5 Senses Gift Ideas Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

The “5 Senses” gift is a fun spin on traditional Valentine’s gift-giving. Best of all, this works as both gifts for him and gifts for her! Yay!

In this article, we’ll talk about what a “5 senses” gift actually is and how you can put one together for a unique and memorable Valentine’s day!

What are the Five Senses Gifts?

A five senses gift is a basket or bag full of gifts, each presenting one of the five senses- sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Each gift should be wrapped individually, so they are opened one at a time.

Five senses gifts are an excellent idea for any occasion, but they are particularly appropriate for special holidays like Valentine’s Day!

How Do I Make A 5 Senses Gift?

To make your own 5 sense gift, start by picking out 5 items that appeal to each of your partner’s senses. To recap, those are:

1. Sight – gifts that will appeal to them visually.
2. Sound – gifts that will tickle their ears.
3. Smell – gifts that smell like heaven.
4. Taste – gifts that tantalize the taste buds.
5. Touch – gifts that bring on the goosebumps!

Once you have picked out your 5 gifts, it’s time to wrap them up. You could use wrapping paper, tissue paper, or even aluminum foil if you want to save money or your partner is thrifty. Don’t laugh! My dad was a very frugal man, and my husband would wrap his gifts up in old coupon circulars. My dad just LOVED it. Know your audience! Always remember to keep each gift separate from the other.

Make sure to treat each gift with special care. Ribbons and bows add to the visual appeal and make unwrapping the gifts all the more exciting. If you don’t have a fancy bow, a piece of twine tied around the package will do. My husband has also made his own bows using wrapping paper which I thought was pretty creative.

You can now place the gifts in either a nice gift bag or Valentine’s basket.

Now you’ve got yourself a beautiful gift ready to go.

Choosing The Gifts

Now, all you need to do is decide what to put inside! We’ll be going through each sense and giving you some ideas of what you can include in your five senses gift. Don’t be afraid to do what works for your person, though! You know them better than anyone else.

5 Senses Sight Gift Ideas

There are a few ways to appeal to your partner’s sense of sight.

1. Sentimentally
2. Beautifully
3. or Entertainingly

Photos (with a twist!)

For sentimental, your best bet is a photo. It may seem a little “old trick,” but you can be clever. One of the first gifts my husband ever gave to me was our favorite photo laser-etched into granite. It’s amazing to see.

Other clever twists on this idea include having the image 3D laser-etched into crystal. It allows you to get a 3D view of the photo, and it’s like nothing you’ve seen before (but it can be a little pricey).

Plants (but in a different way)

Sure, you could buy a potted plant, and maybe your spouse or partner would like that, but I wanted to share an idea that my family has loved. They’re a bit big, but if you don’t mind it, then AeroGardens are a really cool gift to give someone who has an interest in gardening or growing food. They allow you to grow plants indoors, regardless of whether, and without the mess of soil! So cool, and it was the perfect gift for my husband.

Artwork (not your grandma’s kind of artwork!)

Maybe your special person doesn’t have an eye for art, but here’s the great thing: they don’t have to. I’m not telling you to go out and buy a print of the Mona Lisa. Instead, get artwork that is inspired by something they love.

We have many Pixar-inspired minimalist pieces on our walls that we ordered from Etsy. My sister-in-law ordered symbols for “The Empire” and “The Rebel Alliance” from Star Wars cut out of metal as artwork for my brother. You can have all types of amazing things made!

Books And Reading Time

Perhaps you’ve thought of books already, but what about reading time? My husband loves books, but between being a dad, husband, and running his business, he has very little time to read. You could give the gift of time by saying “go over there and enjoy an hour of reading. I’ll take care of anything that comes up in that hour.”

If you want some ideas on books you can read together, then be sure to check out our favorite Christian Valentine’s Day books.

Movie Night

I have a whole article on how to set up a fantastic movie night, so I won’t spend too much time here, but movie nights are just super fun. If you want the full experience, grab some movie tickets or order them online and print them out. If printing tickets isn’t an option (like when the tickets are digitally in the app), print out a small copy of the movie poster instead, which will get the point across when you wrap it up.

Galaxy Projectors

We got a galaxy projector from Amazon, and it’s one of our favorite lights to have on in the house. The kids love it at bedtime, and it adds a fun ambiance to movie nights. It’s an excellent way to bring the outside inside! It is very customizable and ended up being a much more romantic gift idea than I had intended. It’s just a creative and easy way to decorate in a snap!

