The Uncommon Goods reviews are in! And spoiler—our editors love this gifting marketplace.
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I’m a Gifting Expert—Here’s Why Uncommon Goods Is My Go-To for One-of-a-Kind Presents
Updated on May 26, 2025
Yes, the saying is true: It’s better to give than it is to receive. And as someone whose love language is gift-giving, there’s no thrill quite like finding the perfect present.
I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make those “OMG, I love it!” moments happen on birthdays, holidays or just because. Most notably: Listen and take notes throughout the year to uncover what the recipient likes, wants or needs. But my secret weapon isn’t a learned hack or a big budget—it’s a website.
When Christmas, an anniversary or a birthday rolls around, Uncommon Goods is almost always my first stop. This year alone, I’ve bought a banana vase for a friend, an essential oil diffuser bracelet for my mother-in-law and a punch needle kit for my sister. The wide selection of out-of-the-box gift ideas can’t be beat. Here’s everything you need to know about my go-to gifting destination—including a few things you might want to skip.
Editor's Pick
Uncommon Goods
Find the perfect present at this unique gifting destination our editors love. It's packed with fun, creative finds for everyone on your list.
What is Uncommon Goods?
Uncommon Goods is an online retailer specializing in, well, the uncommon! The site has been around since 1999. And, at any given time, you’ll find a mix of highly giftable products and experiences that suit a wide range of interests.
The brand sources its products in three ways: via a buying team, submissions from creatives and an in-house product development team. The goal is to find products that spark creativity and are useful, beautiful or handmade—or all three.
Uncommon Goods is B-Corp certified and holds its products to specific environmental standards. It carries goods that utilize recycled or sustainable materials and all items are free of leather, feathers or fur. Plus, each time you place an order, you can feel good knowing that a portion of each sale benefits the brand’s Better to Give program, too.
That said, Uncommon Goods doesn’t have the same quick-turn benefits we’ve come to expect from big-box retailers, like fast, free shipping or frequent sitewide sales.
How We Tested Uncommon Goods
To date, Taste of Home editors have tried dozens of Uncommon Goods products. It’s one of our top destinations for researching and reviewing housewarming gifts, Advent calendars and more. Plus, many of our editors (myself included!) turn to Uncommon Goods when shopping for their own loved ones. Here are our thoughts on the brand’s core categories.
Gifts
The creme de la creme of Uncommon Goods is its wide selection of gifts. Whether you’re shopping for a personalized present for your partner or a birthday gift for your BFF, there’s something for everyone. Choose to shop by occasion, interest, recipient or price, among other categories.
While some items are on the pricey side, everything we’ve tried has been high-quality. Since each product is hand-picked by an Uncommon Goods team member, it’s easy to shop with confidence—especially compared to mass merchants who utilize third-party sellers.
Many gifts stand out amidst our testing. The first is a set of stadium map glasses. This handy drinkware aligns practicality with creative personalization—at a fair price, to boot! My husband loved his set of MLB ballpark map glasses honoring his hometown team, the San Diego Padres, with a map of Petco Park. As a now-Wisconsinite, this gift is equally handy and nostalgic.
“I love reminiscing on days at the ballpark with my dad,” he explains. “I think of those memories every time I pour a drink. Plus, the glasses are good quality and wide enough to fit even the biggest ice cubes.” If rocks glasses (or baseball) aren’t their thing, you can also find this duo in pint glass styles and NFL or NHL themes.
We Tried It
MLB Ballpark Map Glasses
Practical, meet personal. This fun gift infuses a beloved pastime with an everyday staple.
We were also wow-ed by Hugimals during our weighted stuffed animal testing. “My 22-month-old daughter sat on the sofa and cuddled him instantly, and with his outstretched arms, it felt like Charlie hugged her right back,” says editor Cher Checcio, who also appreciated the toy’s easy care instructions. “If you know anything about toddlers, then you know they love to throw toys and drag their plushies all over the floor,” she says. “Removing the weighted insert was a bit of a task as it needs to be unbuttoned from the inside before washing the body. But after that, cleaning was a breeze.”
We Tried It
Hugimals
Anxiety who? Kids (and kids at heart!) will love these snuggly pals who feel like they're hugging back.
Uncommon Goods has plenty of gifts for outdoor enthusiasts, as well. My mom is an avid gardener, and one of the highlights of her summer is watching hummingbirds flit to and fro. I knew she would love this ferris wheel feeder with three feeding stations. I ordered it for her birthday and was shocked by the quality. The glass on this feeder is very thick, and the hand-painted details add a delicate charm. (The red and pink colorways will help attract your feathered friends, too.) I also love that the jars easily lift out of the metal ferris wheel frame for easy cleaning.
