A suitable gift, which is appreciated and perhaps even original.
Don't go empty handed to Valentine's Day greetings on February 14th, Valentine's Day.
In the year of ideas combined with non-toxic love, to be contrasted with all the situations of 'addiction' that are harmful to couples, the classic flowers, perfumes, lingerie as well as original accessories, including surprisingly household appliances, but in the purse, resist of the gifts for the anniversary in the 2024 edition, feelings of self-love emerge before that of a couple, such as being indulgent with oneself, feeling good about oneself and accepting one's defects.
The ongoing change is highlighted by German research, now published in Personal Relationships, conducted on a sample of 200 couples in their 30s (62% in a relationship, 25% married, 10% in open relationships and 2% engaged). %).
“In romantic relationships, appreciation grows towards those who have a caring, kind and attentive attitude towards themselves first and foremost.
This does not equate to a selfish person but to someone who is more open to taking care of others because these characteristics are elements that predispose to greater attention towards the partner and therefore to happiness2, explain the authors who recall how love relationships are influenced by models cultural, relational, sex and gender roles.
Meanwhile, the inspiration for the 'I love you' message is wasted on social media already ready with emoticons, phrases, drawings and videos with romantic or funny dedications ready to send your arrows via mobile phone while the US edition of the Huffington Post publishes a ranking of the 65 best inspirations for love letters to be delivered together with a beautiful bouquet of wild roses - very difficult to find in February.
This is followed by hundreds of rankings of the best luxury or 'just thinking' gifts from flowers, to perfumes, to lingerie, to the most original accessories, to dinners and relaxing breaks to take together.
With a new phenomenon: on Valentine's Day the love for practicality also blossoms.
In fact, the Idealo platform certifies that this month the selections of kitchen robots and mixers and blenders increased respectively by +131% and +102%, followed by pasta machines (+32%) and espresso coffee machines ( +24%).
It increases by +113% - compared to the same period in 2022 - also for the perfumes and beauty kits, hair straighteners and beard accessories category.
Here is a selection of new ideas and original gifts in the 2024 edition.
Between classics and novelties for Valentine's Day, from flowers to couples' cooking
The fragrances of
love Original perfumes such as those for the hair where the partner will certainly stick his nose, the new wild rose fragrance (in the trend of flowers to give as a gift on Valentine's Day) and Mirsalehi honey 'Honey Infused Hair Perfume' from Gisou brand from Amsterdam.
Unisex fragrances for the partner who is attentive to sustainability and the environment (and with a good quality-price ratio) the new fragrances resulting from the green chemistry of the Italian brand Mavive 'Monotheme Natural'.
The bottle of the new fragrance 'Maria Callas', by The Merchant of Venice, dedicated to the centenary of the birth of the 'divine' and based on floral notes, is very original.
Also from the same perfume house is the new eau de Parfum Gold Regatta, dedicated to the historic Venetian regatta.
Luxury packaging and 'brackish' fragrance with red seaweed accents, fruity, with woody notes of amber and vanilla.
The Lush Perfume Library (in Florence, Rome, at the Duomo in Milan and with corners in the stores) offers a hypnotic journey through cult fragrances and new limited editions for Valentine's Day, such as New Romantics, the latest addition, a balance between citrus notes of wild sweet orange and a warm and spicy base of allspice.
Inspired by art, poetry and culture, the refined fragrances of the English brand are made entirely in house, an exception in the world of perfumery, mixing the best essential oils and absolutes and each has a story to tell.
The Valentine's Day collection also includes the famous bath bombs, obviously heart-shaped and in a gourmand version reminiscent of hamburgers (vegan though!).
Aroma-Zone, a French brand for natural care and well-being, offers original ideas for all budgets such as the 'sensuality kit' to create a vanilla candle ideal for couples' massages, or sensual, relaxing and healing massage oils with natural and organic essential oils.
The Lancôme maison offers various ideas for the occasion.
These include a limited edition dedicated to Valentine's Day with a new design covered in velvety hearts for the iconic lipstick L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte and a calendar with 14 surprises selected while waiting for the most romantic day of the year containing make-up, skincare and fragrances in travel size or full size, including La Nuit Trésor, the most romantic fragrance of the house.
Red roses are the universal symbol of love and within Gisou's hair fragrance, Honey Infused Hair Perfume with Wild Rose which contains the romantic and sensual scent of Mirsalehi Wild Rose and the sweet notes of Mirsalehi Honey, which together with Argan oil with nourishing action, is both fragrance but also hydration, making hair shiny and soft. From Kami by Rippotai Limited Edition x Pink Lady,
Lingerie and accessories in an I love you key
Among lingerie, the dedicated collection by Ysabel Mora, a Spanish brand that aims to design the female body to enhance it in all its forms.
