It’s also a very useful vice given we’re sprinting towards the end of year and the number of days left to seek out the right gifts for our nearest and dearest is dwindling.
Alyce Tran, entrepreneur and Co-Founder of lifestyle brand In The Roundhouse, is someone who knows what the people want – and besides cheerful, mismatched crockery, it’s items that make small moments at home even more enjoyable.
An oversized candle in a vessel that moonlights as a sculpture. Expensive-smelling scents in retro-style glassware. Hand wash almost too good to rinse off. These are just some of the luxe items she’ll be gifting this year.
Find inspiration for your sophisticated friends and family below.
Candles that smell expensive and look aesthetically pleasing
“My everyday home fragrance choices are 34 Boulevard St Germain by Diptyque and the Burning Rose Candle by Byredo,” reveals Tran. But for an extra-special gift, Diptyque’s Nymphées Merveilles Premium Scented Candle is her pick: “I love how this comes in a vessel which will be so great to style onto a shelf and fill with trinkets or use as a small vase. And no-one is going to be disappointed with a gift that makes their home smell like a luxury hotel.”
Functional but fancy items that improve their lives
Ten points to you if you succeed in turning a very mundane task into something they can look forward to – and Tran has the perfect answer: “Hand creams and hand washes are the best gifts for the home, as you are always in need!” she says, adding, “My mum loves a luxe hand cream and I would add the Byredo Tulipmania Hand Lotion and the hand wash to her stocking – she can style the bottles on top of a nice stone tray on her kitchen bench.”
Designer diffusers in funky vessels you can display forever
Tran’s affinity for vibrant accent pieces (her most treasured item in her home is a pink Murano glass chandelier!) is something she’ll be gifting this year. “I just love the design of this Paul Smith diffuser and the colours – wow!” exclaims Tran, adding, “I would style this onto a bookshelf with coloured books, a vase and a small tray.”
Ultra-luxe makeup tools that double as decor
For the person who loves makeup but has everything. “I think this Rae Morris brush set is so well designed that it could be a show piece in a bathroom or makeup vanity,” explains Tran. “I’d love to gift this to my sister to put into her dressing room – it’s so chic and neat!”
Enormous candles for maximum burning pleasure
How else to show someone how much they mean to you if not with a double-the-average-size Diptyque candle? “One of my friends has just updated his pool and outdoor area and I think the Figuier Large Outdoor Candle would be perfect for the space – either on his outdoor table or styled with some potted plants,” says Tran. We couldn’t agree more!