Holidays

27 Best Five Senses Gifts for 2024

Last Updated on Oct 3rd 2024
five senses gifts
Our editorial team recommends the best products through independent research, selection and careful review. If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. Prices are subject to change.

Wouldn't you love to give your loved ones five senses gifts to appeal to all of their senses at once? According to Science Direct, “Sensory information is processed according to perceptual attributes that can be strictly unimodal (e.g., color) or result from the combination of two or more sensory modalities (e.g., perception of object shape often combines visual and tactile information).”

That means that, often, we perceive through more than one sense at a time — like smelling the bacon before you taste it, or how you turn down the car radio for better night-driving vision.

A five senses gift is all about showing your loved ones how much you think about them — their desires, their needs, their preferences. Choose a little something to appeal to each of their five senses and put it together for a juicier gift than the typical bouquet or chocolates.

They don't have to just be romantic gifts, they can be for any person or event you want to celebrate. So, what do you put in a five senses gift? Here are 27 examples to help you astound and pamper your loved ones.

Jump to Section

Best Five Senses Gifts for Touch

1. Pottery Classes

They'll feel the clay beneath their fingertips as they sculpt in pottery classes! Local events might include pottery classes in Houston, pottery classes in Los Angeles or pottery classes in Minneapolis. Browse pottery classes near you and get your hands dirty with this perfect five senses gift for touch! If you're unsure which class they want to get, get them a Classpop! gift card so they can choose!

pottery classes five senses gift for touch
via Canva

2. Dance Classes

What are the five senses for Valentine's Day? Touch must be the first one on the list. Enjoy holding your dance partner — or let them enjoy holding you — when you give them the gift of dance classes!

Look for local events, like dance classes in Orlandodance classes in Denverdance classes in Seattledance classes near you or even online dance classes.

3. Paint and Sip

Anything to do with your hands can be a touch-related gift. If your loved one enjoys art, your gifts could include paint and sip in NYC, paint and sip in Colorado Springs, or paint and sip in Los Angeles.

Find paint and sip near you and use different modes of touch, from light, feathery brushstrokes to smearing paint with a wet sponge, to get your sense of touch tingling.

If painting isn't your thing, how about woodworking classes, glass blowing classes or sewing classes for hands-on, creative experiences?

4. Palm Reading

Some easy activities you could purchase for your loved one for five senses gifts of touch include a gift certificate for a manicure or pedicure and massages. Or, maybe a palm reading is more up your spiritually-minded loved one's alley.

5. Massage Oils or Soft Fabrics

Start with some massage oils and cashmere scarves or a silky robe. If your loved one is more practical, perhaps an energizing body wash, neck massage pillow or back massager.

Get to know your person more intimately. What kinds of fabrics and sensations do they enjoy? A soft stuffed toy or an anxiety-reducing weighted blanket make delightful five senses gift ideas for him or her for touch.

hand pouring massage oil into other hand
via Canva

Best Five Senses Gifts for Taste

6. Cooking Classes

Dip your finger into the gourmet gift pot by sending your loved one to a local cooking class! Some options include cooking classes in Sacramentocooking classes in Boston or cooking classes in Baltimore.

Explore cooking classes near you or even online cooking classes for a memorable and flavorful experience gift!

7. Beverage Vessels or Tastings

What could be better than five senses gifts for taste that involve your loved ones' drinks of choice? Beer mugs, shot glasses and bottles of spirits for those over the legal drinking age.

Take it a step further by inviting them to sip and swirl when you treat your loved ones to online mixology classes or virtual wine tastings. Break the mold with these thrilling world-class tasting experiences!

8. Foodie Gift Cards or Subscriptions

Subscription services and gift cards to their favorite eateries are one of the best options for foodies. Think Starbucks gift card, Hello Fresh, Dinnerly or a meat or wine subscription service. This would be an excellent opportunity to check out gifts for cocktail lovers. Have fun with it!

9. Snack Gift Basket With Unique Textures and Flavors

Impress your friends by doing something singular: fill gift bags with their favorite edible treats, like cookies, candy bars, collections of hot or savory sauces, and anything else that strikes their fancy.

If you'd rather select from pre-packaged gift baskets, choose from Hickory Farms gift baskets filled with all sorts of salty and sweet goodies.

hickory farms snack gift basket five senses gift
via Hickory Farms

10. Local or Homemade Goodies

Think outside of the box when it comes to locally sourced and luxury items. You could always buy something interesting and new at your local distillery or craft brewery, or you could purchase an artisan nut butter or gourmet olive oil for a sweet or savory stocking stuffer that makes their tastebuds sing.

Best Five Senses Gifts for Sight

11. Look for Clues in Online Puzzles

Delightful sights and enticing puzzles await your loved ones in virtual scavenger hunts or virtual escape room events. These can make fantastic five senses gifts for him or for her! Help them keep their sight and cognitive functions at their highest levels. Who doesn't love a brain teaser?

12. Watch Their Favorite Shows

There are many classics to choose from, like movie or theater tickets. Something a little newfangled might include paying for their streaming service subscription of choice, such as Hulu.

