25 Unique Gifts for Gay Men: That They Will Actually Want

Boy Smells candles are the brainchild of real-life couple Matthew Herman and David Kien, that started making candles in their L.A. kitchen back in 2015. Six years later, the company has become a home goods staple in the queer community and beyond. This set includes three fan-favorite scents⁠— Kush, Ash, and Cedar Stacks— in petite, 25-hour burn time-sized containers.

If you want to impress your gay friend by buying him a gift he doesn’t think you know exists, this is the ticket.

There is no excuse for crusty hands in 2021. But unfortunately, some people have jobs, genetics, or lifestyles that could cause dryness and cracking. Or maybe he just likes to pamper his God-given forks with some luscious creams and moisturizers. This set includes two ultra-rich hand creams, a cuticle cream, and a pair of cotton gloves to make his next spa night a breeze. It also comes packaged in a sweet organza bag, perfect for Christmas stocking-stuffers or a lovely birthday gift set.

Not every gift for the gay men in your life needs to have the pride flag plastered all over it. However, these shoes are undeniably cool, cushiony, and supportive for any of his athletic (or athleisure) adventures. These shoes are guaranteed to turn heads as he’s running on the treadmill or running up a bar tab at his favorite club during pride.

Speaking of pride, he can’t dance all night in uncomfortable shoes, so show your support by supporting his ankles with these sleek Nikes.

To say RuPaul and his renowned show RuPaul’s Drag Race have influenced society is akin to saying peanut butter pairs well with jelly. If your gay friend, boyfriend, brother, or another gay man in your life is as devoted to RuPaul as straight men are to cargo shorts, this could be the perfect gift to reflect his charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent! If you’re looking for inspiration on your shopping journey, just take in the wise words of RuPaul himself, “good luck, and don’t f*ck it up,” by passing on this cute candle. Okay, we added that last part in ourselves, but we think Ru would approve.

Another way to show your support while still purchasing products your LGBTQIA+ pals will like is to support LGBTQIA+ businesses, like Equator Coffee. If you know someone that needs multiple hits of the delicious hot bean juice to get through the day, turn them away from Starbucks and onto Equator Coffee. Their beans are sourced from some of the best coffee-growing regions of the world⁠—Sumatra, Kenya, Colombia, Brazil⁠— to create a beautiful dark-roast blend with a complex and intriguing flavor profile.

For the man that likes to elevate the routine to the level of ritual, The Art of Shaving has products just for him. This bundle has all he needs for the perfect shave, including pre-shave oil, shaving cream, a shaving brush for applying the cream, and an after-shave balm. This kit might help him get a closer shave, reduce irritation, and prevent nicks and cuts. Plus, it carries a manly and aromatic sandalwood scent. A cleaner shave and a fragrant face? Sounds like a win to us.

You could help him get his hair in mint condition, courtesy of this shampoo by LGBTQIA+-owned brand Malin + Goetz. The 16-fluid ounce bottle contains an invigorating shampoo formulated to cleanse his hair and scalp without drying it out. The peppermint scent comes from natural, essential oils to give his hair an energizing aroma. This shampoo could be a great gift idea for gay men that enjoy indulgent grooming experiences.

From fancy cocktails to lavender lattes, you might be surprised by how many reasons your gay best friend finds to use this not so simple syrup. This 16-ounce bottle of deliciousness is made with fresh lavender flowers and cane syrup as the main ingredients, and then potentially something super addictive as a secondary ingredient. We’re kidding … or not, we’ll let all the empty bottles of Pink House Alchemy Syrup in our recycling be the judge. Also, this is another LGBTQIA+-owned business. Have you noticed a trend yet?

Does your gay friend watch Dr. Pimple Popper’s videos like they’re going out of style? Is he always searching for the newest skincare products available on the market? Pimple patches have been blowing up online this past year. While you could purchase them from any old company, you could also show your support by choosing these excellent patches from Peace Out, an LGBTQIA+-owned brand. The set includes four nose strips and four pore strips to suck all the gunk out of his skin.

For the gay man that equates self-care with skin-care, boy, do we have a product for him. This bar of soap is gently exfoliating and formulated with ingredients such as Jojoba oil, collagen, shea butter, sea kelp, and more. This LGBTQIA+-owned brand is also committed to the environment. This soap is palm-oil-free, vegan, and free of any chemical fragrances.

You might not be able to take your gay bestie on an around-the-world adventure to the Kawaii streets of Tokyo, but you could indulge him in a selection of unique Japanese snacks! This monthly subscription box includes 20-25 excellent Japanese snacks, ranging from sweet to savory to Bokksu-exclusive creations! Every purchase helps support an LGBTQIA+-owned business and the multiple family-run candy makers they partner with directly in Japan.

If your gay brother, bestie, or boyfriend is absolutely inseparable from his favorite pooch, he’s guaranteed to fall into puppy love with this travel carrier from the LGBTQIA+-owned brand Roverlund. The bag is compliant with carry-on airline restrictions and can fit most pets up to 20 pounds. He could also transform it into a car seat or travel bed for longer trips, and the handle doubles as a removable leash! If the innovative design wasn’t enough, the sleek form and durable materials might just make it his favorite bag ever.

