Christmas Decoration

Christmas Gift Guide for Men

With just eight days to go until Father Christmas arrives, we can’t quite believe how quickly the season of giving has come around. We’re not yet at the stage of panic buying; however, it has to be said that most of us at The Amazing Blog, are beginning to cut it fine with our present ideas. If you too are struggling, then this week we will be providing some last minute gift guides, helping you to spend less time worrying about the tricky receivers to buy for (we all know someone), and more time enjoying the festivities. Today we start with ‘Gifts for Men’, ranging from grooming products to technology and accessories. Grab a mince pie (and a glass of something nice), and let us do the research for you.

Firstly, we introduce The Bluebeards Revenge - a shaving and grooming company who provide products that promote a sustainable grooming routine, as opposed to the quick rush (and inevitable cuts) from using mass-market products. We previously reviewed their Ultimate Sea Salt Spray (see here), and so we were thrilled to try their Soap Stack Kit. True to their promise of creating products that are neither cheap cans of mass-produced products nor designer creams that are more akin to moisturisers, this set consists of three expertly produced soaps.

Ideal for any wash or gym bag, these soaps are unique in many ways. Primarily, the three scents are the perfect balance between providing a less feminine smell, while also promoting hydration and comfort. The first, ‘Classic Ice Soap’ is a modern twist on the British barbershop fragrance, a welcome scent that provides manliness and moisturisation simultaneously. Secondly, ‘Big Blue Bar of Soap for Blokes’ has a simple and fresh scent, and thanks to the bright blue colour, stands out amongst the sea of other generic products. Equally, ‘Cuban Gold Soap’ is ideal for days when an exotic aroma is needed (calling all Monday mornings!) With inspiration from the Caribbean, this soap packs a punch, and as a result of the unique shape, it is easy to handle, and unique to the eye. To make life even easier, these soaps come packaged in an aesthetically pleasing box, which coupled with the attractive colours, makes for a ready-made present. These soaps lather well and help to invigorate the body. To gain optimum benefits - use from head to toe, either in the bath or shower. The Bluebeards Revenge are also strictly against animal testing, and these soaps are both vegetarian and vegan-friendly - the perfect grooming gift that doesn’t involve a generic body spray or cheap aftershave. The best part? The Soap Stack Kit is affordable, at £13.99. Click here to see for yourself.

For a man with a newfound grooming routine, a durable wash bag is undoubtedly next on the list. We turned to a brand that we know and love and discovered Morris & Co.’s ‘Refined Gentleman Washbag’, which we think fits the bill perfectly. Part of the brand Heathcote & Ivory, Morris and Co. similarly specialise in creating unique and detailed lifestyle products. We have previously featured both Heathcote and Ivory’s Inflight Essentials and Christmas Gifts Set, so were excited to try a lifestyle product aimed at the male market. Thankfully we were not disappointed!

The Refined Gentleman Wash Bag is the ideal gift for a man that is looking for some luxury. The wash bag itself is generous in size, fitting full sized products in, with ease. Thanks to the use of a zip, it also opens and closes easily, and uses vegan leather, which ensures it is wipeable, and therefore easy to keep clean. The real standout of this product is the Acanthus print, inspired by Morris & Co.’s first wallpaper design. As the primary showcase of the brand’s plan to create large-scale wallpaper designs, we like this historical link, as well as the elegant and unique finish. The inner fabric is also wipeable, made from 100% polyester, meaning any spillages can be quickly rectified. To purchase a wash bag for the gentleman in your life, then click here, where you will find The Refined Gentleman Wash Bag available for £24.

For a gentleman that enjoys a tipple, we also came across Morris and Co.’sThe Refined Gentleman Hip Flask’. Designed with the same embossed pattern as the above wash bag, this hip flask is a classy addition to any inner pocket. Although it is slim enough to fit most pockets, it contains enough room to hold approximately 200ml of liquid. Once again, the fabric is vegan and wipeable, meaning any sticky alcohol spillages can be removed with ease. It comes packaged in a simple, and elegant box (yes - we look for presents that are easy to wrap too), and we think it would make a great present alongside the Wash Bag or would be equally welcomed with a small bottle of your receivers favourite spirit. Either way (or neither way, as it is equally lovely on its own), you will find it on the Heathcote and Ivory website for £22 - a reasonable price for a present that is durable, and sure to be well loved.

For something a little more outlandishly festive, we came across Lime Lace. Stockists of stylish home accessories, gifts and furniture, their website offers an abundance of gifting options, from artwork to lighting and cushions. It was, however, the candles that caught our eye, in particular, The Christmas Jumper Candle the perfect balance between Christmas kitsch, and clever design.

This candle adds a little festive spirit to any room and will be sure to make your receiver smile. We must confess that we were concerned by the prospect of this candle looking too novelty, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the enormous amount of detail. The wax has been carved to look like intricate wool, and the addition of the glitter is an excellent way to jazz up any table or mantlepiece. The detail even goes as far as to emulate red stitching around the cuffs and hem, and we were pleased to discover that the glitter is non-transferable. Gone is the worry of packaging a present, only to find a product that has become distinctively less glittery in the process. Additionally, you’ll find the outer box easy to wrap, although we think it would look lovely when wrapped in cellophane, with a red ribbon bow. The size of this candle also surprised us, at 11x12cm, a decent dimension to create an optimum festive atmosphere, without being overbearing. To send a little Christmas cheer of your own, purchase a Christmas Jumper Candle here for £16.95.

