As someone whose love language is gift giving, I try to choose presents that are both meaningful and sustainable. I’m always on a quest to find gifts that feel personal, support my local economy, and honor the planet.
While mass-produced items from big-box stores may seem more affordable and convenient, there are alternatives that won’t break the budget and bring lots of joy. What I love about Green Life is that gift giving is more accessible and personalized: you can mix and match bulk items, fill smaller jars to sample, pick exactly what you want, and even bring your own containers.
BYOGB: Build Your Own Gift Box
This month, Green Life is featuring a “Build Your Own Gift Box” station in-store. In our window display, you can pick out your assortment of jars or tins, label them, and fill them to your heart’s desire! Whether it be loose-leaf tea, body butter, eye cream, plant-based jelly, deodorant, and more, it’s a super flexible and budget-friendly way to assemble a truly custom gift.
Here is the ultimate Green Life 2025 gift guide, with ideas for all the types of people in your life, featuring both bulk and non-bulk picks, so you can go small or big!
Green Life’s 2025 Gift Guide
For The Teacher
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Bar Soaps – Each of Perennial Soaps’ moisturizing, cleansing bars are handmade in small batches. They’re Wisconsin-made, woman-owned, vegan, and palm oil-free. My personal favorites: Magnolia, Wanderlust, and Lovesick– for a perfect at-home spa day.
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Holiday Healing Hand Balm – After a long day of grading papers, teachers deserve a little hand therapy. This handmade balm is crafted on a solar-powered farm in Tennessee with organic, deeply nourishing ingredients.
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Swedish Dishcloth – A sustainable swap for paper towels, these absorbent sponge-like cloths soap up twenty times their weight and can be washed up to 200 times. Our dishcloths feature original designs by local Madison artists, including native Wisconsin flowers, bright cats, and more.
For The Person Who Loves To Host
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No Paper Towels – Available in patterns like vintage floral, forest friends, holiday dogs, and so many more! Choose a pre-made six-pack or build your own roll with mixed patterns at our “build your own roll” station.
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Clean Dream Multisurface Spray – This fragrant, hardworking cleaner cuts through grime on all nonporous surfaces, from countertops to bathroom fixtures. Sold both pre-bottled and in bulk, this spray is great for gifting full-size or in a small sample bottle.
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Modern Makers Candles – These candles are hand-poured, long-lasting, and made from 100% soy wax, offering a cozy, small-batch favorite for any home.
For the Mom Who Needs a Break
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Shower Steamers – Create an at-home spa with our shower steamers. Place one or two rounds on the shower floor; as they dissolve, they release essential oils for a soothing aromatherapy experience.
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Carrot and Pumpkin Seed Eye Cream – Packed with vitamins and botanicals, this gentle cream hydrates and protects the delicate under-eye skin. Buy it pre-packaged or fill a small jar in bulk for a sampler.
For the Dad Who “Never Wants Anything”
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Aftershave Balm – Prevent razor burn, calm ingrown hairs, and sooth skin with this naturally cooling balm made from plant oils, beeswax, peppermint, rosemary, and witch hazel.
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Safety Razor – This J&L stainless steel safety razor offers a sleek, durable, and low-waste alternative to disposable razors. Plus: a much smoother and more precise shave!
For the College Student
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Dry Shampoo – Perfect for busy study days. Our dry shampoo, packaged in a biodegradable shaker (or available in bulk!), absorbs oil and adds volume, and makes three-day hair look freshly washed. Pro tip: blend in with a makeup brush at the roots!
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Balmie – Running late to class? Our lip-to-lid Balmies are zero-waste, multi-use color crayons for lips, cheeks, and eyes. Packed with nourishing oils and antioxidants, they hydrate while adding a natural glow.
For the Person Who Loves Self Care
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Bubble Bath – Lightly scented and gentle for sensitive noses. Available in a glass bottle or in bulk for a smaller sample size, this formula uses cucumber extract and Vitamin B5 for a hydrating, soothing soak.
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Sugar Scrub – Our sugar scrub, a gentle exfoliant infused with organic sugar and herbal ingredients, is perfect for a well-deserved “everything shower!” Grab a full jar or a small bulk fill.
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Body Butter – A staff favorite. This lavender-vanilla blend is indulgently moisturizing and leaves skin feeling silky soft. Available pre-packaged or in bulk for a sweet mini gift.
For the Person Who Wants to Be Sustainable But Doesn’t Know Where to Start
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Deodorant – Switching from plastic to our refillable deodorant cream is one of the easiest, most effective sustainable swaps. Choose from scents like Lavender, Blue Tansy Rose, Rosemary Patchouli, and more. Available in full containers or fill a smaller one-ounce jar to sample.
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Tooth Tabs – A customer favorite. These waste-free toothpaste alternatives can be purchased in bulk, in a sample size of ten tabs, or in a full container.
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DIP Shampoo and DIP Conditioner Bar Minis – The switch from plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles couldn’t be easier! These travel-friendly minis smell amazing, lather beautifully, and leave hair feeling salon-fresh.
For the Coworker
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Mini Lotion Bar: A deeply moisturizing lotion bar from Zerra & Co, packaged in an adorable metal tin. Held together by beeswax, it melts with the warmth of your hands and lasts for a long time!
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Lip balm – Locally made in Wisconsin with coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. Bonus: it comes in a fully biodegradable tube and contains twice the product of a standard lip balm.
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Pop-up Sponge – You’re probably wondering how a sponge can be a good gift. It’s not too hard when it’s plant-based, biodegradable, and decorated with fun prints.
For the Coffee and Tea Lover
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Floating Tea Infuser: Sleek, portable, and perfect for loose-leaf tea. This tea infuser floats in any drinkware (perfect for on-the-go!) and makes steeping simple, both for hot and iced drinks.
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Loose-Leaf Tea: Explore our wide range of herbal, black, and green teas both in-store or online. There’s a blend for every palate!
We wish you a happy, restful, and joy-filled holiday season!