Watch

Give the gift of time! Okay, not really, but a great looking watch is a great gift to fill your sight gift requirement! One year, my husband and I bought matching watches for each other which we love sporting together. If you think matching is super cute, like we do, consider a pair of watches to make this gift even more meaningful. And if you’re ready to splurge this Valentine’s Day? You can’t go wrong with an Apple Watch!

5 Senses Sound Gift Ideas

Now it’s time to tickle your partner’s ears! There are many different options for serenading your partner’s sense of sound.

Music

Does your partner not have a subscription to a music service like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music? Then why not foot the bill and give them the gift of music on demand? Again, this isn’t exactly a physical gift, so you’ll need to think of a way to present it to them. Printing out a receipt is always an option when you can’t think of anything else! You can also buy them a physical gift card from your local grocery store or gas station.

Audible Subscriptions

My husband listens to tons of audiobooks. He has earned a lot of the badges inside the Audible app, and he’s currently at “Scholar” level and on his way to “Master.” If your special someone is a book reader, then perhaps gifting them an Audible subscription would be a great gift idea. Additionally, Audible pairs up really nicely with Kindle books in many cases. Meaning you can have a book opened in the Kindle app and have the Audible narration playing as you read.

Kalimba

If your significant other is musically inclined or interested at all, a Kalimba is a fantastic introductory instrument. Don’t be fooled, though; songs can also be complex, so they’re perfect for even experienced musicians. The sound of a Kalimba is just so soothing and beautiful. Listen to this example:

Speakers (but the smart kind!)

Our house is filled with Google Home speakers. It’s nice because we can play any music we want in any room at any time. Additionally, we can play music on all of the speakers at once (or specific groups of speakers) so that as you walk from room to room, the song is playing everywhere. It is magical.

Important tip: make sure you choose the ecosystem your partner wants to use. This is often related to the kind of phone they have. For example, an iPhone user might want Apple Homepod speakers or Amazon Alexa speakers, not Google Home speakers. We use Android phones, so we went with Google devices. If we got an Amazon Echo as a gift, we would return it because it doesn’t work with our current setup.

Wireless Earbuds

Wireless earbuds are one of the best things to happen to ears. Popularized by Apple’s Airpods, wireless earbuds are a great gift for people on the go. My husband uses Google Pixelbuds and loves them because they work with his phone. The same is true for iPhone users who use Apple Airpods.

Concert Tickets

It’s been a hot minute since my husband and I went to a concert, but it was one of our favorite activities before having kids. Now, you might be thinking of a traditional concert, which is fine, but we always opted for the orchestra instead. That might sound boring, but look up Pixar In Concert, and your opinion might change.`

5 Senses Smell Gift Ideas

Smell is the sense most closely tied to memory. When my husband’s cologne mixes with the w3r0f8u4y4 of a specific perfume I have, it takes me right back to our honeymoon. It’s amazing how vivid smell can be. Below are a few ideas that will hopefully help you find that same joy in the future through the gift of smell.

Cologne or Perfume

It’s kind of obligatory that I mention this idea on here, but it’s not my favorite one just because I think it’s fairly obvious. My husband has always picked out my perfumes. It makes me feel so special knowing he spent the time at some perfume counter picking out a scent for me. Obviously, when you’re shopping online, you won’t be able to smell the scents, so make sure to read reviews to get a better idea of peoples’ impression of it and if you think it’ll fit that someone special!

Herb Plants

I love herbs because they provide most of the flavors to a great meal, but some herbs are just naturally very fragrant. One of my favorites is Thai Basil. It reminds me of a nice hot bowl of Vietnamese Pho! Choose some herbs that both of you enjoy eating, and it can be a fun multi-sense gift if your significant other likes to cook!

Essential Oils

Essential oils are a nice, clean way to bring some fragrance to the room. They’re much more natural than typical potpourris or a traditional air freshener. In addition, many believe that essential oils have mental and physical healing properties.

Scented Candles

Going a bit more traditional, we have the scented candle. I mention these because candles are widely available, affordable, and come in many different scents. I especially love the wood wick variety, with the subtle crackling sounds! Instant ambiance boost! 

Wax Warmers

Wax warmers are a clean alternative to candles. They’re especially nice if you have issues with open flames or the soot from candles. They burn more cleanly and leave a lovely scent around your house. I also like that wax warmers have so many cute designs to suit any taste. My husband bought me one with mosaic glass which doubles as a beautiful nightlight in our room.

Aromatherapy Soaps

Aromatherapy soaps are infused with essential oils. Aromatherapy soaps are a really nice way to improve a household staple. I remember an aromatherapy soap I used to buy from Bath and Bodyworks that my husband adored.

