Save Money and the Planet with Experience Gifts This Christmas

Looking for something more meaningful to give this Christmas? Our experience Christmas gifts let you find the perfect present while being kinder to the planet this 2022 holiday season. Avoid driving far and wide and buying wasteful packaging, while giving something fun and creative. You’ll find hundreds of ways your friends and family can enjoy activities like learning how to bake with a pasty chef, paint a cute pet portrait, or make a sweet succulent terrarium to brighten their living space.

Instead of slogging through a shopping list at a mall or big box store, try more eco-conscious gifts that save money and help boost local businesses. Here are our picks for cool experiences to give and share at Christmas.

Ask your burning questions about natural wax candles

There’s a reason why scented candles are so popular and feel luxurious. We’ve spent a lot of time at home the past few years and making our personal space feel cozy is a good reason we feel relaxed there. If you have a friend who loves fancy candles, making their own with soy or coconut wax will be a memorial gift. It’s easy and fun to learn in just one afternoon! 

Why choose handmade over store-bought? Natural waxes burn cleaner and are better for the environment than petroleum-based candles. With one of our candle making classes, everyone will learn how to choose and blend scents so you can walk away with personalized products you’ll especially enjoy using. Plus, learning a skill means using your knowledge to keep going and getting the most enjoyment out of an experience.

Take a beauty break by making custom fragrances

Certain scents always take us on a journey: fresh smells that remind us of vacations, homey smells that bring us back to our grandparent’s house, or even city smells in New York or San Francisco that let us know we are a part of a larger community. 

Do you have a friend or family member who loves having a signature scent? Then a perfume making class would be an amazing gift experience! They’ll learn how to create their own deliciously intoxicating fragrances using naturally derived scent oils.

Learn about fragrance notes from sweet to floral to earthy. Use reusable glass containers to bottle up DIY perfume. Get expert advice from a professional perfumer who helps guide you through each step and answer all your questions. This is a unique experience gift for your loved ones to create cherished memories in addition to perfume. 

Relax with hand lettering 

If someone you know wants to start a relaxing new hobby, hand lettering might be something to try. This is a great way to start making DIY greeting cards or just decompress after a long week. Instead of buying packaged cards, students can learn how to create gorgeous lettering and make their own cards on recycled paper. If you combine this creative experience with watercolor, your handmade creations will have an even bigger impact. We have plenty of painting workshops great for beginners.

Start cooking at home and stop ordering takeout

We get it. It's sometimes so much easier to order dinner with an app than face meal prep or eat sad leftovers. If you're determined to live more sustainably, not to mention save money, you might want to try cooking classes. If you give a class as a gift experience to friends, you can all have fun learning together. 

Start by choosing what you want to make. Are you all crazy about pizza? Have you always wanted to learn how to make Chinese dumplings? Maybe you want to transport yourselves to Barcelona with a Spanish cooking class? Our classes are perfect for cooking novices and everyone will feel at ease as soon as they put on an apron. Your teacher will lead the way, showing you how to find ingredients and prep your meal. 

Even if you can barely peel a potato, you'll be able to follow along as long as you are willing to have a good time. You'll get plenty of support and individual attention while you open yourself up to an amazing new culinary experience. If everyone lives far away from each other, try a virtual cooking class so you can include everyone in your friend group. When your instruction time is over, you'll sit down to a memorable meal you've prepared with friends!

Are you inspired to give more sustainably this holiday? Try Christmas gift experiences that go beyond the usual wrapped gift.