My final gift guide of the year is here and it is all about the good guys who deserve something special. Whether you're gifting a man in his early twenties or one facing a midlife crisis, I've got some great suggestions...
First up is a gift for the fragrance fans. It is Match Point, the new woody aromatic fragrance by Lacoste. This 100ml eau de toilette is an explosive fusion of two contrasting accords - the green energy of basil and gentian bitterness combine in a breathtaking freshness. Match Point (£68 Superdrug) features top notes of basil and pink pepper, middle notes of gentian absolute and clary sage, and base notes of vetiver and cashmeran. It has great projection and impressive longevity, making it the perfect scent to gift this holiday season.
Mini fragrances are also fab, as they make for perfect stocking fillers or affordable gifts for those on a budget. If you're going to gift any minis this year, choose the Versace Miniatures Gift Set (£23 John Lewis). There are four 4ml fragrances included in the set, including Man Eau Fraiche, Eros, Eros Flame, and Dylan Blue. Dylan Blue is my personal favourite. It features top notes of calabrian, bergamot, grapefruit, water notes, and fig leaf, middle notes of ambroxan, patchouli, black pepper, violet leaf, and papyrus, and base notes of incense, musk, tonka bean, and saffron.
For the bearded gent, you can't go wrong with the Percy Nobleman Beard Grooming Kit. Containing travel-size versions of Percy Nobleman’s best-selling products, it is a great gift for men that want to keep their beards looking perfect during their travels. The Beard Grooming Kit (£27 Boots) features the conditioning Signature Beard Oil, the cleansing Beard Wash, the taming Beard Balm, and a trusted pocket comb for times when the beard gets a little wild!
For the clean shaven boys, the impressive Braun Series 9 will go down a treat. It is the world’s most efficient electric shaver, with five synchronised shaving elements to navigate facial contours with ease and capture more hair in one stroke for a flawless shave. It boasts 40,000 cutting actions to cut every hair as close as 0.05mm. The Series 9 (£189 Boots) can be used both a wet or dry, with shaving foam or gel, and can also trim and style sideburns, moustaches, or beards. It provides 20% more battery than the previous Series 9, enabling 60 minutes for each charge!
Now if there is one gift every man needs, it's a set of balls... the BALLS Starter Kit (£74 balls.co) that is. It is a perfect gift for the well-kept man in your life. This kit features the brand's five-star rated BALLS trimmer, BALLS Body Wash and BALLS Lotion. There is also the option to add a SafeSack blade subscription if the man you're gifting tends to stick to regular trimming sessions. The hero product in the set, the BALLS Trimmer, is cordless and powerful - the 6,000RPM motor can handle coarse hair and is rechargeable via USB. It is waterproof and shock-resistant, meaning it is suitable for wet and dry shaving. With patented SafeSack technology, which involved testing over 100 blades to find the perfect ceramic blade for shaving this rather delicate area, men can now dare trim their hair down there without a care!
Now talking of men's packages, another brilliant gift idea comes from Pants & Socks. Pants & Socks is a brand with a simple but essential product - a subscription service that delivers pants and socks to your home regularly. Basically a package for your package, and what man wouldn't love this? There are lots of pants and socks brands on offer, providing a variety of different pricing options. Brand names include Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Björn Borg, French Connection, CR7, Ted Baker, Ralph Lauren, Happy Socks, and more. Setting up a subscription is easy. You just find his ideal Pants & Socks with the brand's online finder. You then choose his subscription frequency (and save 10%). Then, when you're ready to commit, you select his size, colour of choice, and delivery frequency.
Delivery to the UK is free and you'll simply be billed each time your new Pants & Socks are delivered fresh to your door. You can purchase a one off box as a standalone present, or gift a 1, 2, 3, or 12 month subscription.