Incense

Incense is another nice, more traditional way of making your home smell intoxicating. They come in cones or sticks and you burn them. They come in many scents and they have a distinct smell that is unique to them. I think it’s just the act of burning them that makes them smell so unique. I enjoy it. I also love how the smoke comes off in such defined whisps. It’s kind of mesmerizing.

5 Senses Taste Gift Ideas

Taste gifts are always fun and easy to give. Who doesn’t like receiving food? Unless your special person is working on weight loss goals, this is the time to go as decadent as possible. I mean, it’s Valentine’s Day after all!

Chocolates Galore!

Let’s start with the Valentine’s Day staple of chocolates! My view on chocolates may differ from yours, but here goes: I’d rather get a tiny box of the most luscious, velvety, delectable chocolates than a big box like Whitman’s sampler. No offense to Whitman’s. I know it’s a Valentine’s day tradition for some, but it’s just not what I like. The nice thing about the small box is it makes for a perfect “5 Senses” gift since there are 5 gifts!

Chocolate-covered Strawberries

Let’s make things even more luxurious. Chocolate-covered strawberries are a classic treat to celebrate with your love. You can find them at almost every grocery store, and they make for a delicious treat.

Restaurant Gift Certificates

Do you both have a favorite restaurant or is there a restaurant you’ve both wanted to try? Now’s your chance. Best of all, it turns your gift into a date night! Yay! Turning your gift into additional gifts sounds like a fun idea to me!

Meal Kit Subscription

I love cooking alongside my husband, especially when it’s this easy! Meal kits are a fun idea because it’s a gift that will continue coming, they aren’t insanely expensive, and it’s a fun activity if the both of you enjoy cooking. There are also meal kits for every kind of diet and goal. For us, the goal was learning how to cook with new ingredients, and mission accomplished! I can roast some killer Brussel sprouts now!

Snack Box Subscription

Going a little more frivolous are snack box subscriptions. You can find subscription boxes for almost any taste. One year, my husband and I gifted a snack box subscription to my brother. Each month, they would deliver a box of snacks to him from a different country in the world. It was a food world tour delivered to his doorstep each month!

Wine Tasting

Sure, I could be a normal person and suggest you go on a trip to taste wines; and you could, but that’s not how I roll. Instead, why not have the wine tasting experience delivered to you! Did you know there are wine subscriptions you can sign up for like Winc which will suggest wines you might not have ever tried, then deliver the bottle of wine to your doorstep?

Coffee and Tea

Last, but not least are the two most popular drinks on the planet. If your significant other loves coffee or tea, then this is the idea for you. Each morning, they’ll be reminded of your Valentine’s day surprise!

5 Senses Touch Gift Ideas

Finally, we arrive at the fifth sense: touch. You can take lots of angles with this one, but here are some of our favorite ideas.

Weighted Blankets

This might be a favorite gift of mine. I found these accidentally when I was shopping at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I think they had just come out, and I thought they were a total gimmick. Boy, was I wrong! I didn’t realize how comforting the extra weight could be until I received one as a birthday gift. Unfortunately, I need to get a new one as my dog chewed my last one to bits (steel beads everywhere!).

Head Massagers

These might look like something you’d beat eggs with, but they basically induce instant goosebumps on me. Head massagers are just a pleasant gift that can help relieve stress.

Traditional Couples Massages

This is a great experience gift where you get to go on a date together. Traditional massages are a nice way to relax and unwind. You can go to a massage parlor for a couples massage or if you want to be slightly more spendy, then you can have a masseuse come to your house.

Foot Massager

If your spouse is always on their feet, then a foot massager will be a welcome relief in their life. Sure, you could kick it old school and bust out the lotion and your hands, but honestly, how long can you last giving a foot massage? I have about 10 minutes max before my hands start to cramp.

Clothing or Pajamas

Do you know that feeling when you put on a brand new shirt that fits perfectly? It’s amazing! You feel like you’ve just been draped happiness. This actually happened to my husband recently. I bought him some shirts from True Classic, and they were nice. He didn’t say much about them at the time, but then a day or two later, he thanked me and said they were the nicest shirts he’s worn in a long time.

But don’t forget about pajamas! I added those in because I love pajamas, and I’m hoping he’ll read this and buy me some cozy pjs!

5 Senses Gifts In A Nutshell

I hope you’ve learned a bunch about five senses gifts like what they are, how to make them, and I hope you have a bunch of great ideas for your special someone.

If this article has helped you in any way, make sure you share it, and let me know how your 5 senses gift turned out. I hope you have a very happy Valentine’s day!