Does your special someone love sports? Tickets to a sporting event might be perfect five senses gift ideas for sight for him or her. Use sites like Vivid Seats to find the best seats in your price range.

13. See Through a New Lens

Photographs, sunglasses, books and magazines, those lovely wooden signs with famous quotes engraved on them, a watch, a houseplant — each of these would make fabulous five senses gifts for sight.

If you're looking for something a little more avant-garde, perhaps a movie projector or a vintage Polaroid would fit the bill. 

camera five senses gift for sight
via Canva

14. View Local Galleries

Check out your local art gallery. Perhaps purchase a stunning piece of jewelry. There are also less traditional and more exciting items, like color-changing fire packs!

15. Capture Special Sights

A lovely sunset cruise will certainly be a beautiful choice to enjoy with your loved ones. Other unusual ideas might include gel eye patches or paying for glasses that can shift functions for those who are visually impaired. Sentimental choices also include a scrapbook or a framed photo of you two together. 

Best Five Senses Gifts for Smell

16. Assemble a Bouquet

Here's a twist on a classic scent gift — rather than buying a bouquet of flowers, learn to make one yourself! Or let your loved one learn how by inviting them to a virtual flower arranging class. Create unforgettable aromas together. 

17. Scentbird Fragrance Subscription

Scentbird monthly fragrance subscription service is the perfect gift of scent. You can select from perfume or cologne or even candles and bath products.

Take the quiz to curate your personal scent profile and discover your signature scent. If you don't want to do a subscription, browse their shop for a one-time purchase.

scentbird perfume and cologne five senses gift for smell
via Scentbird

18. Visit a Botanical Garden

Be sure to pursue an activity that ensures your loved one is exposed to their favorite scents. Some ideas include garden shows at historic house museums and travel tickets to visit locations where their favorite aromas are produced.

For this idea, you could also plan something like an AirBnB with a crackling wood-burning fireplace, a Christmas Tree Farm or a destination known for its spices or flowers.

19. Artisan Soaps or Bath Bombs

Find ample soaps, bath bombs and other scented items when you browse unique soap brands like Western-themed Outlaw Soaps, Inc. or go the natural route with relaxing scents from Whispering Willow Soap. You could include an aftershave or purchase an essential oil diffuser for your loved one.

A spa set is also a luxurious way to ensure your loved one feels — and smells — pampered. Traditional items like cologne or perfume are popular, especially when you select their favorite, or yours for when they miss you.

20. Plant Growing Kit

Coming back to that potted herb concept, a do-it-yourself plant growing kit and a spice set for your cooking fiend loved ones will be five senses gifts that thrill.

Best Five Senses Gifts for Sound

21. Recording Session or Music Hall Tour

What is a good "hear" gift? A fun five senses gift idea for sound for her or for him could include booking a session in a recording studio or a tour of a famous music facility, like Carnegie Hall or The Grand Ole Opry. Galentine's day ideas is a great excuse for touring some hot music spots with your gal pals!

man recording music in a recording studio
via Canva

22. Music Player or Sound Machine

Sound gifts can easily include headphones, earbuds, Bluetooth or waterproof speakers, audiobooks, a portable music player, or a white noise machine. A record player and accompanying records might be fun gift ideas for sound for her that are a dream come true!

23. Podcast or Audiobook Subscription

A subscription to a podcast or auditory streaming service like Apple Music might be music to your loved ones' ears. Wind chimes are also thoughtful and resoundingly beautiful five senses gifts. 

24. Make a Mix-Tape

Travel back to the '80s and '90s with this throw-back sound gift. Create a fun mix tape or burn a CD playlist. You could also record a personal voicemail or a song you wrote for your person in a card or stuffed animal toy, save it on a USB or upload it to a URL — such fun sound gifts!

25. Concert Tickets

Concert tickets are the clear way to go here. Alternatively, you could buy a gift card for your loved one to spend on music (Apple, a local record store, etc.)

concert tickets five senses gift for sound
via Canva

Best Five Senses Gifts for All At Once

26. Handmade Gifts

What makes the best five senses gifts for him or for her, the best Valentine's Day gift ideas or just the most wonderful gifts to receive in general? Something customized or made by hand.

A hat knitted by you is something to see and touch, hear how the threads rub together, smell the wool or cotton fibers (probably shouldn't taste this one, though.) Customized pins and framed photos with friends are also marvelous gifts. 

27.  Datebox Club

There are plenty of five senses gifts or ideas that you could do with your loved one, so make it a joint outing! Whether you're looking for a friendly outing, Valentine's Day ideas or gifts for married couples, a five senses experience will help bring you closer together with your loved one. 

Keep up the sensual spirit with a monthly Datebox that delivers everything you need to explore your senses and your relationship for a romantic date night.

As far as packaging goes, one fun way to package these gifts together is in some fun five senses gift bags. You could place them in a basket with five senses gift quotes — one for each of the senses.

Another idea would be to wrap them in wrapping paper that has to do with each of the senses (wrapping paper with ears for sound, eyes for sight, etc., if you can find it). For experience gifts, you can get more creative, like wrapping a paint and sip voucher in a painting or brush set.

We hope you've found some inspiration to shower your loved one with the sweetest gifts that speak to their senses. 

For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!