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Uncommon Goods; Otherland
Whether you’re newly dating or been together a long time, you can still learn new ways to make your significant other feel appreciated. Knowing their love language can make showing your love a lot easier and clearer.
What is a love language?
Published in 1992, “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Dr. Gary Chapman has been a bestseller for decades because of how well it breaks down what each romantic partner needs from the other person. Knowing your S.O.’s main love language — be it physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, or receiving gifts — can be a valuable window into how to show your affection effectively (and vice versa!).
Below, we rounded up gifts, activities, and other thoughtful things you can do for your partner, based on their love language. And if you don’t know theirs, just have them take this quiz.
The 25 best gifts to give your partner, based on their love language:
Quality timePhysical touchWords of affirmationActs of serviceReceiving gifts
Etsy/Uncommon Goods
Someone who values quality time loves experiential gifts — mainly, something you can do together. They want to make memories with you, whether you’re traveling abroad, exploring a new restaurant in your neighborhood, or playing a card game at home.
Uncommon Goods
100 Dates Scratch Off Poster, available at Uncommon Goods, $15
Why settle on one date experience when you could do 100? This minimalist scratch-off poster not only helps you come up with spontaneous date ideas — it’s a fun reminder of all the things you’ve done together.
Etsy
Portrait Painting Date Night Kit, available at Etsy, from $68.30
Put your creative talents on display with this portrait painting date night box. It comes with everything you need for a fun night in, including mini canvases and easels, paint, palettes, brushes, snacks, and even conversation cards.
Amazon
BestSelf Relationship Deck, available at Amazon, $24.99
For a great low-key date night, light some candles, put on some music, and ask each other the questions on these cards. All of them are meant to be in-depth, thought-provoking questions to increase intimacy between you two.
Uncommon Goods
Date Night Fondue Set, available at Uncommon Goods, $65
This heart-shaped fondue set is designed for date night. Just fill the container with chocolate or cheese and use the arrow-shaped spears to dunk your favorite foods.
Etsy
Custom Metallic Foil Boarding Pass, available at Etsy, $13.91
Getting you two tickets to a dream destination as a surprise is already an amazing gift, but if you want to add a little extra flair, you can add a custom surprise reveal airline ticket for them to open (and subsequently freak out over).
Uncommon Goods/Maude
Physical touch-lovers tend to crave cuddles and hand-holding — to them, nothing says “I love you” like a long kiss or arm over their shoulder. These gifts all encourage some form of touch, whether it’s PG massages or the more NSFW fare.
Maude
Burn No. 0 Massage Candle, available at Maude, $30
This sleek candle actually doubles as an unscented massage oil. Simply light the candle, wait for some wax to melt, then blow it out and pour it on your or your partner’s skin.
Amazon
Luna Bean Keepsake Hands Casting Kit, available at Amazon, $26.24
If you’re always holding hands, why not capture that moment forever? This easy DIY set lets you cast your interlocked hands in plaster and create a detailed sculpture of your love.
Uncommon Goods
Long Distance Touch Bracelet Set, available at Uncommon Goods, $138
If you’re in a long-distance relationship, kissing or touching to remind each other of your love is impossible, so you’ll have to get creative. Luckily, you can get these touch bracelets, which vibrate and light up to show the other person is thinking about you.
Amazon
HOMCA Memory Foam Pillow for Couples, available at Amazon, $49.99
For those who love spooning but hate feeling pressure on the arm, this adjustable memory foam pillow is constructed to create a barrier and protect the arm, allowing for way more cuddling in bed together.
Uncommon Goods
Date Night In Gift Set, available at Uncommon Goods, $52
This date night gift set is geared towards a more sensual evening together, complete with “sexy” truth or dare questions, delicious chocolate fondue, and a scratch-off movie poster for an optimal night cuddling on the couch.
Uncommon Goods/Catbird
Folks who love words of affirmation just want to be told how much you love them and how special they are to you. The gifts below all have compliments baked in somehow, serving as more physical reminders of how much they mean to you.
Uncommon Goods
What I Love About You Fill-In-The-Blank Book, available at Urban Outfitters, $10
This fill-in-the-blank book is a great, low-budget way to show you care. It’s essentially a little booklet of compliments to your partner that they can leaf through anytime they feel down.
