Best Return Gift Ideas In 2025

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Picking up any gift is a tough task, especially when you want it to be meaningful and memorable. This also applies to return gifts. But what are return gifts to begin with? Return gifts are small presents given to guests at an event as a token of appreciation for their presence and well-wishes. They’re the little souvenirs we get from weddings, the goodie bags we receive at birthday parties, and the little treats we take on our way out after visiting someone to congratulate them on having a baby.

So, if you’re having a celebration and wonder how to thank your guests, here are some lovely return gift ideas to show your gratitude.

1. Candles

Candles make for wonderful return gifts. You can find candles in a range of sizes, shapes, fragrances, and designs that could fit any occasion. I recommend opting for one with natural waxes, such as soy, beeswax, or vegetable wax. These are generally better because they provide a cleaner burn, longer burn time, and reduced health risks.

Choose from floral, fruity, spicy, sweet, and woody aromas. Popular fragrances include lavender, vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine, citrus, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, and more. Add a personal touch with custom labels, messages, or by arranging candles in pretty boxes or baskets.

2. Cute Plushies

You can create customized plushies for your guests, tailored to the occasion. These could range from little plushies of the bride and groom for a wedding, to a small dinosaur for a themed birthday party. The opinions are limitless, really.

These plushies could be added to a gift bag or be tied to a thank-you note. And like the candles, these plushies can be chosen or made to fit your needs, occasion, and theme if you have one.

3. Stationary

If I were at a party and received a bag filled with stationery, I’d be stocked! Get into a stationary store and look out for premium ink pens, some cute stamps, stickers, and whatever you deem appropriate in your cart. Create a lovely collection out of it.

Look for stationery of good quality, made from recycled paper or other eco-friendly materials. Add a personal message or their name/initials for a thoughtful memento of your happy occasion. Customize it as you please and have fun while you’re at it.

4. Chocolate

Who would say no to chocolate? Except if they’re allergic… then I’m sorry. Anyway, setting up a chocolate souvenir station for people to treat themselves to a little snack on their way out.

You can get really creative with this one. You can choose from an array of different chocolate flavors filled with whatever you prefer, from pistachio cream and almond to raspberry and caramel. You can also get the chocolate shaped to fit the occasion and pick out matching wrappers as well.

5. Soap

Soap is another excellent option. And no, we don’t mean your basic soap bar you get from the supermarket. But a customized one-of-a-kind soap that your guests can’t get anywhere else.

My friend gave out adorable vanilla-scented heart-shaped soaps as return gifts at her wedding, and I still have mine. She got married 8 years ago, mind you. Surely the smell faded, but I still cherish that soap bar as it is a reminder of one of my closest friends’ happy days.

Similar to the candles, you can choose whichever scent you prefer and shape the soap bar however you like to have it suit the occasion.

6. Perfumes

Last but not least, fragrances. No, we’re not suggesting that you purchase full bottles of fragrance for everyone attending your event. That would be inconvenient except if it were a smaller function.

That being said, mini perfumes make an excellent choice for return gifts. You can add them to the hamper along with one or two of the other suggested items in the article, or place them in a large bowl for people to fish out at the event. You can also tape a sweet message on each of them as a cute gesture that your guests will surely appreciate.

What other return gift ideas have you tried and tested? What return gifts have you received? Let us know!