Christmas gifts for your boss in India: when to give one, how much to spend, and a gift from the whole teamChristmas gifts for your boss in India: when to give one, how much to spend, and a gift from the whole team

Should you give your boss a Christmas gift at all?

In most Indian offices, Christmas is not a gifting day for the boss the way Diwali is. So start with two questions:

• Does your boss celebrate Christmas, or does the office mark it (a tree in the lobby, a lunch, a Secret Santa)? If yes, a small gift fits.
• Is it from you alone, or from the team? A gift from one junior to the boss can look like you want something. A gift from the whole team reads as warmth. If you are going to give one, pool it.

If neither is true, a handwritten card on the last working day before the holidays is enough, and nobody will think less of you.

Three team gifts we would put in a boss's hands

Raajkosh hand-pours pure soy wax candles in Jalandhar. These three look considered without looking expensive:

• Marble Seashell Candles, Rs 999: two marbled conch-shell vessels, one blue-and-white and one terracotta-and-white, topped with wax shells, pearls and gold stars. Calm and cool-toned, so they suit a cabin, a study or a living room, and they ship free at this price.
• Spiral Pillar Candles, set of 5 for Rs 799, in ivory, pink, blue, yellow and navy. A cheerful Christmas table set for a boss who hosts family over the holidays.
• Vanilla Reverie, Rs 549: our only scented candle, warm vanilla in an amber glass jar with a screw lid and gold flakes. Neutral for a man or a woman, and easy to carry home on the metro.

Every piece other than the vanilla jar is decorative, with no fragrance as standard, which matters if your boss has a cabin with no window.

How much a team should spend

The rule of thumb: the gift should be modest enough that your boss does not feel they must return it. If your company has a gift policy, check it first; some cap what a manager may accept, even from the team.

Handing it over in the last week of December

• Pick the last working day before the break. Many Indian offices run a short week between 25 December and 1 January; the day before people scatter is when a team gift gets opened in the room.
• Have one person speak, briefly. "From all of us, for the year" is enough. No speeches.
• Sign one card together. Everyone's name, in their own handwriting. You can add gift packaging and a gift note on the product page, and still slip the card inside.
• Office with a no-flame rule? Say so on the card: "for your home". The pieces also sit well unlit on a shelf.
• Working remotely? Send it to the boss's home only if you already know the address; otherwise ship it to the office before the last day.

What else teams give a boss at Christmas

• A plum cake or a box of cookies from a good local bakery, the most common Christmas office gift in India.
• A plant for the cabin: a small jade, a snake plant or a poinsettia in December.
• A good diary or a desk calendar for the coming year.
• A book the team knows they will like.
• A coffee or tea set, if they are known for their cup at 4 pm.
• Scents beyond vanilla. Our one scented jar is vanilla. For woody or spiced Christmas scents, look at brands that specialise in scented jar candles.

If you are the boss and want gifts for your team instead, our Christmas gifts for coworkers page covers that.

Placing the team order in December

Christmas is a Friday this year, so the last working day for many offices falls around 23 or 24 December. We dispatch in 24 to 48 hours, and delivery takes 2 to 7 days after dispatch, anywhere in India. Order in early December and check the estimate for your office pincode on the product page; we cannot promise a delivery date.

Payment is prepaid only (UPI, card, net banking or wallet through Razorpay); no cash on delivery, so one person pays and the team settles up on UPI. Shipping is free from Rs 999 and Rs 79 below. Return requests within 24 hours of delivery; damage reported in that window is replaced or refunded.

If the candle is lit, it goes on a heat-proof surface away from papers, is never left unattended, and each burn stays at 3 to 4 hours.