Among the most original gifts are also fashionable garments and unusual accessories for style and the home.
For the occasion, the Italian fashion house Marni, specialized in luxury with an eclectic style, offers a Valentine's selection for her and for him.
Or Dalfilo - digital start up born in 2021 from a Bergamo textile shop - which for the occasion created the 'Ric(amami)' line: satin or percale pillowcases customizable with embroidery: Heart - Hello love - Sweet dreams - Cupid.
Among the gifts that surprise (and for all budgets) also the creations of Candyslab: from the heart-shaped LED sign to the mirror in the shape of lips (and tongue) to the personalized mobile phone holder with beads, from rings with hearts, lightning bolts and others typical symbols of love to 'Candy Kiss' lamps to Kiss thermal water bottles (on candyslab.com).
There's also the Dyson Airwrap styler in the new Complete Long Diffuse configuration, which includes the new diffuser and large round volumizing brush, and in the Complete Long version in the special edition Ceramic Pop.
To celebrate Valentine's Day, the maison offers a special selection of Valentino Garavani accessories: from One Stud XL and Freedots sneakers, to the iconic Locò bag;
the protagonist of the selection is the VLogo Moon bag in Rosso Valentino, with the golden VLogo detail and the crescent shape.
The famous heart-shaped graphics of the internationally renowned artist and muralist James Goldcrown, the iconic "Love Wall", decorate some of Skechers' most loved models to show off or give as gifts during the most romantic period of the year.
White, pink, red and gold are the dominant colors for these sneakers with a romantic soul that do not give up on guaranteeing comfort and support for the foot at every step.
It's the new Skechers x JGoldcrown collection.
Sweet, tasty gifts and couple cooking:
Charlotte Dusart, the Belgian chocolatier, founder of the chocolate line of the same name and owner of the Milanese boutique in Via Eustachi, has created Lettre D'amour, a collection in an elegant 'postal package' containing hearts-pralines and a chocolate letter, in a limited edition .
The package (beige paper but with stamps with the symbols of love) is delivered to the recipient's home with messages from the lover.
To celebrate the feast of lovers, the temple of Milanese fine gastronomy, Peck, also offers ideas for special thoughts: a 'chest' containing heart-shaped pralines, or a heart-shaped mousse, single portion, with exotic flavors and thoughtful aftertastes to surprise.
The hand-decorated 'I love you' chocolate bar is also original.
La Perla di Torino, in the shadow of the Mole since 1992, has also prepared two sweet creations: heart-shaped pralines filled with chocolate truffles and 'Fluido dell'amore' gianduiotti enclosed in special cases.
The creativity of Iginio Massari 'Alta Pasticceria' is also surprising and takes lovers by the throat.
The limited edition heart-shaped cake, the new raspberry cremino with a heart of raw almonds and vanilla and a raspberry chocolate coating.
Furthermore, heart-shaped pralines and jellies such as the heart-shaped tart.
And there's also the Valentine's Day husband.
In terms of 'flavours for couples', the initiatives organized by cooking schools spread across the peninsula are also multiplying, such as in Rome where Chef Gourmet's 'Couple's cooking for Valentine's Day' includes courses in pastry making, ethnic cuisine (Chinese, Thai , Japanese) and local flavors such as pizza and panzerotti to treat yourself and make for two.
And for those who organize Valentine's Day dinner at home or for those who are passionate about tables set according to current trends, we would like to point out the Italian brand Pintinox (by Pinti Inox Spa) which for the occasion suggests 'mise en place' with special decorations and offers new bronze-coloured cutlery, 'Baguette Alchimique Bronze' which creates a magical and warm effect at the table.
A romantic and original idea is to prepare a surprise breakfast: Schoenhuber has designed a selection of accessories to start the day with an extra dose of sweetness and make your soulmate feel even more special.
Green initiatives:
For Valentine's Day the Treedom company, dedicated to the planting of trees for agroforestry projects in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe), proposes to participate in the planting of trees in pairs among mangroves, banana trees, coffee, orange and leucene trees (yes can book on the platform).
Accessories:
From Trust there is a compact wireless mouse with Yvi FX color-changing LED lighting in shades of pink.
The best gift for Valentine's Day?
There's nothing like a trip!
Out to celebrate Valentine's Day
Romantic dinners and experiences are multiplying in the capital such as at the Rome Cavalieri (A Waldorf Astoria Hotel), aperitifs tailored to the occasion and the cocktail created for the occasion by the head bartender Angelo Severini, the Raspberry Fizz , with notes of raspberry, prosecco and gin, and dinner with a menu to stimulate the senses.
