The Best Birthday Gifts for Friends

If their pepper mill and cast-iron pan have to be the same color, this set comes in shades of “cassis,” “cerise,” and “Caribbean.” ChefShimi Aarontipped us to them, explaining that the “happy-lookingshakers” will go with colorful Staub cocottes just as well as ones from Le Creuset.

IfArchitectural Digestjust doesn’t do it for them anymore, this might be the interior-design fix they’re looking for. TheAtlas of Interior Designis one of our favorite recent releases in thecoffee-table booksphere. “From minimalist Axel Vervoordt–designed mansions to maximalist, heavily wallpapered Bavarian dachas, there’s inspiration here for anyone whose love for interiors extends beyond Instagram,” writes Strategist writer Kat Gillespie.

This looks just like anystove-top percolatorat first glance. But it’s actually the most affordablecannabis infuserrecommended to us by experts. Jeronimo De Miguel of gourmet cannabis restaurantGusto Greenuses it to make his ultra-low-dose cannabis oil (which he puts in his daily smoothie, too). The easy-to-clean infuser helps make a mean green compound butter, too.

For theirEuphoria-esque experiments, this drag-queen-approved cleansing balm will melt away their foundation, concealer, and all that glitter.Farrah Moan, who competed onRuPaul’s Drag Racetwice (includingAll Stars), explains that there’s almost no way to get off all a drag queen’s makeup in one step, so she’s adouble-cleansedevotee. The balm “annihilates makeup,” making the second wash so much easier.

This centennial version of classic Rider cards is the most populardeckby far, according to author and tarot-card readerJerico Mandybur. It pays tribute to the original illustrator Pamela Colman Smith (who wasn’t credited for her work) and is especially useful for beginners, Mandybur adds.

To get through the last 100 pages of the latest 720-page novel from Hanya Yanagihara (ofA Little Lifefame), a few nocturnal reading sessions might be necessary. WriterMolly McGheelikes to do all her reading in bed — and this nightlight has been a “true game changer.” McGhee adds, “The amber hue keeps the blue-light blues at bay.” In our Strategist Secret Santa, senior editor Simone Kitchens gifted it to me — it’s now a nightstand essential for its sunsetish glow.

This Nemat oil has a much subtler scent compared to the woodsy muskiness of Santal 33. And there’s somewhat of a cult surrounding it,explainsStrategist contributor Natalie Toren. Scent educatorTracy Wantipped Toren to it, describing the roll-on as “pure sorcery” (it’s the smell that earns Wan the most compliments) with “a laundry scent” thanks to the white musk notes.

Acooling weighted blanketdoes the double duty of reducing stress while keeping hot sleepers from burning up. Casper’s is one of the fewhighly giftable blanketsout there — with a quilted design that won’t look out of place on a couch. It uses a cotton cover, instead of a traditional (and very warm) fleece.

Senior Strategist editor Simone Kitchens, aformer cheerleaderherself, swears by these Soffe shorts — which are a worthy dupe for Patagonia Baggies or the Outdoor Voices Relay Short. Instead of triple-rolling the waistband like she did when she was a teen, she leaves them unrolled for a look best described as “less early-aughts thot, moreDazed and Confused.”

The Manduka PROlite yoga mat was the most-mentioned mat among13 yogiswe talked to. InstructorKyle Millerprefers to practice in all Manduka gear. “The Manduka mat is indulgent — it’s grippy, soft, and breaks in very well,” Miller says. So it’ll hold up despite their daily hour-long sessions.

Bala Bangles are “a far cry from their bulky Jazzercise-era counterparts,”explainsour senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson. These bracelets will add a bit of resistance to aerobics and yoga exercises.

If they’re going through aBoogie Nightsrewatch–induced phase, these affordableroller skatesfor beginners were recommended by two roller skaters, includingToni Bravo, who felt “like a star” the first time she stepped into them.

The Hobonichi Techo is a longtime Strategist favorite — three staffers have used it for years to stay organized. The cult Japaneseplannerhas a “hard-wearing cover, thin (but quality) pages for a slim profile, lie-flat opening, and compact size,” according to associate editor Louis Cheslaw.

Or just bookmarks Danish Design Store lounge chairs. This adorable bottle opener comes courtesy of Danish design house Georg Jensen (it counts the queen of Denmark as a client). Furniture designerBen Kicicfirst found it at a friend’s house — “clearly it works as a conversation starter” — and plans on giving it to the next friend whomoves.

So they don’t have to reach deep into their backpack: Thisfanny packwill keep their tickets and passport near. Our writer Dominique Pariso uses it for her essentials — not having to look for them is “a win for both me and my traveling companions.”

There’s enough spare space in thisclassic Fjallraven, which is afavoriteamong Strategist staffers. Pariso compares the backpack to “Mary Poppins’s magic bag: You can fit way more stuff inside than seems humanly possible given its petite size.”

Somehow, they’re always up for all-night clubbing adventures — even when the music stops and the hangover starts to set in. But when they’ve decided to take the night off, thiscandle“smells like slow-dancing in back rooms.” Candle influencer Kudzi Chikumbu (or@sircandlemanto his followers) describes it as decadent and “definitely decorative — it’s the kind of candle you would want to have out.”

This small but mighty Polaroid camera is a favorite of Strategist tech writer Jordan Bowman, who prefers it over Fujifilm’s Instax Mini. “It still has that winsome Polaroid look that we clamor for when using instant cameras. Using it taps into that nostalgia pleasure center of the brain,” he writes in hisreview.

Theright ring lightwill give them a filtered glow that’ll look great whether they’re on official Zoom calls or unofficial FaceTime calls. We heard about it from our colleagues over at theStrategist UK, who noted that reviewers liked how illuminating it was.

If it takes ten steps and at least ten products to get their beard just right, a Topo Design toiletry kit is a necessity. The brand was name-checked three times in our guide to thebest Dopp kits. This travel kit has “the triangular shape [that’s] deceptively roomy,” according to the Trevor Project’s creative director Thomas Pardee. Plus, Evan Shinn ofDewy Dudespoints out that the loop handle can hang in places without counter-height surfaces.

These “speakeasy-style” coupe glasses are a favorite of Kimberly Hunter, founder ofPotent Pours. A coupe’s wider rim means she can “sip Champagne without fear of losing my bubbles.”

This mask kept Strategist contributor (and skin-care guru) Rio Viera-Newton asleepuntil noon on a Saturday. She’s tried many sleep masks for some shut-eye, but this memory foam is a standout — it’s “thick, bouncy, and cushiony” and seals her eyes from any outside light.