As holidays and birthdays arrive and friends and family have big events or life changes, you may find yourself looking for the perfect comfort gift. It could be the birth of a new baby. It might be a big breakup. It may even be a romantic weekend for Valentine’s Day. Regardless of the occasion, there seems to be a list of gifts that are perfect for bringing nostalgia and even joy that tend to last. Work from this enduring list, and you will bring a smile to your loved one’s face.
The Power of Emotions
Emotional science is the study of how humans process emotions and experience moods based on triggers or influences. What makes someone happy, and why? Why does this person get so angry? What causes that person to cry so easily? Obviously, this field is complex and loaded with nuance. Yet there are many commonalities for humans when it comes to the items, foods, and situations that bring comfort.
Emotions are closely tied to the sensory experiences you have. Smells, sights, sounds, and flavors can launch you back decades. They can make you feel warm inside and deeply loved. And they can reassure you that everything will work out all right. With that in mind, you can use foods, clothes, and other items to help soothe yourself in times of distress. You can also draw on this information to choose from among a list of gift options to bring comfort and joy to the ones you love.
Cocoa and Chocolate
There is something powerful, perhaps even magical, about the cacao bean. At face value, it’s simply a seed that grows within a giant pod. To taste a raw cacao bean is to be inundated with bitterness, sourness, and even a bit of fruitiness, nothing like a bar of chocolate. But after fermentation, roasting, and a bit of mixing with sugar and milk, you’ve got a delicious truffle or cup of cocoa that sings to the heart.
This is why, for hundreds of years, people have been using cocoa and chocolate in rituals, including those of fertility and romance. Chocolate speaks to something deep in the brain that triggers feelings of euphoria, much like you experience when you’re in love. So sending someone a gift of Cocoa Chocolate or a box of chocolates is the perfect way to evoke those powerful emotions.
Pastas and Soups
Beyond the amorous, a few other foods exist that also soothe, calm, relax, and warm people up. Typically, these foods are rich in nutrients, packed with carbohydrates, and served hot and saucy. From the time you were a child, you likely have memories of chicken soup when you were sick, a big lasagna for a family dinner, or a casserole upon the death of a loved one. These dishes have been passed down for generations, and they stick in the American mind, and even beyond, as traditionally comforting.
If you’re hoping to soothe someone during a hard time or help someone out when they’re overwhelmed, choose from among any of those classic dishes. It may be different for various cultures, but many have commonalities like richness in flavor and nutrients. It’s the strong smells and flavors that come from herbs and spices that both lend themselves to healing and trigger fond memories. So you’re nourished by them on an emotional and physical level.
Blankets and Socks
Of course, it’s not all food and treats. Sometimes, soothing, loving, and comforting are related to physically warming up. Especially during the winter months, there are few things more nurturing than being wrapped in a big blanket or an oversized sweater. It’s like being enveloped in the hug of someone you love deeply. And it can evoke exactly this emotion when you give a warming item as a gift.
When considering a physical comfort item, try to choose a blanket that’s both big and thick, heavy, and in a fabric that’s soft, like cashmere or fleece. The same goes for sweaters, jackets, pillows, socks, beanies, and mittens. These can all feel like luxury items for someone you love, whether they’re going through a hard time or you just want to send a hug through the mail. Ask them to send you a picture of themselves wrapped in your gift, so you know your embrace was delivered.
Candles, Teas, Soaps, and Balms
Finally, you cannot underestimate the power of smell. Indeed, it’s one of the reasons food and drinks are such lasting comforts. You smell the chicken soup long before you taste it. Cocoa hits your brain in all the right places because you’re both tasting and smelling it. That’s why you can send a sensory comfort item in the form of smell alone and get right to someone’s nostalgia. Especially if you know they’re favorite scent, you can send a candle, soap, lotion, or bath bomb, and have them instantly connect to their emotions.
Even if you don’t know their favorite fragrance, or if they don’t have one, there are a few smells that are tried and true comforts. Vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa, ylang ylang, and eucalyptus are reliable scents to send in the form of candles or soaps. If your loved one drinks tea, you can send lavender, chamomile, or even a chai, and meet both the scent and taste senses. To take your gift even further, you could create a care package with all these sensory elements included.
In the end, so many human emotions are directly tied to the senses. If your goal is to evoke certain emotions, emotional science says to work from the feeling you’re hoping to create. Then, use foods, drinks, or other items that are already connected to those feelings. It obviously helps if you know your loved one well. Then, put together the package that will trigger their senses to light up their brains. From there, you’ve got a clear pathway to their heart.