Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means you’ll probably need to prepare for some parties. It’s customary to bring a hostess gift to a social event hosted at a person’s home. Unfortunately, not everyone understands what makes a good hostess gift, or how to graciously give and receive one.
To avoid any social taboos this holiday season, brush up on your hostess gift-giving etiquette and learn what makes a hostess gift truly special.
Hostess gift etiquette basics
A hostess gift is typically a household item that the hostess can use when hosting others or a small gift for her to enjoy on her own. These gifts are typically small and not extravagant; however, careful thought and consideration should still be made when selecting the gift.
Here are some etiquette rules to keep in mind:
Wrapping isn’t necessary: You don’t need to wrap up your hostess gift like a Christmas present. However, the gift should be neatly presented, perhaps with a pretty bow or in a simple gift bag with a tag.
Don’t expect a thank-you note: One major hostess gift faux pas is the gift giver expecting a thank you note for their gift. In reality, your gift to the hostess is your way of saying thank you for the event and invitation.
Remain discreet: You don’t want to loudly announce to other guests that you brought a gift for the hostess. This is not only embarrassing, but can make other guests who did not bring a gift feel uncomfortable. Instead, discreetly give the gift to the hostess when you are welcomed into the home or when you have a minute alone.
Leave expectations at the door: Another common hostess gift issue is the gift giver expecting the hostess to use their gift immediately. This is especially common with gifts of wine and food, even though the drink and meal selections for the event have been chosen. Flowers also fall into this category when brought to the event, because the hostess must then spend time arranging the flowers rather than entertaining guests.
Types of gifts that are perfect for your hostess
With all of these unspoken rules of gift etiquette, you may be wondering about some appropriate types of hostess gifts to avoid an embarrassing situation. Here are some great ideas:
Handmade soaps and product gift sets: Small gift sets that include a handmade soap, hand cream or lotion and room spray make excellent gifts for hostesses. The hostess can choose to keep the items for personal use or make them available for guests in the restroom.
Wine: Wine is a customary hostess gift for dinner parties and similar events. Choose a wine you think the hostess will like, or select your favorite and tell them that you wanted to share your top choice with them. Just don’t expect them to serve it then and there!
Candies or chocolates: A decorative candy dish filled with candies or a box of gourmet chocolates is also an excellent hostess gift. The dish might be presented to guests for a post-dinner treat, or the hostess may choose to keep them for herself to indulge in later.
Pick up your hostess gift at a local craft show this November!
If you’re looking for a fantastic hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner parties, shop Soaps & Scents’ selection of handmade soaps and luxurious spa products at various craft shows this November. Soaps & Scents will be at the Season of the Heart craft show and many others
click here to view the schedule.
Why You Need Room Sprays
for the Holidays
The holidays are coming, and you may be wondering if your home is up to the task of hosting a number of people. Whether it’s for a party, hosting family members for a holiday meal or having guests for an extended visit, you want your space to be inviting and welcoming.
Why not try investing in some high-quality room spray? At Soaps & Scents, we use all-natural ingredients to achieve a delightful scent that will brighten up any room. Room fresheners banish bad and dirty odors, making every room smell great. Let’s take a look at all the reasons why right now is the best time for bringing in room sprays:
You may clean your house fairly frequently, but even if you do, there are still going to be some odors left behind. That’s where a room spray comes in. It can remove those less desirable smells instantly, covering them up and replacing them with a more pleasant scent.
You can use room sprays in any part of the room and still achieve the same effect. You may want to use it in a high-traffic area, then in a musty part of the house that doesn’t receive as much air. You can do that easily, meaning that you’re customizing the use of scent to your space as you see fit.
Unlike bulky oxygen fresheners, room sprays and fresheners are easy to hide, use natural ingredients and can be made inaccessible to pets and children. This allows the freshener to be out of the way and doing what it does best: making your home smell great.
Along with using a room spray, there are other ways to keep every room in your home smelling great. Place your favorite fragrant flowers around in vases, or use your favorite spices, like whole cinnamon or cloves, and simmer them on the stovetop. Allow the smell to circulate throughout the home. Leaving an open box of baking soda in stinky places will help absorb the bad odors as well.
Are you looking for a provider of room sprays? Soaps & Scents is your ideal source. Everything we carry is handmade and distributed in small quantities. We only use quality essential oils and fragrance oils that maintain a wonderful scent even years later. We’ve been making beautiful handmade soaps and other products for more than two decades. Our extensive selection of bar and liquid soaps includes a variety of fragrances and even some fun soaps, such as our Ducky or Cupcake soaps.
If you haven’t had a chance to try our wonderful soaps and other products, you’re in for a treat. In addition to our soaps, we also offer bath bombs, body lotions, room sprays and more. Stop by today for your first Soaps & Scents bar. We look forward to helping you find the ideal room spray or soap to help you welcome guests into your home this holiday season. We are available on Saturdays by appointment!
Shop Room Sprays!
for the Holidays
Understanding the Etiquette
Behind Thanksgiving Hostess Gifts
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means you’ll probably need to prepare for some parties. It’s customary to bring a hostess gift to a social event hosted at a person’s home. Unfortunately, not everyone understands what makes a good hostess gift, or how to graciously give and receive one.