A familiar rallying cry at pride parades and protests, “Be Gay, Do Crime,” is emblazoned across this classic dad hat. This hat could be an excellent pick for the gay man with big anti-establishment political energy or just an affinity for chic hats. It is available in stone, white, and pink with “Be Gay, Do Crime” embroidered in black on the front.

Cute socks? Check. A donation to a critical LGBTQ cause? Double Check. These fun socks help benefit the Trevor Project, a non-profit dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ teens. Plus, your gay friend gets a super cute pair of socks that he can feel extra prideful while wearing. They are made with ethically sourced, fairtrade, and vegan materials.

Everyone’s grooming habits are their own personal choice. However, just because someone chooses to shave below the belt doesn’t mean they have any idea what they’re doing. Do you remember that old rusty razor you saw sitting in his shower caddy? We’re begging you to throw that out and help him upgrade to the Manscaped Perfect Package 3.0 Kit. Manscaped is dedicated to assisting men in refining their downstairs grooming experience. This all-in-one kit includes an electric trimmer, ball deodorant (we didn’t know this was a thing, but now we’re convinced every male needs it), ball spritz, all-over body wash, 4-piece nail kit, shaving mats, and a sleek travel bag.

Coloring books had a major adult revival a few years ago, courtesy of their fantastic relaxation properties. If your gay pal is looking for a mindless activity to help him unwind after a long day at work or a terrible date, you might want to introduce him to this soothing trend. The book is crafted from recycled paper for the eco-conscious and includes over 50 beautiful illustrations to color to his heart’s content.

Will things work out with his next boyfriend? Will his co-worker stop with the subtle microaggressions? Will rompers for men actually ever become fashionable? This class covers all the basics he’ll need to start reading tarot cards, and it even comes with a beautifully illustrated deck of cards! While it may not help him predict the future, it could help him learn to listen to his intuition and channel his inner wisdom. Once he does, he’ll come to the realization that man-rompers will never go mainstream.

Did your son, brother, or pal recently come out to you? Even to the most accepting audience, this could still be a scary and emotional experience. Show them your support with the Free to Be Me LGBTQ+ journal, designed for young people anywhere along the gender and sexuality spectrum. It includes affirmation exercises, drawing plus coloring opportunities, and a whole load of self-load loaded into 192 pages. One of our favorite caring gifts for gay men here.

Was he feeling inspired to get crafty after seeing the iconic British Diver Tom Daley knitting away at the Olympics? What better way to dive into the world of arts and crafts than with this adorable DIY kit that helps him express his creative side and make a political statement. Love is love, and we’re ready to shout it from the rooftops! Or just cross-stitch it on this sweet embroidery hoop. This could also be fun for a crafty gay couple.

If he loves the toning and lengthening workout Yoga provides, but the only pose he knows by heart is savasana (resting pose), then he might need a little guidance for his next workout. This mat has over 100 stretches and yoga poses conveniently illustrated directly on the mat. Speaking of the mat, it is made of cork with an anti-slip backing, so he won’t be flying around the floor while he tries to transition to warrior three. It could be an excellent choice for your favorite yoga or pilates enthusiast.

Communication is critical in any relationship, whether it’s platonic, romantic, gay, or straight. However, not everyone is the most forthcoming with personal information, which could put undue strain on relationships. Alternatively, they might just be looking for an activity that encourages them to put their phones away and engage with each other. These cards dive into topics like intimacy, relationships, past, life, random, and about you with prompting questions designed to stimulate deep conversations. It could be an excellent choice for your boyfriend, partner, or a gay couple looking to mix up date night.

You could get them a basic art print from TJ Maxx that will probably get regulated to a guest bathroom, or you could gift your favorite couple an opportunity to get *creative*. This kit empowers your favorite couple to turn their intimate time into an artistic expression of love. It includes black, non-toxic paint, white cotton canvas, plastic sheeting (so they don’t make a mess), disposable slippers, and a body scrubber. Abstract expressionism never looked so sexy (sorry, not sorry, Jackson Pollock).

Another option for the skin-care aficionados on your shopping list, this gift set includes a selection of handcrafted bath and body products. They come in travel-friendly bottles for the gay man who is always on the go and are formulated with all-natural ingredients like goat’s milk, shea butter, essential oils, beeswax, and more. The products are tucked into a sweet wooden box for a rustic feel and easy wrapping.

We’ve had multiple friends rocking this jacket lately, and all of them looked freaking fabulous. This 80’s style throwback will, without a doubt, be his go-to jacket for any and all pride events. The unique off-center design and bold palette are guaranteed to be an eye-catcher, even in a sea of rainbow accessories.

This unique, personalized gift could make a meaningful wedding, civil ceremony, engagement, or anniversary present for your favorite couple. You can customize the dates, names, and even choose a location anywhere in the world for the heart-shaped map graphic.

You could choose from nearly 20 scents, such as champagne kisses, cabin in the woods, honeysuckle and jasmine, vanilla sandalwood, and more. You could also upgrade your selection from a nine-ounce candle to a 16-ounce candle and select your gift wrapping preference for an additional cost.