‘It’s so important to make someone happy…’

When it comes to Christmas gift-giving however, it’s a little more complex than it seems in the song.

What, exactly, do you buy for the people for whom glitter bath bombs hold no allure? For dads who own enough socks? For brilliant best friends, for the childminder your kids adore?

While there’s no accounting for taste, we feel we’ve nailed down three gift ideas that are highly likely to please anybody on your Christmas list. Erring just on the right side of practical, each of these presents has been tried and tested by the Yay Cork crew and deemed to have sparked a little moment of joy.

Each of our picks brings some luxury to the every day, meaning your giftee will enjoy them on the reg.

1. THE DIFFUSER

From a reviving blast of peppermint first thing in the morning to a soothing waft of lavender to help you drift off at night, once you experience the life-enhancing benefits of switching on an essential oil diffuser you’ll wonder how you ever coped with life’s ups and downs without it.

Founded by kinesiologist Karl Murray, Kotanical is the first company in Ireland to distill oil from natural native sources. Not only are their heavenly oils made from locally grown herbs and Leaping Bunny-approved organic ingredients, but their stone oil diffusers also look gorgeous – available in slick matte black, white, or blush.

Safer than a candle (and much more cost-effective) this is a gift that will bring a waft of joy into anyone’s day, from your granny to your boss, your tween niece to your gym-obsessed brother.

If you’re new to the diffuser game, start with the Kotanical grapefruit oil; a refreshing citrus that alleviates tension, balances the mood, and reduces stress.

Buy it: Kotanical Diffusers start at €59.99 at kotanical.ie.

2. THE COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION

We don’t drink coffee to wake up. Oh no – here at Yay Cork HQ, we wake up to drink coffee.

One of our favourite finds this year and one that provided many a gleeful gulp during the long days of lockdown was the subscription box from West Cork Coffee. It’s tricky to understand exactly what your giftee is getting if you’re not a coffee aficionado yourself, so take our word for it; this box is the business.

With three-month, six-month, and 12-month subscriptions available, Tony Speight and his WCC team will send a variety of seasonal, freshly roasted single-origin coffee to your doorstep.

Your coffee is roasted on the first Monday of each month (just choose your grind; espresso, whole-bean or filter?) and each delivery includes information regarding the farm, region, variety and taste notes of each coffee.

Buy it: West Cork Coffee subscriptions start at €38 for the three-month option (ROI only) from westcorkcoffee.ie.

3. THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR

To say it’s been a stressful year is a bit of an understatement. To be honest, we could all do with learning a new trick or two to help us deal with it.

We’re all well aware of the many benefits of CBD by now (if you’re not, there are three things to know: once it contains less than 0.2% THC, it’s legal in Ireland, it’s non-psychoactive so it will not get you high and many users find it quells anxiety, soothes pain and alleviates inflammation.)

The next important thing is to find a reputable supplier. Emerald Farm CBD Oils are made from hemp grown on Jacob and Paisley Hervey’s Wicklow Farm and dried and cold-pressed on-site within 24 hours.

A thoughtful and unique gift for anyone over 18, the brand says its gorgeous oil blends support a wide variety of health problems, “including acne, anxiety, chronic pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, high blood pressure, insomnia, muscle spasms, inflammation, and IBS.”

You could treat your insomniac best mate to a bottle of the peppermint-flavoured Relax blend, packed with passionflower and chamomile to help promote a restful night’s sleep. Meanwhile, your Dad might appreciate Emerald Farm Original, a naturally flavoured pure CBD oil that contributes to your overall health and can be used topically for skin irritations and blemishes.

And what’s Christmas without a little self-gifting? Add the Boost blend to your cart as a New Year pressie for yourself; this orange-flavoured CBD oil contains Vitamin D, Vitamin C, turmeric and ginger to boost your immune system, protect your bones and teeth and help reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Buy it: Emerald Farm CBD Oils start at €36 and you can buy direct via their website here.