The holidays are officially here, and if you’re anything like us, just the thought of getting together with family and friends, enjoying some home-cooked meals, and putting on that classic holiday music is enough to get us in the spirit. But as packaging experts, we’d be remiss to say holiday launches aren’t part of all the excitement. Check out the list below of our favorite products from past holiday seasons to get in the holiday spirit—and stay inspired for the coming year.

Home Fragrance: Snif - Old Saint Wick CandleThere’s nothing like walking into a place during the holidays that just feels cozy, and chances are that coziness is, at least in part, tied to an olfactory element. And because we know that our sense of smell has a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the other senses, it’s a no-brainer that linking fragrances and holiday joy is a winning combination. Enter Snif. Since 2020 the luxury scent brand has been carefully crafting a wide variety of non gender-specific fragrances, perfumes, and candles. Their Old Saint Wick candle blends aromas of siberian pine, sandalwood, and apple blossom and is our pick to help elevate that holiday spirit all season long. If that wasn’t enough, Snif candles boast clean labels and are Conscious Beauty Certified so you don’t have to worry about toxins or chemicals while you soak up their sweet scents this holiday season.       

Advent Calendars: Liberty London Beauty Advent CalendarAh, the advent calendar. These holiday countdown companions have been around since the 19th century, but have undergone some serious transformations in recent years. Gone are the days when each calendar date would reveal a small candy or piece of chocolate, as nowadays they commonly include everything from collectible gemstones to whiskeys and wines. Our favorite advent calendar this year is focused on beauty products and comes from the London-based luxury department store Liberty. This calendar ticks all of the boxes for what an advent calendar should be, from the custom commissioned artwork of the calendar itself, to the meticulously curated products contained within. The combination of festive theming and trend forecasting creates an engaging experience that allows customers to work their way through discovering the year’s best products and formulas one day at a time. With two versions available, one for women and another for men, and a £1,000 store voucher hidden inside a selected five of them, the 2023 Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar is chock-full of pleasant surprises.  

Holiday Gift Sets: Drunk Elephant and Glow RecipeWe’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: holiday shopping can be stressful. It seems there is always too much to do and never enough time to do it. With this in mind, we felt obliged to include some entries in this list that do shoppers a solid by taking the guesswork out of the equation. How is this possible, you ask? Answer: pre-made kits. Two of our go-to brands in the beauty space this year are Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe. Both companies offer a range of pre-assembled skincare gift sets that prioritize cruelty-free product development and commitments to making packaging as eco-friendly as possible. Check these out if you find yourself scratching your head or in a bind when picking out gifts this holiday season.    

Seasonal Ultra-Sustainability: LUSHEver feel guilty about the excessive amounts of packaging and waste that goes along with holiday gift giving? Or perhaps you wonder about whether or not the products you purchase were made in an ethical way? Well, you can put all those worries to rest with British cosmetics brand Lush. Lush has been in the cosmetics game for going on three decades now and continues to push the boundaries of sustainability. Things like handmade products, minimalist packaging, ethical buying practices, and taking a stance against animal testing make this an easy brand to get behind. From bath bombs and shampoo bars, to skincare and makeup, there really is something for everyone here. And if having so many options seems overwhelming, Lush also has dozens of ready-to-go gift sets in a variety of shapes, sizes, and price points.

Whether you’re all-in on the holidays, or more of minimalist, the small things—like a soothing scented candle or an advent calendar full of surprises—can really go a long way in turning up that holiday cheer. We hope you have a great holiday season ahead, but remember it’s never too early to start conjuring up ideas for your special holiday launches next year. We’re here to celebrate and collaborate. Cheers!