20 surprisingly great gifts for someone you don't know very well

With plenty of festive get-togethers on the horizon, this collection of cheese board ideas is a fun gift for hosts of all levels. This deck of 50 cards features gorgeous pictures, helpful ingredient lists and creative tips on how to take your next savory or sweet board up a few notches.

There's no denying that water bottles are the It accessory of the year. And while everyone may have a Stanley, don't overlook the Owala FreeSip when gifting this year. A favorite of Yahoo Home & Garden Writer Kristin Granero, this water bottle boasts a straw and spout lid, and it snaps closed, so you don't have to worry about any leaks.

A candle is likely a go-to gift of yours for someone you might not know very well and, hey, we don't blame you. But instead of reaching for a run-of-the-mill option, for $20, you can give this festive champagne-scented candle (complete with matching glass dome). This candle looks so special and it smells incredible — it has bubbly notes of apple, peach and citrus.

These days, everyone can use a Bluetooth tracker. Perfect for luggage, keys, pet collars and more, an Apple AirTag can give some peace of mind when things get lost or misplaced. Yahoo Tech Editor Rick Broida praises the AirTag for being both easy to set up and use, as well as small and unobtrusive. But a reminder — this Apple product only works with an iPhone.

There's no better way to get to know someone you don't know well than the We're Not Really Strangers Card Game. This conversation-starting game poses questions like, "What title would you give this chapter in your life?" and "Has a stranger ever changed your life?" to help you further connect to those around you. Break this out at your next gathering and walk away knowing old and new friends on a deeper level.

With the start of the new year just around the corner, chances are most people could use a fresh notebook for 2025. Papier makes my all-time favorite notebooks and planners because they are so thoughtfully designed. If you do sort-of-kind-of-know your gift recipient, Papier has tons of notebooks that you can personalize with their name or initials.

Anyone would appreciate this trio of multi-use products from RMS. These creamy hues are meant to be used on both cheeks and lips, and they are extremely buildable, so everyone can find their ideal level of pigment. These multitaskers are also packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and organic cocoa seed butter to keep your skin feeling soft, smooth and protected.

A suitcase tag and a portable charger are two things everyone could use, so why not gift both this season? Calpak's portable luggage tag and charger combo is an airport superhero and a favorite of Yahoo trending writer Ellie Conley. With this convenient gadget, you'll never have to deal with a dead phone or tablet when on the go again. 

Temps are about to drop, so a cozy new beanie is sure to make for a great (and useful) gift. Free People has a wide selection of hats that are all wallet-friendly, stylish and wildly soft, so it's hard to pick just one. However, this winter, I plan on bringing home the Forever Fuzzy Beanie — join me and snag it now in five colors.

Music lovers and podcast fans alike will appreciate this pint-sized speaker. Take it from Yahoo's Tech Editor Rick Broida who says, "Despite being tiny (and adorable), the Soundcore Glow Mini is, well, an audio tour de force." Plus, this speaker is also waterproof, which makes it ideal for camping, beach days and bathroom jam sessions.

Give the gift of hydrated skin this year with this travel-sized bundle from Osea. I swear by the brand's body oil, so when I saw this kit that includes the body oil, body butter, body balm and body scrub, I knew I'd be gifting it to practically everyone on my holiday list. This body care set is suitable for all skin types and is valued at nearly $80, so it's truly a steal for $52.

You can never go wrong when gifting a belt bag! Lululemon's Everywhere Belt Bag is an internet favorite (and one of Yahoo Style Editor Rebecca Carhart's go-to gifts) for good reason: It's surprisingly roomy, can be worn in multiple ways and lets you be hands-free. Plus, how fun and festive is this green fleece version? Love!

Homecourt is Courteney Cox's line of home and body products and, this winter, the brand's Balsam Fireplace Hand Duo is at the top of my wishlist. Not only does it smell divine (it has notes of balsam, juniper berry and cardamom), but together the pair cleans and nourishes your hands. And during the winter, thanks to the constant handwashing, cooking and cold temps, everyone's hands could use some TLC.

While you may not know them well enough to pick out their next signature perfume, you can certainly help them make it. The Olfactory At-Home Customization kit allows the user to blend up their favorite scent right at home and then receive a full-sized bottle of their creation. Now this is one DIY project that will actually get done.

Any coffee or tea drinker will appreciate this heated mug. Another Broida-approved pick, this mug displays the temperature on both sides, has three temperatures to choose from and comes with a lid, so you can keep your beverage hot when you're away from the heating coaster.

A Le Creuset gift is unforgettable and normally pretty pricey — the brand's iconic Dutch oven, which is a Yahoo editor favorite, is more than $300. But you can still give an impressive gift from Le Creuset if you look at its bakeware options. Take this square casserole, for example. It's made from beautiful glazed stoneware and is safe in the oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer. Basically, for less than $120, this gift will put you in the gift-giver hall of fame.

What could be better than curling up in a big, plush, insanely soft blanket during the winter? Nothing! This oversized throw from Anthropologie would be a welcome addition to any couch or bed, and thanks to its neutral design, it will likely go with most home decor styles. 

Don't know if they're a gold or a silver kind of person, but need to get them something gorgeous that they'll never want to take off? We've got the perfect thing. Mixing metals used to be a fashion taboo, but now it's an on-trend statement style. This pearl bracelet design, by the celebrity-favored jewelry brand Jenny Bird, is an understated stunner. While I'm partial to the two-tone look, you can also play it safe and snag it in all silver.

This set of two 100% Argentinian pebbled leather pouches is so timeless and luxurious. One can be used to hold toiletry products when on the move and the other for tech accessories — or whatever else that may need wrangling. This duo is made to tote around together and comes in 18 gorgeous colors and combos, like this Cherry and Red set.  

The Kobo Libra Colour is so much more than your standard e-reader. Not only can you highlight and mark up your favorite passages and check out library books in seconds, but you can also use it as a notebook or planner. It features a 7-inch, glare-free screen, five hours of battery life and is waterproof. As Broida puts it: "The reality is the Libra Colour is a more capable device than either the [Kindle] Paperwhite or Scribe."