To avoid any social taboos this holiday season, brush up on your hostess gift-giving etiquette and learn what makes a hostess gift truly special.
Hostess gift etiquette basics
A hostess gift is typically a household item that the hostess can use when hosting others or a small gift for her to enjoy on her own. These gifts are typically small and not extravagant; however, careful thought and consideration should still be made when selecting the gift.
Here are some etiquette rules to keep in mind:
Wrapping isn’t necessary: You don’t need to wrap up your hostess gift like a Christmas present. However, the gift should be neatly presented, perhaps with a pretty bow or in a simple gift bag with a tag.
Don’t expect a thank-you note: One major hostess gift faux pas is the gift giver expecting a thank you note for their gift. In reality, your gift to the hostess is your way of saying thank you for the event and invitation.
Remain discreet: You don’t want to loudly announce to other guests that you brought a gift for the hostess. This is not only embarrassing, but can make other guests who did not bring a gift feel uncomfortable. Instead, discreetly give the gift to the hostess when you are welcomed into the home or when you have a minute alone.
Leave expectations at the door: Another common hostess gift issue is the gift giver expecting the hostess to use their gift immediately. This is especially common with gifts of wine and food, even though the drink and meal selections for the event have been chosen. Flowers also fall into this category when brought to the event, because the hostess must then spend time arranging the flowers rather than entertaining guests.
Types of gifts that are perfect for your hostess
With all of these unspoken rules of gift etiquette, you may be wondering about some appropriate types of hostess gifts to avoid an embarrassing situation. Here are some great ideas:
Handmade soaps and product gift sets: Small gift sets that include a handmade soap, hand cream or lotion and room spray make excellent gifts for hostesses. The hostess can choose to keep the items for personal use or make them available for guests in the restroom.
Wine: Wine is a customary hostess gift for dinner parties and similar events. Choose a wine you think the hostess will like, or select your favorite and tell them that you wanted to share your top choice with them. Just don’t expect them to serve it then and there!
Candies or chocolates: A decorative candy dish filled with candies or a box of gourmet chocolates is also an excellent hostess gift. The dish might be presented to guests for a post-dinner treat, or the hostess may choose to keep them for herself to indulge in later.
Pick up your hostess gift at a local craft show this November!
If you’re looking for a fantastic hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner parties, shop Soaps & Scents’ selection of handmade soaps and luxurious spa products at various craft shows this November. Soaps & Scents will be at the Season of the Heart craft show and many others
click here to view the schedule.
Behind Thanksgiving Hostess Gifts
Beginning Work on Our Holiday Fragrance Soaps:
Get Them While They’re Available!
Here at Soaps & Scents, we get started on preparing for the holidays a little earlier than you probably do at your home. We know how many people enjoy purchasing homemade soaps and bath bombs for their relatives for Christmas, so we’re working on our production of our holiday fragrance soaps now so they can be ready for you with plenty of time to go before the big holiday shopping season hits.
So what fragrances can you expect this year? We’ll be sure to provide a full list of our holiday-themed soaps when they’re available for purchase, but here are just a few that you might like to pick up this holiday season:
Northern Pine:
Who doesn’t love the scent of a real pine or fir Christmas tree? While this soap is ideal for year-round use, as it evokes the fresh, pleasant smell of a pine forest, it’s especially good for use in bathrooms during the holiday season, when you want to spread that pine scent to get people in the holiday spirit.
Frankincense and Myrrh:
Frankincense and myrrh are traditional holiday gifts because of their roots in the biblical Christmas story, so we decided we would combine their scents into a single soap bar. This gives the soap a wonderfully spicy yet still soft and pleasant fragrance, and an appealing look with its gold mica streaks throughout the bar. There’s no better time of year than the holiday season to have this soap out for use in your home!
Sleigh Ride:
This special blend of ours is exclusively meant for the holiday season, as it balances several different holiday scents. A light mint smell is perfectly balanced with a general clean smell that makes one think of freshly fallen, pure white snow. It even looks like a soap meant for the holidays, with a creamy white base that is cut with greens and reds. Use it in your bathrooms during the holidays and your friends and family will certainly get in the spirit of the season.
Sugar Plum Fairy:
The name of this soap, of course, comes from The Nutcracker, a world-famous Christmas ballet. Its rich, sweet smell immediately brings Christmas to mind, which makes it a perfect soap to bring out when you have family or friends over to visit during the holiday season. Its smell lingers on the hands pleasantly to keep the smells of Christmas nearby at all times.
Champagne:
With New Year’s Eve just a week after Christmas, you can add to the festivities by using some of our Champagne soap. That’s right—with every shower, bath or hand washing, you can break out the bubbly with our soap that has the sweet yet dry aroma of a glass of champagne. It’s truly one of a kind!
These are just a few of the best homemade soap options we have available for the holiday season. If you’re interested in learning more about our products, contact us at Soaps & Scents today.
Shop Today
Get Them While They’re Available!