Gift basket for men or your boyfriend: when a candle chest suits him, how to personalise it, and when to pick another basketGift basket for men or your boyfriend: when a candle chest suits him, how to personalise it, and when to pick another basket

First, is he a candle person?

Most gift baskets for men in India are built around snacks, coffee, grooming kits, or whisky glasses and nuts. Those are safe because nearly every man uses them. A candle basket is narrower. It suits the man who has a nice flat, notices the lighting in a cafe, keeps his desk tidy, or has recently moved in with a partner and is suddenly interested in cushions. If that is not him, skip to the alternatives below; we would rather you bought the right basket elsewhere.

If it is him, Raajkosh can put one together. Our gift chest builder lets you choose 3 to 6 pieces, then the chest style, a ribbon and a personal message, delivered across India. Each piece is charged at its listed price plus the chest style; 4 or more pieces get 10% off the pieces.

The pieces we would put in a man's chest

Plain shapes, deeper colours, and one warm scent:

• Vanilla Reverie, Rs 549: an amber glass jar with a black screw lid and gold flakes. Our only scented candle, and the most "his room" piece we make.
• Spiral Pillar Candles, Rs 179 single (navy is the pick) or Rs 799 for five colours.
• Seashell Candles, Rs 899 for two conch vessels in sky blue and sand beige. Looks like a souvenir from a beach trip.
• Marble Seashell Candles, Rs 999 for two marbled conches. The most striking piece for a shelf.

Add the chest style to each. The first two cross Rs 999 on the pieces alone, so they ship free; for the small one, the builder shows whether the total with the chest crosses the free shipping line or adds Rs 79.

For a boyfriend, it can be softer

A gift basket for a boyfriend is allowed to be a little romantic. Swap one plain piece for the Heart Tealights, Rs 349 for 10 red hearts, and the chest becomes a plan: light them on the floor or the balcony the evening you give it. Vanilla Reverie, a Spiral Pillar and the Heart Tealights come to Rs 1,077 for the pieces. For Valentine's Day specifically, our page on a Valentine gift for your boyfriend goes further.

Making it personal: his name or initials

The chest builder gives you a message step, which is enough for most people: write two lines only you would write. If you want his name or initials on the tag or the box, or the candles in his team's colours, that is a custom order by enquiry. Tell us the idea and your date, and we reply with what is possible, a timeline and a price. We cannot quote those here. Custom pieces are not returnable unless damaged or wrong, so check the spelling twice.

Baskets that suit other men better

• The foodie: a snack or gourmet basket from a gifting site or a good local store.
• The coffee drinker: beans from an Indian roaster, a pour-over set and a mug.
• The gym regular: a shaker, protein bars and a towel.
• The groomer: a beard or skincare kit from a men's grooming brand.
• Personalised gifts for men with a photo or engraving, like wallets, pens and mugs, come from personalisation sites, and are faster when the date is close.

A candle chest wins when you want something handmade that stays in his home after the snacks are gone.

Ordering and the one safety line he needs

Dispatch is in 24 to 48 hours and delivery 2 to 7 days after dispatch; check his pincode's estimate before you order. Free shipping from Rs 999, Rs 79 below. Prepaid only; no cash on delivery. Ready pieces can be returned on a request within 24 hours of delivery, and damage in that window is replaced or refunded.

Tell him: trim the wick to about 5 mm, keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours, and do not leave it lit when he goes out.