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Best Hostess Gifts (Zero Waste)

Sustainable Home

Last Updated on December 7, 2023

We have gathered a list of the best hostess gifts to say “thank you” in a zero waste way!

These hostess gift ideas are the perfect way to let her know that you appreciate the invite! And you can choose these last minute hostess gift ideas when you don’t have much time to plan.

best hostess gift ideas

hostess thank you gifts

I strongly believe in these best hostess gifts. If you’re going to someone’s house or attending a party, you should bring something to express your gratitude and that is where these hostess thank you gifts are ideal!

In true zero waste fashion, these hostess gift ideas should be useful or consumable. 

This isn’t going to be a super long blog post. Just a few of my favorite ideas because I really don’t like showing up to parties empty handed. Having said that, I love leaving parties empty handed! 

I do not like party favors. I am not in favor of the favors. I think party favors are kind of odd. I’ve never once thought, “Ooo, a party favor. I can’t wait to bring that home.”

My reaction is normally, “Ooo, a party favor… going to figure out how to ‘accidentally’ leave this somewhere in the house.” 

I’m sure there are exceptions to the rule, but I haven’t come across any. Let me know in the comment section below if there’s a party favor you have absolutely adored.

Of course, if I were invited to some super swanky party and they were handing out gold watches, my tune might change. However, I doubt I will ever be invited to a party like that.

best hostess gifts

The best hostess gifts, in my opinion, are those that the recipient can truly enjoy! Not put the hostess gift in a cupboard and forget about it.

wine: 

Wine is one of the best hostess gifts ever! I love bringing wine over to parties. It’s simple, easy, and typically a welcome edition. Justin and I are members of several local wineries. Living near Napa does have its benefits. We head to Napa every couple of months to pick up our shipments. We go with Nala, we taste new wines, and it’s always a blast! 

I ordered one of these boxes from Winc*, and the wines inside came naked! No foil around the top. Keeping wine on hand makes this my go-to hostess gift. It’s easy, it’s local, and it’s tasty!Ā 

flowers: 

Another one of my favorite thoughtful hostess thank you gifts is flowers. If the party is on a Saturday, you can bet I’m going to bring some plastic free flowers. The farmers’ market has several flower vendors. Many of the flowers are sold without plastic wrap. 

Since the flowers are pretty wet, I typically have them wrap them in one sheet of newsprint. I think it’s adorable and slightly rustic. Plus, it’s totally zero waste. 

woman with flowers

fresh bread: 

Is there anything better than a loaf of freshly baked bread? You can head down to the bakery and pick one up in your own cloth bag to keep it zero waste, or you can always bake some yourself. Either way, it’s one of the best last minute hostess gift ideas because you can truly wait until the day of the party.

Check out one of my favorite bread recipes

olive oil: 

Olive oil is a great addition to a loaf of bread or a great stand alone hostess gift. I especially enjoy bringing locally infused olive oil. Amphora Nueva is one of my favorite shops in the bay. They have some of the tastiest infused oils. 

Plus, you can bring your clean bottles back for a refill. See what I did there? I infused a little bit of zero waste into their life. 

plants: 

Super easy last minute hottest gift idea! I love bringing plants to housewarming parties. Nothing says welcome home like a plant, baby!

If you buy plants from a local nursery, you can turn the plastic pots back in! 

woman with plants

frequently asked questions

what else makes a good hostess thank you gift?

Anything that is homemade like food or crafts. Home-grown fruits and vegetables, lotions, soaps, and anything else you make yourself! Even a tin with freshly baked cookies is a great hostess thank you gift.

is there anything I shouldn’t bring?

You shouldn’t take an overly expensive gift. It can make the host feel uncomfortable, and odds are it’s not zero waste anyway! Instead, stick with thoughtful gifts that make them feel special instead of commercially packed nonsense they may not even want.

What are some of you favorite hostess gifts?  

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  1. I recently ran into Napa Soap co, which has amazing drink themed soaps. The one I got was wrapped in wax paper and I thought that would be a great idea for a bridal shower/ baby shower party favor.

  2. I received a reusable glass container with bulk tea at a bridal shower! it was very cute and appropriate for the bride.

  3. You and I are on similar wave lengths. I give my homemade bread too šŸ™‚ and people always love it. I wrap mine either in newspaper or sometimes I buy a cotton tea towel to wrap it up with. I also give ‘breakfast for the next day’ (sometimes it’s coffee and bread or a quick bread; sometimes it’s one of my homemade jams and bread). I also like to give plants or flowers from our farmers market. I sometimes make cookies and give those in a mason jar.