candlelit dinner for two at an upscale restaurant, and pair it with tickets to a live stage performance for the same evening. Alternatively, if you feel she needs time to prepare her wardrobe for such a special outing, purchase the tickets one to two weeks ahead.