Catbird
Love Letter Charm Necklace, available at Catbird, $138
Beyond being absolutely adorable, this little love letter charm can be engraved with up to 10 characters per three lines — perfect for a short, sweet message. You can get the charm by itself or pay $148 extra for a chain.
Uncommon Goods
Personalized Pieces of My Heart Puzzle, available at Uncommon Goods, from $50
This unique wooden puzzle consists of smaller hearts that connect to form one large one. What makes it special are the 10 custom messages you can get added to the pieces, from compliments to your partner, inside jokes, or nods to happy memories together.
Personalization Mall
The Man, The Meat, The Legend Personalized Apron, available at Personalization Mall, $29.99
This custom apron doesn’t just help them pursue a passion of theirs — it tells them that their cooking is truly the best. You can personalize this with their name, two lines of text, and multiple color and animal options.
Cameo
Personalized Video Message, available at Cameo, from $3
Sure, you can wish them a happy birthday or anniversary with plenty of compliments and well-wishes, but you know what would stand out even more? Their favorite celebrity telling them instead. With Cameo, you can pay anyone from a “Real Housewives” star to an athlete from their favorite team to record a small, personalized video just for them.
Rise/Bombas
To lovers who love acts of service, there is no gift greater than you taking on some of their chores as a surprise or doing something that makes their day that much easier. That could be anything from ordering surprise delivery food (on your dime) to getting them a present that solves some kind of problem or annoyance in their life.
Rise
Rise Personal Garden and Starter Kit, available at Amazon and Rise, $279
If they love fresh produce but not the work, this app-controlled indoor garden is self-watering and self-lighting, essentially taking care of itself. They can grow everything from herbs to vegetables with it — and never have to worry about the plants dying while they’re out of town.
Bombas
Women’s and Men’s Ankle Sock 4-Pack Gift Box, available at Bombas, $58
These beautifully gift-boxed sock packs come in fun patterns and boast particularly great arch support. But the best part: Bombas donates one clothing item for every one bought to a homeless shelter, so this is a wonderful, multi-purpose practical gift.
Goldbelly
Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Pizza (4-pack), available at Goldbelly, $109.99
Essa Bagel New York Bagels (for 6), available at Goldbelly, $99.95
Gift Card, available at Goldbelly, from $25
Don’t just buy them dinner when they don’t want to cook — get them food they’ve been craving for months. Goldbelly delivers everything from pizza to lobster to pie from the best restaurants all over the country, bringing regional favorites to your doorstep no matter where you are.
Priority Bicycles
CLOSCA Helmet Loop, available at Priority Bicycles, $79.99
If they bike everywhere but hate the hassle of a clunky helmet, this one folds down to nearly half its size, making it perfect for stashing in a backpack or tote when not in use.
Brightland
The Duo Olive Oil Set, available at Brightland, $74
Olive oil is one of those kitchen staples that gets used up so quickly, so having a few bottles on hand is never a bad idea. Brightland’s Duo comes with two high-quality EVOOs that come in beautiful packaging, perfect for gifting.
The Sill/Bokksu
Yes, receiving gifts is its own love language category, so technically everything on here would be fair game! But if you really want to go the extra mile, consider the presents below, from “just because” gifts that brighten their day to subscriptions that bring them something new every month.
Otherland
Spice It Up Candle, available at Otherland, $36
This cheeky “Spice It Up” candle from Otherland is a great little gift to liven up their room. You can also buy a bundle of candles or build your own box based on the scents your partner likes.
Bokksu
Snack Box Subscription, available at Bokksu, from, $39.99
Bokksu is a subscription box service that brings exclusive Japanese snacks to your door every month. Beyond offering treats they wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else but Japan, it’s a nice gift to look forward to every month.
Aurate
Connection Necklace, available at Aurate, from $390
For a truly romantic gift, this subtle connection necklace of two interlocked circles is a gorgeous piece for them to wear every day and think of your bond together.
The Sill
Hoya Heart Plant, available at The Sill, $48
If you want to get them “just because” flowers without shelling out on something that’ll die in three days, try this instead. This adorable, heart-shaped plant is a perfect, fuss-free addition to their desk or living room plant collection.
Book of the Month
3-Month Subscription, available at Book of the Month, $49.99
If you’re dating or married to a voracious reader, a Book of the Month subscription is a great way to get them brand new, hardcover books every month. They get to pick one out of five new releases, with the ability to skip a month if they feel overwhelmed. It’s any book lover’s dream.