Or, at the hotel's Cavalieri Grand Spa Club, you can book the 'couple's cabin' for a regenerating relaxation break.
Special aperitifs and snacks in Rome also at the NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali at the Rooftop Cocktail Bar, with a wonderful view.
Still in Rome, the Aleph Rome Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, a few steps from the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and Villa Borghese, offers a special program that includes wellness packages, Hammam and indoor swimming pool included, romantic dinners and special events like 'Le Petit Chef, a multi-sensory show loved especially by young audiences.
At Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá in Rome the Spa by Clarins & My Blend is the romantic heart of the structure and offers special treatments and rituals for couples. Once the wellness program is over, we move to the Amaro Lobby Bar & Lounge, for a toast with a selection of special cocktails dedicated to lovers.
In Venice (with a botanical garden of over 2000 m2 and a private pier) the NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi offers a stay in the Presidential Duplex Suite overlooking the Venice lagoon.
In Verona, 'Vista Verona' stands out, a 5-star luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the city which offers an experience in the internal spa with a couple's massage with Biologique Recherce products.
A romantic escape also in Montecatini Terme, at the Palazzo BelVedere (5 star hotel).
Sleeping inside a snowcat and surrounded by snow-capped mountains is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience that has become a reality for a few years in Valmalenco: there is the "Two hearts on the track" suite, located at high altitude and built in inside of a snowcat.
After taking the Snow Eagle cable car which takes tourists to an altitude of 2,000 metres, guests are accompanied by a snowmobile which, after a journey through silent woods, arrives at the top of Alpe Palù.
The suite is located right here and offers its guests an intimate and unique stay: the double bed is positioned in front of a glass wall overlooking the Bernina peaks while inside the bathroom there is a designer tub.
Another destination is a place where nature manifests itself in its most romantic form: in Abruzzo, Lake Scanno has a heart shape and the deep blue of its waters have always characterized the body of water on the Apennine mountains .
If you add to this the snow-capped peaks of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, here is the destination to spend a romantic Valentine's Day.
For a couple's weekend, on Agriturismo.it and CaseVacanza.it - the Feries portals - you can choose to stay in the Agriturismo Miralago, whose rooms overlook the splendid waters or, for the more active, prefer the proximity to the ski lifts in a cozy apartment, like in Revisondoli.
Place of Charme Art Hotel Villa Agape is a historic location in Florence for a Renaissance Valentine's Day: it is equipped with a unique park of its kind in Florence, created at the request of the Duchess of Aosta, characterized by an embellished Italian garden from rare plants and flowers and themed experiences are also organized in the workshops of Florentine artisans such as Scarpelli Mosaici, which since the 1970s has carried on the tradition of mosaic in semi-precious stones, an ancient art that flourished in the sixteenth-century Florence of Ferdinando I De ' Medici, or at the historic Minobossi leather goods shop, with the possibility of learning about the processing of leather products.
In Milan, Acquaworld, the only water park in Italy open all year round with swimming pools and indoor and outdoor attractions, on the occasion of Valentine's Day transforms into a romantic location, for the occasion it opens at 5.00 pm and closes at 00.30 am, between bubbles and jets of water, cascades of red hearts, red roses and soft lights.
And then on the panoramic terraces, you can dine by candlelight.
Furthermore you can have an exclusive ceremony including: scrub and savonage, Tibetan bells, Aufguss sauna.
Where to admire love-themed works of art
ranging from the El Mundo nace en cada beso mural in Barcelona to Canova's Cupid and Psyche kept in Paris, from The Lovers of Ain Sahkri kept in London to Rodin's Eternal Spring in Lisbon, up to Klimt's Kiss in Vienna (source of Vueling analysis).
Proposals tailored for Valentine's Day at Club Med which offers a Polynesian massage in the Maldives, an immersion in the history and nature of the Sainte Anne marine park in the Seychelles, up to Sicily, for a trekking session to discover the Madonie Mountains , a UNESCO heritage site, among flowers, monumental trees and medieval villages.
Special destinations for February, the month of lovers: from admiring the New York City skyline from the highest point of the city, from The Edge terrace, to jumping from the longest 'zip line' in the world in Ras Al Khaimah, renamed the Emirate of nature (40' from Dubai airport).
From discovering the sets of romance films shot in Philadelphia to the wine tour in Alabama to Marrakech in the romantic 18th century Dar Darma boutique riad in the heart of the medina.
For sporty couples, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Costa Mujeres (Mexico), perhaps staying at the TRS Coral Hotel, a 5-star resort for adults only, in the collection of exclusive hotels of The Leading Hotels of The World.
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