Ferris Wheel Hummingbird Feeder
The perfect gift for the bird watcher, this sturdy feeder is adorable and made with quality materials.
Food and Drink
Uncommon Goods probably isn’t on your radar for the best food gifts, but it should be. Like everything else the brand offers, these items skew on the unusual side—think global eats or DIY kits that let you learn a new skill. Also, all of their offerings are shelf-stable, so expect to find nonperishables like tea, spices and chocolates rather than fresh gifts like fruit or cheese.
For my birthday, I received a pretzel and beer cheese kit from a friend. I had been itching to make homemade soft pretzels for years, and this kit gave me everything I needed to stop procrastinating—including most of the ingredients. Plus, the included recipe card ensured I can make these treats again. It was the perfect way to learn a new skill.
We Tried It
Pretzel and Beer Cheese Kit
Expand your baking abilities and enjoy tasty treats with this fun soft pretzel-making kit. Our tester found the ingredients fresh and the instructions easy to follow.
And when you need something a little harder, the brand has plenty of spirited gifts, too. (Just be prepared to BYOB; the brand does not ship actual alcohol.) “I pulled out the spiced old fashioned cocktail kit at a party I hosted, and everyone agreed that it made the best old fashioned we’ve ever tried,” editor Emily Way says. “The three-chile simple syrup gives just the right amount of kick, while the included chocolate bitters give the drink a much-needed depth. Bonus: It made enough cocktails for eight party guests!”
We Tried It
Old Fashioned Kit
Imbibe in style with a cocktail kit that goes beyond basic bitters. Chile-infused simple syrup, anyone?
Subscriptions
Want to send a gift that keeps on giving? Enter: gift of the month clubs. These subscriptions send curated packages to recipients for a predetermined amount of time.
Our editors have tested over 100 services, and Uncommon Goods stands out with its “by mail” subscriptions. These clubs skip the fancy packaging and instead send history, urban legends and even recipes via good ol’ snail mail. This makes them easy on the budget and an ideal gift for those people who seem to already have everything.
Emily tried the recipes by mail subscription and felt like she got a peek back in time by way of Emily Dickinson’s black cake recipe. “When my envelope arrived, I was impressed with the reproduction print’s quality—it felt like I was holding a piece of history!” she explains. “Given Emily Dickinson’s gorgeous, exaggerated handwriting, I was grateful that they included a recipe transcription. This came printed on the back of a document detailing an explanation of the recipe’s history as related to Emily, clarifications on measurements and a few other details about where the recipe originated.”
We Tried It
Recipes by Mail Subscription
Need a gift for a history buff? This subscription sends vintage recipes and information about the people behind them.
Uncommon Goods also offers several standard subscriptions that include a box of goodies every month. I’ve tested nearly a dozen coffee clubs that ship beans directly to your door, but I was excited to see some variety in the coffee connoisseur’s subscription. Subscribers receive things like coffee-tasting kits, nitro cold brew makers or coffee world tours.
I received the latter, a limited-roast global coffee sampler, from Onyx Coffee Lab. Now, this came in the smartest packaging I’ve ever seen. The brown shipping box unfolds to include a ton of coffee facts, like how to dial in an espresso shot and what grind size matches your filter/drip method. Then, on each end of the box were four pouches of coffee, labeled with tasting notes and a brief overview of the bean’s history. While the sampler is pricey for the 2 pounds of coffee you receive, it’s a great way to try new roasts without committing to an entire bag.
Coffee Connoisseur's Subscription
The coffee enthusiast will love trying new beans, expanding their brew tools and learning more about java with this versatile subscription.
I also tried a self-care subscription. This club is ideal for anyone in need of some R&R and at-home pampering. Expect to receive items like shower steamers, body creams, face masks, essential oil sprays and bath bombs.
I received a shower steamer gift set one month and a head-to-toe spa gift set another. Both options were beautifully packaged and contained a wide assortment of goodies. I was really impressed with the array of scents, especially in the shower steamer set. And, as someone with sensitive skin, I loved that all the body products are handmade with natural ingredients like essential oils, cocoa butter and beeswax.
Self-Care Gift of the Month Subscription
Pamper a loved one (or yourself!) with this self-care subscription. It sends everything you need for a spa-like experience at home.
