10 Thoughtful Hostess / Host Gift Ideas

Want to be an awesome party guest? Here are 10 unique and inexpensive host / hostess gift ideas that will keep you in their thoughts for years to come. These gifts are perfect for holiday and Christmas parties, Thanksgiving, dinner parties, or anytime you need a thank you gift or even a housewarming gift. There's something for everyone here!

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Are you one of these people that is done with holiday shopping by Halloween? Or even better, by January because you knocked it all out during the post-holiday sales from the previous year?

If so, you are pretty much my idol. I'm the one ordering online at the last minute and crossing my fingers that "9-14 days to ship" actually means "6-8 days".

Anyway. Every year I tell myself this one will be different. And every year it's the same.

The problem is, who has time to shop with all the PARTIES going on? And to add to the burden, even attending a party usually comes with the requirement to bring a little something for the host / hostess. If you're like me, you pick up bottle of wine or champagne and call it a day.

But here's something I've been mulling over lately. Being invited into someone's home is an honor, right? So why bring something generic like a bottle of something that will probably be consumed on the spot anyway, without your host even getting a drop of it?

Honestly, any gift will be appreciated, but the more thoughtful and/or useful it is, the more you'll be remembered for it!

The only problem is that you'll probably have more party invitations than you can handle, once people see what an awesome guest you are ;).

So, what if this is the year you and I finally get our acts together and get our host / hostess gifts ahead of time so there's no last minute scrambling and no generic gifts?

(ALTHOUGH, even if it is kind of last minute, remember that there's always Amazon Prime for free 2-day shipping. Click below for a FREE 30-day trial :)).

Here are my top 10 host / hostess gift ideas, that will work for almost anyone, man or woman, and regardless of taste, but are a little different from the usual clichés.

Note that any of these also make perfect housewarming gifts, thank you gifts and anytime gifts!

Aloe Vera Plant in a Pretty Pot

Like a bouquet of flowers, but cheaper, more original, more useful, and it'll last WAY longer! Aloe Vera is known for its medicinal properties. It's great for treating kitchen burns (not that I would know anything about that ;)).

Succulents are low maintenance and add a sophisticated touch to anyone's home.

Fleur de Sel

Fleur de sel is a gourmet French sea salt. It's typically used as a finishing salt, for when you really want the delicate flavor and crunch of a little salt (like on a dark chocolate truffle for instance). It's a little luxury pretty much everyone will love and use.

Wine Saver

Someone gifted me one of these a long time ago, and I remember raising an eyebrow and thinking I would never remember to use it. That's turned out not to be the case at all! I almost always have a half-empty bottle of wine in the fridge and this little gadget does a great job of keeping it fresh.

It's a great gift to offer a party host who's guaranteed to end up with a few open bottles at the end of the night.

A Pretty Bottle of Hand Soap

This might be one of the more traditional host / hostess gift ideas, but hand soap in a beautiful bottle to pretty up the kitchen or bathroom sink is something anyone will appreciate.

This honey almond scented soap is a great choice for a man or a woman.

A Jar of Something Sweet

Step out of the box (of chocolates) and offer the gift of chocolate in a slightly different format. This rich, silky dark chocolate sauce makes the ultimate sundae (or anything) topping.

Fran's also makes a wonderful caramel sauce. Get both if you really want to treat someone (or yourself ;)).

A Mortar and Pestle

A mortar and pestle is a great thing to have for grinding whole spices and making things like pestos and gremolatas.

This copper based mortar and pestle with a modern shape also looks beautiful on a kitchen counter or shelf. It makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves to cook.

A Decorative Lightbox

I picked up one of these mini LED marquee light boxes from My Cinema Lightbox for a birthday gift recently and it was a big hit!

This rose gold color is great for the millennials in your life, but it's available in other colors too. Perfect for displaying the evening's menu, or your favorite inspirational quote.

A Scented Candle

Is your host a transplant from another city, state or country? Homesick makes gorgeous scents that evoke the spirit of different places around the world. Isn't that a lovely idea?

There's also nothing like a scented candle for getting rid of unpleasant cooking (or other) odors.

Wood Salad Servers

If you're looking for a gift around $10, these are a great option. Even if your host already has a pair of salad servers, it fun to mix it up sometimes. These acacia wood servers have a lovely grain and shape, and make an inexpensive gift that is sure to be appreciated.

Small Serving Bowls

If you've been invited to someone's house, it's a good bet that they like to entertain, so why not give them something to help them do that?

These small cherry wood serving bowls look great in any decor and are perfect for everything from salads and fruits to nuts and grated cheese.

I hope you got some inspiration and found something useful in these host / hostess gift ideas! The right thoughtful gift will be used often, and will keep you in their thoughts for years to come.

And remember to get your free Amazon Prime 30-day trial below and take advantage of it to stock up on host / hostess gifts (and all your other holiday shopping!).

I place about a zillion Amazon orders around the holidays, so Prime is an absolute must! You'll save money on shipping, get everything faster, AND again, it's FREE for a whole month! You can cancel any time so you can't lose ;).

Wishing you lots of fun times with your family and friends this holiday season!

Enjoy xx