Thoughtful Christmas gifts from a health food shop: Coco's list for 2026
A good present is something the person would love but would not buy for themselves. That makes a health food shop a better place to shop for Christmas than it first seems. The shelves are full of small luxuries: proper chocolate, honey with a story behind it, candles that smell of real plants, and the kind of bath soak that makes a Sunday night feel like a holiday. Here is our list for this year, sorted by the kind of person you are buying for, with a few practical notes at the end on dietary needs, wrapping and getting it there on time.
For the chocolate lover
Good chocolate is the easiest win on any list. Look for a short ingredient list with cacao or cocoa solids first, a cacao percentage you know they like, and fair trade or direct trade sourcing. We stock dairy free, low sugar and sugar free bars as well as classic dark, which helps when you are buying for someone with dietary needs. Little Zebra makes its bars in Australia in a dairy, nut and gluten free factory, and the Tahitian Lime is a bright change from mint. Our guide to choosing a better chocolate explains the labels if you are comparing bars.
For the person who never stops
Give them an evening off. Magnesium bath flakes are made from magnesium chloride, and the sleep blends add lavender and chamomile oils. Pair a bag with a soy candle and you have a gift that says go and have a bath, I will handle the dishes. If they prefer showers, a body oil or a massage candle does a similar job. Our guide to magnesium covers the difference between bath flakes, sprays and capsules.
For the candle and scent lover
Many supermarket candles are made from paraffin with synthetic fragrance. The candles on our shelves are mostly soy or coconut wax scented with essential oils, which burn more cleanly and smell more like the plants they are named after. Diffusers and essential oil blends are another option; our essential oils guide lists five good starting bottles. A safety note worth passing on with the gift: trim the wick before each burn, never leave a candle unattended, and keep essential oils away from cats.
For the cook and the host
Food gifts get used, which is half the point. Manuka honey is a lovely jar to give, and the MGO number on the label tells you its strength; our manuka honey guide explains what it means. Other ideas: a good extra virgin olive oil, a tin of ceremonial matcha with a bamboo whisk (see matcha at home), Australian native spices such as lemon myrtle or wattleseed, or a box of organic dates and nuts for the Christmas table. Bringing a plate to someone else's lunch? A vegan or gluten free treat from our dessert cabinet means everyone at the table can share it.
Stocking fillers and Secret Santa
- Lip balm. A cocoa butter or tinted balm fits any stocking and gets used daily through summer. Pick one with SPF for beach days.
- Edible ornaments. Essential Creme's Christmas tree ornaments are a 30 gram jar of pistachio or hazelnut spread in a gift box with a gold hanging loop. They hang on the tree, then go on toast.
- Seed cards. Sow N Sow cards are embedded with seeds, so the card can be planted after the holidays.
- Tea. A box of good loose leaf or organic tea bags is easy to wrap and suits almost anyone.
- Single chocolate bars and snack packs. Handy for teachers, neighbours and the people who deliver your parcels.
Check the label for allergies. Before you buy food or skincare for someone else, check the ingredient list for nuts, gluten, dairy and essential oils they react to. When in doubt, a candle, a seed card or a reusable drink bottle is a safe choice.
Wrapping with less waste
Much of the shiny paper sold at Christmas, especially anything with foil or glitter, cannot go in the recycling bin. A few alternatives that look just as good:
- Plain brown paper tied with string or ribbon you can reuse, finished with a sprig of rosemary or a gum leaf.
- A tea towel or scarf folded around the gift, Japanese furoshiki style, so the wrapping is part of the present.
- A reusable produce bag, jar or basket to hold a group of small food gifts together.
- Last year's gift bags. Nobody minds.
For more ideas that last beyond December, our guide to a plastic free bathroom has gifts that replace everyday plastic, like shampoo bars and bamboo toothbrushes.
Shopping with us before Christmas
Everything above is on the shelves at 936 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, and online. Stock on the website comes straight from the shop, so if it shows as in stock, it is here. Click and Collect is free if you live nearby, and we post across Australia; delivery costs and times are on our delivery information page. Christmas is the busiest time of year for Australia Post, so order interstate gifts early and check their published Christmas delivery dates. For more ideas, browse our Christmas and Gift Packs ranges, or call us on 02 9349 4689.
Gift ideas from our shelves
See more in Gift Ideas. Products and stock change quickly in December, so if something has sold out, give us a call and we can suggest an alternative.