Finally, for the gadget lover in your life, we discovered Orbitkey. Founders, Rex and Charles, started the company after they decided enough was enough when it came to key organisation. Initially, it took just 30 days to gain 5,000 supporters, and with bases in Melbourne and New York, the success is now notable. Based on the concept of making key storage less bulky, we were keen to try the brand for ourselves.

Although Orbitkey have a plethora of different options, we particularly like the Orbitkey 2.0 Leather. This design comes in a vast array of colours, from simple black and stone to more eye-catching sage and tan. In a nutshell, this product provides a way to hold up to 7 keys, organising them, preventing them from scratching and providing a durable and lightweight finish. Now, of course, this product is not merely limited to men, but we particularly think the concept is perfect for men who often carry keys in their pockets. We were astounded by how convenient this product is, not just for protecting the keys, but also other ensuring other items in pockets and bags are equally protected. Orbitkey have also considered the inevitability of needing to add car keys separately, which can be done utilising the slim D-ring at the top of the leather strap. We tried the Orbitkey in Charcoal with Grey Stitching, which has proven to be popular in the office - especially among the male members of our cohort. There is also the option to monogram the genuine cowhide leather, which screams present giving to us (although you may be pushing it this week). We get the impression that design and ergonomics are paramount to this brand, which only extends further into the stylish and sleek box that the product arrived in. To encourage organisation for a man in your life, see the Orbitkey website here, where you will find this design for £35.59 or £46.23 with monogramming.

So there we go, five products that have hopefully given you a little inspiration for any gift giving nightmares. Perhaps you’ve even found a little something that you’d quite like yourself (when is it too late to add to your Christmas list exactly?) Be sure to check out the rest of our guides this week for even more inspiration, or for those of you who are indefinitely organised, perhaps these could be potential gifts for the New Year. Happy shopping!

Christmas decorations - Friday Favourites

It’s that time of year where the competition of who puts on the best Christmas show starts to really heat up, so to keep you at the top of the game we at The Amazing Blog have rounded up our favourite alternative Christmas decorations.


Nkuku’s 2016 Christmas collection definitely has the wow factor, the extensive collection can be used to decorate the whole house, with delicate draping jewels to baby baubles; we love the classic yet cool feel of the collection. The items in the range all ooze glamour and sophistication, and we love that you don't need to worry about going to all different shops to find what you need. Our favourites from Nkuku's collections are the Talini geometric decorations, with a basic gold wire creating diamonds, stars and squares shapes, they give a young modern twist to your tree. We also love the Hani wreaths, a twist on the usual green leafed ring, these versions are made from a ring of baubles and add a glamourous touch to your door decorations. 
The whole collection can be found here and starts at £9.95 for a set of 3 or 4.


You can't really argue that the staple decoration is always the Christmas tree, whether you have only a small space for a miniature or a large gap for a giant, Twilight Trees are an elegant alternative to a real Fir. Without the hassle of finding the best of the bunch, clearing up the leaves or throwing it away when needed, these LED trees bring the glam needed to match the presents underneath.  The trees are hand crafted to a high standard and are simple and alluring. A range of sizes for any type of room are available and being battery operated means they are easy to fit. For a stylish tree to last more than just one Christmas we recommend Twilight trees.

They start at £72 for the ‘Mini LED Cherry Tree’ which is perfect for a small decoration or as a gift and are available here.


No Christmas dinner is complete without two things; Brussel Sprouts and Christmas crackers! If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative or if you’re tired of the usual Christmas jokes and mini presents of main stream crackers then the re-useable cracker from Keep This Cracker is perfect. The crackers are square shaped and larger than most shop-bought crackers, meaning you can choose the perfect present to place inside. The crackers come flat packed and ready made to pop into shape, attach the snap and fill with custom gifts. The crackers come in a variety of colourful designs to suit any table theme and the shape is halved so when pulled it doesn’t tear to be easily be made up again and again. All you need to do is choose the perfect offering for your dinner guests and fill the cracker, good example are theatre tickets, jewellery or nail varnishes. 

For a cracking addition to your dinner decorations you can purchase your Christmas crackers from here for £15.95

To finish off the table decorations or to make your house that bit cosier we love Lime Lace’s Christmas candles. This year Lime Lace offers a beautiful, minimal trio of Bronze trees, a candle plate and copper pipe candle holder. The metallic colour theme mirrors this years’ fashion trends; the bronze Christmas tree candles are sophisticated show stoppers, yet are small enough to have them scattered around the table and the rest of the room. For a table centre piece, the mirrored circular piece has a Rose Gold edge, simple yet great to place candles or your own Christmas decoration. If you’re looking for a unique candle display the copper candle holder adds a modern twist to the table centre; add your own coloured candles to match how you’ve decorated the rest of the room to bring the whole look together.

These candles are a perfect compromise if your space is small, or to add the final Christmas touches to your festive home, you can purchase here from £23.00 to £46.00.