Best Christmas stocking fillers for adults 2021: Fun ideas for him or her

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Good things really do come in small packages. Even better when individually wrapped and stuffed into a large sock.

Myth and legend has it that the Christmas stocking tradition started when Saint Nicholas dropped some gold coins down a struggling family’s chimney. The coins fell into three pairs of ladies stockings that were hanging up to dry by the fireplace. And the rest is hosiery, I mean history.

The traditional stockings of yore were filled with tangerines and walnuts (or lumps of coal for the badly-behaved). These days the humble stocking is a more delightful affair. Packed with a variety of charmingly small gifts from travel sized beauty products, to hats or gloves in sumptuous fabrics and the odd novelty gift.

Whatever your budget, we’ve picked out the perfect selection of mini presents for your loved one to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Whether you choose to fill yours with the miniature and decadent or cheerfully cheap and tongue-in-cheek, we’ve got you covered with our edit of this year’s best stocking fillers.

Just don’t forget the gold (chocolate) coins.

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Crystal whiskey tumbler glasses

The dream stocking filler is for the whiskey-lovers. These Art Deco-inspired crystal tumblers are also the perfect shape for classic short cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Negroni.

Buy now £32.00, The Wolseley Shop

Snowdonia Rock Star Vintage Cave Aged cheddar

If they're a cheeseboard-for-dessert sort, a festive selection will be right up their street - or in their stocking. We can't get enough of the varieties at Snowdonia Cheese Company; the latest is this rock star vintage cheddar, wrapped in purple wax. There are nutty notes mixing with fruity, all leading to a umami flavour that keeps you coming back for more. At this size they won't feel obligated to share either.

Buy now £4.50, Ocado

HoliRoots Mini Hair Oil

This strengthening hair oil by family-run brand Fable & Mane is available in a handy travel-sized bottle this Christmas. Vegan and free from silicones, parabens and sulfates, this nourishing treatment oil is designed to be massaged into dry hair and scalp before shampooing. Made with Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha, it strengthens the roots to encourage healthier hair growth.

Ideal for taking some time out from the hectic festive period for a well-deserved scalp massage.

Buy now £14.00, Fable & Mane

Resin and gold toned hoop earrings

Half tortoiseshell resin and half gold toned metal, these chic earrings are a covetable addition to a jewellery box. Accessory lovers will appreciate the versatility of these hoops, they’ll go with everything from Christmas jumpers to sequined party dresses and everything in-between.

Buy now £19.50, Oliver Bonas

Bacon Curing Kit

This nine-piece set comes with everything you need to make three delicious varieties of dry cured bacon from the comfort of your own kitchen. Seasonings include Juniper & Fennel, Chili & Garlic and Pancetta. All ingredients are natural, GMO free and ethically sourced - all you need to add is a 500g joint of pork belly per batch.

Buy now £14.99, Amazon

Monogrammed cashmere socks

No stocking is complete without a pair of socks. So why not take it up a notch with a luxe monogrammed pair. These cashmere socks from Pantherella come in nine pastel-hued or neutral shades and will elevate any sock drawer.

Non-monogrammed versions are available for £32.

Buy now £42.00, Pantherella

Climate Veil tinted SPF20

This lightweight broad spectrum is packed with anti-ageing ingredients such as lingonberry stem cells and hyaluronic acid. It comes tinted with mineral light reflecting natural pigments and in four different shades to match their skin tone.

Each batch is crafted by hand from an artisan studio in Hertfordshire from sustainably sourced and organic ingredients, packaged in recyclable glass and 75 per cent recycled plastic.

Buy now £29.99, Evolve Beauty

Grow your own hairy beaver

A cheeky novelty stocking filler for the green-thumbed and dirty-minded. Growing a hairy beaver couldn’t be more simple - just add water and watch it flourish. This sweet and silly gift would also make an ideal Secret Santa. Once it’s grown, proud beaver-owners with a sense of humour will love showing theirs off in public.

Buy now £9.99, Find Me A Gift

Cashmere gloves

The crowd-pleaser. You can’t go wrong with stashing a pair of 100 per cent pure cashmere gloves in a stocking. The sartorial go-to when burning off the mince pies on a Christmas Day walk. This pair from John Lewis come in classic shades of navy and charcoal to suit any occasion long after the festive season has ended.

Buy now £38.00, John Lewis

Breakfast at the Wolseley recipe book and double egg cup

All the recipes for a Wolseley-grade breakfast are included in this book, along with A.A. Gill’s ‘Breakfast at The Wolseley’. It comes with the restaurant-café’s Double Egg Cup, made with UK-produced china and individually hand-decorated. What could be a better way to start Christmas morning?

Buy now £38.00, The Wolseley Shop

Chilli beer selection

Turn up the heat with a slightly larger gift to pad out the stocking. Chilli addicts will love this trio of spicy, triple cold filtered beers from British independent brewery, Staffordshire Brewery. For a ‘tongue-tingling’ experience while washing down the nibbles and festive finger food. Three levels of spice are included from mild to hot to suit all moods and heat-handling abilities.

Buy now £15.00, John Lewis

Cat-shaped sticky notes

These cute sticky notes will brighten up any WFH set-up. They come in three styles of cat, and on lined and dotted paper. An all-round purrfect stocking filler for fans of kitsch stationary and the cat-lovers in your life.

Buy now £7.50, Oliver Bonas

This Works Choose Sleep mini set

A perfect duo for preparing for a good night’s rest after the chaos of Christmas. The pillow spray contains lavender, vetiver and camomile essential oils to spritz over your pillow for a deep sleep, while rolling the Stress Check aromatherapy roll-on over pulse points will help you unwind before bed.

Buy now £10.00, Oliver Bonas

Vegan Hot Chocolate Spoons

Christmas isn’t Christmas without some stocking chocolate! You stir these spoons into steaming hot milk for a creamy and rich hot chocolate. Each pack includes two servings of salted caramel and plain chocolate flavour.

Buy now £10.00, Happi

Vegan & Plastic- Free Facial Dry Brush

This luxury dry facial brush makes a wonderful little stocking filler. Just (gently) massage into the skin every day to stimulate collagen for a healthy glow. It will also buff away dead skin cells and promote blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. It contains 100 per cent vegan bristles (and no plastic) and the wood is sustainably sourced from the Black Forest in collaboration with a local family business.

Buy now £31.00, Naya

Stainless Steel Reusable Straws

This sustainable gift is a perfect ‘filler’ item at just £2. It’s perfectly planet-friendly with it’s recyclable packaging, and of course, promotes eco-conscious choices.

Buy now £2.00, Sports Direct

Pearl Hair Clips

Pearls are having a moment so these faux pearl hairclips are very on-trend. Choose to wear separately or layered up, and adorn your head in style.

Buy now £12.00, Oliver Bonas

Van Gogh Socks

Decorate someone’s feet with the works of famous artists this Christmas. Pop in a pair of Muse Arta’s art inspired socks in your chosen selected style. Dali, Degas and Da Vinci iterations are available too but we love the kitschy style of these Vase With Twelve Sunflowers socks.

Buy now £10.00, Selfridges