Uncommon Experiences
If you’re shopping for a minimalist (or anyone who’s not big on more “stuff”), Uncommon Goods also offers interactive experiences. With options for cooking, mixology, astrology, crafting and so much more, these online classes allow participants to go deep and learn a new skill. Sessions are typically held over Zoom, and you’ll receive a kit in the mail with supplies and any necessary preparation instructions.
Emily tried the trade secrets coffee tasting class with her husband in May 2025. “While I’m pretty knowledgeable about brews, my husband isn’t. This was such a fun and informative class for both of us,” Emily says. The experience came with five glass tasting cups and five sample sizes of different blends and brews. “The pacing of the class is perfect. We were able to enjoy five different coffees, learn how to detect different flavor profiles and were educated on the ways in which the pros taste their own coffees. Plus, each box comes with a second sample size of each, so you can enjoy the coffees after learning more about them.”
All said, Emily recommends this class as a gift for coffee lovers or anyone looking for an at-home date night. She was wowed by the instructor’s knowledge, too. “The Q&A at the end with Julien Langevin is worth the price of admission itself,” Emily says. “The information that they share and the way they guide the class is such a treat.”
Trade Secrets Coffee Tasting Class
Enjoy a blind taste test of different coffees during this instructor-led experience.
Content Director Nicole Doster also tried a decorative focaccia experience, which is unfortunately no longer available. Nicole had a great experience, appreciating the pacing and instruction. The focaccia class was hosted by an expert chef, but a moderator helped with screen-sharing and dropping instructions for seamless participation.
“My breadmaking class was a fun way to try something new,” Nicole says. “I appreciated that the class was catered to all skill levels, so no one felt left behind. I loved all the little tips the instructor was able to share—from knife skills to simplifying cooking terms. My one critique, which I think was unavoidable with the type of class I selected, is that there was a lot of prework to do ahead of time. It’s really important to read through all of the documentation they send over, as mine had time-sensitive steps (proofing the dough) that needed to be completed ahead of the class, which I almost missed!”
Seasonal Items
In addition to evergreen offerings, Uncommon Goods has plenty of seasonal items around the holidays. Our team has tested several Advent calendars, including 12 days of hot sauce and a book lover’s Advent calendar.
We find that, like many Advent calendars, the value doesn’t always align with the price point. The ornament countdown, for example, was packed with plenty of activities for kids (and kids at heart). It was a unique offering at a fair price point that our tester loved.
The 12 days of nuts and hot sauces, on the other hand, were pretty pricey for what you get. We loved some features, like the packaging of the nuts, but overall felt the experience wasn’t as good as some of the other food Advent calendars we tested. The book countdown was similar. It offered cute supplies like bookmarks and stickers but didn’t live up to its $30 price tag.
Before splurging, we suggest carefully reading the item’s product description so you know exactly what you’re getting. To date, this is the only product category on Uncommon Goods that hasn’t lived up to the hype.
The Bottom Line
If you can’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of Uncommon Goods. I genuinely love the site—yes, as a shopping editor. But also as a consumer who enjoys giving out-of-the-box gifts to friends and family. Almost everything I’ve tried has been high-quality.
There’s no denying that Uncommon Goods products are on the pricey side—especially considering the brand doesn’t run frequent sales or offer big discounts. (The brand typically has sales a few times a year, and Uncommon Perks members are always first to know!) But I feel good knowing that my purchase is sustainable and even gives back to important causes. Plus, the brand’s strict product sourcing guidelines ensure that what I’m adding to my cart supports artisans and small businesses.
FAQ
Is Uncommon Goods legit?
Yes! This online retailer is a one-stop shop for quality, thoughtful gifts.
What is Uncommon Perks?
If you’re a frequent Uncommon Goods shopper, it’s worth joining the brand’s loyalty program, Uncommon Perks. Membership costs just under $15 for your first year, but you get access to $5 credits, free standard shipping, double donations to Better to Give partners and more.
Does Uncommon Goods have sales?
Sometimes. The brand runs sitewide sales only a few times a year. But they do have an ever-changing sale section with markdowns. Sign up for updates and you can also score a $5 Uncommon Credit. And, if you’re an Uncommon Perks member, each domestic order ships free.
Does Uncommon Goods ship internationally?
Yes! Uncommon Goods works with Flow to ship internationally. All orders stem from the brand’s Brooklyn distribution center.
Why You Should Trust Us
Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski has been covering home products, kitchen gear and other household essentials f0r nearly a decade. Her work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Family Handyman, Reader’s Digest and, of course, Taste of Home. She is an experienced product tester who has reviewed hundreds of items, ranging from Christmas trees to ice cream subscriptions. She is also our resident gifting expert, covering gifts for crafters, wedding gifts and more.
