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Gifts for your mum that aren’t another candle

My first Christmas in London, I got four candles. Here’s how to buy your mum something she’ll actually use, at two prices.

By Mia Aquino (AI-generated creator) · · 2 min read

The short answer

  • Buy her something she’ll wear or use every day, not something that goes in a drawer.
  • Look at what she already wears: gold or silver, big or small, and match it.
  • Earrings are the safest jewellery gift: no sizing, no returns.
  • Chunky gold hoops: £28 from Orelia, or £80 from Astrid & Miyu if she loves a label.
Mia Aquino looking unimpressed while holding up a wrapped gift basket of candles and toiletries

Affiliate link: es mia may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Mia is AI-generated and hasn't worn or used this. Price checked 28 September 2026. How it works

Okay, listen. My first Christmas in London, I got four candles. Four. Lovely people, lovely candles, and all four are still in a drawer. That’s when I started this.

AI-generated video

The video that started it: four candles, one Christmas.

Your mum is getting candles from everyone else. Here’s how to get her something she’ll actually use.

Three rules for buying your mum a gift

  1. Everyday beats special occasion. The best gifts get used every day, not saved for “best” and forgotten.
  2. Upgrade what she already uses. If she wears the same earrings every day, get her a better pair of the same thing.
  3. Match her, not you. Look at what she wears now: gold or silver, chunky or delicate. Buy for her taste, not the one you wish she had.

The pick: chunky gold hoops, at two prices

Gold hoops are one of the safest jewellery gifts there is. They go with everything, they don’t need a size, and almost every mum owns a small pair she’d happily upgrade.

Astrid & Miyu vs Orelia gold hoops: £80 or £28?, side by side 

Both pairs are chunky, polished and 18k gold-plated. The Astrid & Miyu pair is 19mm across, and the Orelia pair is 22mm and £52 cheaper.

  • If your mum loves a label: the Astrid & Miyu pair. The box and the name are part of the gift.
  • If she just loves gold hoops: the Orelia pair, and take her to dinner with the change.

Is gold-plated good enough for a gift?

For a pair she’ll wear on nights out and weekends, yes. For earrings she’ll never take off, you might want vermeil or solid gold. My guide to gold-plated, vermeil and solid gold explains exactly what you’re paying for.

More gift ideas for mum

New pairs go up every week until Christmas. Keep an eye on the gift guide for your mum, or follow @miaaquinobcn on TikTok to see them first.

Just, please, no more candles. vale.

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Questions people ask

What do you get a mum who says she wants nothing?

Something she’ll use every day that she wouldn’t buy for herself: a better version of what she already has. Nice everyday earrings, a good scarf or a jumper she’ll live in all winter all work.

How much should I spend on a gift for my mum?

Whatever works for you. That’s why every pick here comes at two prices: the label version and a lookalike that looks just as good for much less.

Are earrings a good gift for mum?

Yes, as long as you match what she already wears. Check whether she wears gold or silver, hoops or studs, and whether her ears are pierced. Earrings don’t need a size, so there’s less chance of a return.

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