Thoughtful Holiday Gifts Under $50 From Small Independent Makers

November 20, 2025 | Deborah McCormick

Everything feels a little uncertain right now. Many of us are watching our budgets more closely and being more thoughtful about where we spend. The holidays still carry their usual warmth, but there is a gentler, more intentional energy to how we are approaching them this year.

In moments like these, I find myself drawn to gifts that feel personal. A favorite book. A handmade candle. Something I use every day that I know could offer someone else the same small moment of joy. A small treasure from a brand you love. The kind of gift that says I know you and I chose this with care. That has always been the heart of gifting for me.

I also find myself thinking about what it means for a gift to feel meaningful without being extravagant. There is a quiet kind of joy in discovering something special that also feels accessible. Thoughtfulness has never been tied to price. It lives in the care someone put into making the item and the care you put into choosing it.

And this year especially, there is something comforting about sharing things that feel both lovely and attainable. Little discoveries. Pieces of beauty. Objects made with intention. These are the kinds of gifts that stay with people long after the season is over.

Why Small Brands Matter More Than Ever

Small businesses are the ones choosing better ingredients, better materials, and more intentional manufacturing. We create in smaller batches. We treat quality as a promise, not a marketing phrase. You can feel our care in the finished product.

But behind the scenes, we are carrying very real burdens that people rarely see. While corporate profits remain strong, the cost of doing business for small brands like ours has risen sharply. Our cost to make the towelettes went up over 75% in this year alone. A large corporation can absorb increases like that without blinking. An independent company feels it immediately. And yet we continue choosing quality. We continue making things with integrity. We believe people feel the difference and deserve it.

Every gift below comes from a small independent brand whose work I admire. These are pieces I return to often, things I find genuinely special, and objects that carry a sense of care. Sharing them feels a bit like inviting you into my own circle of favorites. They are thoughtful without being extravagant. Personal without being complicated. Beautiful without requiring you to stretch.

Marmalade Grove Endless Summer Gift Set

Purchase here for $45.00

This marmalade is meaningful to me for a very simple reason, which is that I just enjoy it so much! It tastes like bright California sunshine. Marmalade Grove is our neighbor in Ojai, and the story behind the brand is as special as the products themselves. There is real resilience woven into its beginnings.

Founder Peter Karpushin began making marmalade in small batches during the pandemic to save his tangerine crop when labor shortages threatened to destroy it. I love giving this set because it feels happy and generous and a little unexpected, the kind of small luxury someone would not necessarily buy for themselves but would genuinely enjoy.

John Derian Kitchen Delight Notebook Set

Purchase here for $15

I have loved John Derian’s work for years because he has a gift for turning ordinary objects into tiny moments of beauty. His world ranges from collectible pieces to small everyday delights, and this little notebook set captures that charm so well. It feels like the kind of useful, beautiful thing someone would never think to buy for themselves but would be so happy to receive.

Notebooks are so useful, and there is something lovely about opening one that feels artful rather than plain. I love keeping them around the house to jot down to do lists or recipes I find. As a gift, they feel thoughtful and warm, a simple gesture that still feels special.

Crystal Voyager Enlightened Authenticity Crystal Set

Purchase here for $42

Crystals make you slow down for a moment and reconnect with yourself, which is something many of us crave this time of year. Crystal Voyager offers many beautiful pairings, but the Enlightened Authenticity set feels the easiest for anyone to connect with. It centers on honesty, intuition, and self alignment, qualities that feel universally supportive.

Jillian Kasimow, the founder, approaches crystals with such sincerity that you can feel it in her work. These stones never feel like décor to me. They feel like small anchors, gentle reminders to pause and breathe. As a gift they are especially meaningful because this set is designed to help someone feel more grounded and more themselves, which feels like such a kind thing to give.

The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger

Purchase here from Forest Watch for $30

This book stayed with me long after I finished it. It opens up the hidden world of plant intelligence in a way that feels both magical and deeply grounding, and I love how it shifts the way you see the natural world. There is something comforting about learning that the life around us is more connected and communicative than we ever realized.

I think giving a book is always thoughtful because it invites someone into an experience rather than just handing them an object. Purchasing it through Forest Watch supports their work protecting the landscapes we all depend on, which makes sharing it feel even more meaningful. As a gift it is a lovely choice for anyone who is curious, reflective, or simply enjoys seeing the world through a fresh lens.

Herban Essentials (that's us!) Mini Gift Set

Purchase here for $50

I always hesitate to include our own products, but essential oils are such a meaningful part of my daily routine that leaving them out feels impossible (that is why I created them!). A single scent can shift your whole mood in a moment. It can steady you, brighten you, or help you feel a little more awake or at ease. I love that essential oils create these tiny pockets of support throughout the day, especially when everything feels busy or a bit overwhelming.

That is why I give them so often. It is giving someone the gift of self care, a little ritual through the use of essential oils. Our Mini Gift Set is simply a gentle way to share that feeling with someone who could use a moment that helps them feel more grounded, centered, and cared for.

A Season of Supporting What Matters

The holiday season is also when small businesses feel the impact of support the most. These weeks can determine whether a maker can keep creating into the new year or whether a beloved little brand can weather rising costs. When you choose something made by an independent business, you are not just buying a product. You are helping someone’s craft stay alive, supporting a team that cares deeply about what they make, and allowing a vision built on integrity to continue. Those choices genuinely matter, and they ripple far more than we often realize.

And at the heart of it all, gifting does not need to be extravagant to feel meaningful. Thoughtful, beautiful things can feel just as important and just as special without a huge budget. What matters most is the feeling behind them, the care in how they were made, and the intention in how they are shared.

If you have a small independent maker you love to support during the holidays, I would truly enjoy hearing about them. Discovering the work of others is one of my favorite parts of the season, and your recommendations always lead to the most wonderful finds.