For the fashion focused men, you will find a huge number of great gift options at Mainline Menswear. Mainline Menswear is an online menswear store that offers one of the largest comprehensive ranges of men’s designer clothes in the UK. There are over 100 designer brands on offer - from The North Face, BOSS, and Nike, to Ralph Lauren, Barbour, and Michael Kors. There is so much to choose from that it'll be impossible to walk away with nothing in your basket. And, if the massive choice overwhelms you, you could always gift a Mainline Menswear Gift Certificate. Some of Mainline Menswear's best items this season include The North Face 1985 Mountain Jacket Green, Barbour Readhead Chukka Boots, and Adidas Originals Continental 80 Trainers.
For the book boys, look no further than the Burnout Survival Kit by Imogen Dall (£9.99 amazon.co.uk). It is the book we all need right now. I say that because it offers practical advice for when things are already bad... and things are pretty bad right now, let's be honest. Luckily this book isn't filled with cliché self help tips and motivational speeches. Instead, this is the calm inner voice that we all need, served with a sense of humour on the side. As well as helping you take time to ground yourself, there are brilliant hacks for all the causes of stress and anxiety, from advice with social situations to practical help on improving your lifestyle. This may not be a cure for all the bad bits life throws at you, but it really does provide a little instant relief and helps you take a breath.
Another great book to gift this year is How Spies Think. Looking through the eyes of one of Britain's most senior ex-intelligence officers, Professor Sir David Omand, How Spies Think (£20 Waterstones) shows how the big decisions in life will be easier to make when you apply the same frameworks used by British intelligence. Full of revealing examples from his storied career, including key briefings with Prime Ministers from Thatcher to Blair, and conflicts from the Falklands to Afghanistan, Professor Omand provides the tools needed to sort fact from fiction, and shows how to use real intelligence every day.
For the men who are always on the go, I recommend the new JimBag Rolltop Backpack. Born and made in Great Britain, JimBag is an accessories brand which creates bags that can be taken anywhere and everywhere. The brand combines functionality and style to create bags that can transition from the office to the gym. The JimBag Rolltop Backpack (£69 jimbag.com) features roll-top accessibility with an adjustable clip to securely fasten shut and dual front and back exterior zip compartments for speedy accessibility. The back-exterior zip compartment is reinforced with extra patting to protect sensitive items like laptops and tablets and the main storage area is surprisingly spacious. It has a maximum capacity of 33 litres and the standard size is 26.5 litres when rolled down. It also has a waterproof inner-coating to protect your personal items. The Rolltop Backpack is available in four colours - black, grey, camel, and black and cream.
For men who are addicted to their devices, the Zippo Heatbank 9 will be much appreciated. Launched earlier this year, the Zippo Heatbank 9 (£39.99 amazon.co.uk) is a combined handwarmer and powerbank which has been specially designed for a sleek and ergonomic feel to fit comfortably in your hand, and fit easily in any pocket or bag. It delivers up to nine hours of power for charging any USB compatible phone and device, and the adjustable heat settings delivers gentle warmth. It is a great little gadget for those that love the outdoors, even if it's just walking to work or walking the dog! It is available in three colours - silver, champagne, and black.
If you are on the hunt for some fun stocking filler suggestions, look no further than personalised Marmite (£11.99 prezzybox.com). Prezzybox are currently offering personalisation on three different Marmites - the original version and the new limited edition Naughty and Nice jars. Nice for the Marmite lovers and Naughty for the haters, of course. And, for the true Marmite fans out there, rest assured, the iconic taste remains exactly the same, whatever the jar!
Now if you fancy giving the gift of health, I recommend candy gummies from The Wicked Gummy Co. The Wicked Gummy Co. is a British brand that concocted a range of delicious vitamin gummies for those who fancy sweet supplements without compromising on nutrition. Every one of the brand's gummies, no matter its health benefit, is vegan, allergen-free, cruelty-free, and gluten-free! The Wicked Gummy Co. currently offer nine different types of vitamins gummies, including Vitamin D, Apple Cider Vinegar, Hair Skin & Nails, and Iron, to name a few. With prices starting at £14.99 (wickedgummyco.com) per pot, they make the perfect present for stuffing in a stocking.
