Gift ideas for women in India: what to give by the kind of person she is, and where a handmade candle fitsGift ideas for women in India: what to give by the kind of person she is, and where a handmade candle fits

Start with her, not with a list

A list of "top gifts for women" cannot know whether she is your mother, your manager or your college friend, or whether she keeps every card or throws everything away. So start with two questions. What does she do with her free time? And how big is the occasion? The answer to the first tells you the kind of gift. The second tells you the budget.

We sell handmade soy wax candles, made in Jalandhar, so we will say clearly where they fit: as a pretty, small-to-mid gift for her room, her mandir or her table. For a big milestone or a luxury present, a candle is a companion to the main gift, not the gift itself.

Gift ideas by the kind of woman she is

She loves her home and hosting. Things for the table and shelf: a good serving bowl, a table runner, a set of candles. Ours: Braided Candles, Rs 849 for 4, in pink, blue, butter yellow and peach.

She has everything already. Give something that gets used up rather than stored: good coffee or tea, a skincare treat, flowers, a candle she will actually light. Ours: Vanilla Reverie, Rs 549, our one scented candle, vanilla in an amber jar with gold flakes.

She is devout and keeps a mandir. Brass pooja ware, a good diya set, a framed print. Ours: Shankh Candle, Rs 799, a cream and caramel conch with gold-flecked wax and pink lotus blooms.

She loves pastel, cute and floral. Ours: Floral Candle Duo, Rs 649, two peony candles; or the Teddy Gift Candle, Rs 599, an ivory teddy in a rose-ringed gift box.

She is a reader, a runner, a planner. Here a candle is the wrong gift. Buy the book, the running gear, the good planner.

She likes statement decor. Ours: Marble Seashell Candles, Rs 999 for 2, marbled conch vessels topped with wax shells, pearls and gold stars.

Cheap, mid or luxury: be honest about the budget

"Cheap" does not have to look cheap. A single well-made piece with a proper box and a note looks more thoughtful than a big pile of filler. A luxury gift, on the other hand, means a known label or real gold, and we are neither.

What makes a gift for a woman feel unique

• It shows you noticed something. Her favourite colour, the plant on her balcony, the corner of her room she is always fixing.
• It fits her space. Ask yourself where it will sit. If you cannot answer, pick something she can use up.
• It comes with words. A two-line note does more than the wrapping. You can add gift packaging and a gift note on our product pages.
• It is not a joke gift. "Funny" gifts get a laugh and then a cupboard.

What else women are often given

• Jewellery, from silver studs to gold, the classic for milestones.
• Handbags and wallets, if you know her style.
• Skincare and self-care sets, which most women use.
• Books, ideally one you have read and can talk about.
• Plants and planters, for a balcony or desk.
• Clothes and stoles, a kurta, a saree or a winter shawl, if you know her size and taste.
• Experiences: a class, a spa visit, a dinner, a concert.

Ordering from Raajkosh

• We dispatch in 24 to 48 hours. Delivery takes 2 to 7 days after dispatch, anywhere in India. Check the estimate for her pincode on the product page.
• Free shipping from Rs 999; Rs 79 below that.
• Prepaid only, by UPI, card, net banking or wallet through Razorpay. No cash on delivery.
• Return requests within 24 hours of delivery; damage reported in that window is replaced or refunded.
• Raajkosh is a new brand: we have no reviews to show you yet, so judge us by the product photos, the prices and the policies.

If she lights it: Gift ideas for women in India

Never leave a burning candle unattended, trim the wick to about 5 mm before each use and keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours, on a stable, heat-proof surface.