Gifting is no longer just about buying something and handing it over. Today, consumers are looking for gifts that carry a sense of thought, individuality and emotional connection. From personalised products to curated experiences, the idea of gifting is becoming increasingly centred around understanding the person behind the present. This shift is particularly visible in India, where festivals and special occasions are creating new opportunities for brands to make gifting more meaningful, memorable and personal.
In India, gifting is evolving from a simple exchange of goods into a more personal and meaningful expression of relationships, memories and individual preferences. At IRIS Home Fragrances, we have witnessed this shift firsthand, with consumers increasingly looking for gifts that feel thoughtful, relevant and naturally become part of the recipient’s everyday life.
Personalised gifting today is about understanding the individual behind the gift. It is about choosing something that genuinely resonates with the person receiving it. Home fragrances lend themselves particularly well to this evolution because scent is deeply personal. A fragrance can evoke a memory, reflect a personality, influence a mood or transform the ambience of a home.
We are embracing this shift by enabling consumers to discover and curate fragrances based on their preferences, moods and occasions. Our belief is simple: consumers should be able to discover something that feels truly their own- a fragrance that reflects who they are and how they want their spaces to feel. Whether it is a calming scent for moments of relaxation or an invigorating fragrance that energises a space, fragrance is increasingly becoming an extension of personal identity.
Consumers are moving beyond conventional gifting choices and looking for something that feels thoughtful without being difficult to select or use. The right fragrance can offer that balance - personal yet effortless, meaningful yet practical, and seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
Looking ahead, I believe the volume of gifting will matter far less than the thought behind it. As consumers become more discerning, brands will need to understand not just what people buy, but why they buy it and whom they are buying it for. The opportunity lies in creating experiences that are personal, purposeful and memorable.
This is the direction in which IRIS Home Fragrances is committed to shaping the future of gifting, moving from simply giving a product to creating a more personal experience that stays with the recipient long after the occasion has passed.
The Indian consumer is increasingly looking beyond the product itself. We are seeing a clear shift towards gifts and purchases that carry a personal meaning, something that reflects the relationship, thought or emotion behind the gesture.
At Umbrashield, this has been particularly interesting to observe because our products are rooted in an everyday need: protection from UV exposure. As a startup building a category around physical sun protection, we initially looked at our UV Shield, UV Jacket and UV Scarf primarily through the lens of function. But customer behaviour is showing us that function and emotion can coexist.
For occasions such as Raksha Bandhan, we have started receiving requests to personalise our UV Scarves with messages for brothers and loved ones. Some customers want a simple note around staying safe while being constantly on the move; others choose warmer, more affectionate messages around keeping someone protected and cared for.
What stands out is that the product itself is only one part of the gift. The message attached to it is what transforms it into something personal.
For us as founders, this reflects a larger consumer trend. People are becoming more intentional about what they gift and how they express themselves through those gifts. Customisation no longer necessarily means creating an entirely bespoke product. Sometimes, it can simply mean adding a message, thought or detail that makes a familiar product feel uniquely meant for someone.
We believe this shift will continue to shape the gifting ecosystem in India. As consumers seek more meaningful experiences, brands have an opportunity to move beyond transactions and become part of the stories and relationships that make a purchase memorable.
A gift is no longer just something we give; it is a reflection of how well we know the person receiving it. In India, gifting is increasingly becoming more personal, thoughtful, and rooted in the relationships and emotions behind the occasion. Gifting in India is evolving from a simple exchange of products into a more thoughtful expression of relationships, emotions, and individual preferences.
Consumers are increasingly looking beyond price and popularity, choosing gifts that reflect the recipient’s personality, lifestyle, interests, and everyday needs. At Suroskie, we believe this shift is making self-care an increasingly meaningful gifting choice, as skincare, beauty, and wellness products can become part of someone’s everyday ritual while expressing genuine care for their well-being.
Founded by Deepali Bansal and Puneet Bansal, Suroskie focuses on accessible beauty and self-care shaped by real consumer needs, customer feedback, and community experiences. This philosophy naturally extends to gifting, where understanding the person behind the gift becomes just as important as the product itself. Whether for Raksha Bandhan, birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations, a thoughtfully selected self-care gift can feel more personal because it connects with the recipient’s preferences and adds value to their daily routine. The future of gifting is therefore moving towards greater personalisation, usefulness, emotional relevance, and experiences that extend beyond the occasion itself. Ultimately, the most meaningful gifts are not necessarily the most expensive ones, but those that communicate, “I know you, I thought about you, and I chose this for you.”
As Raksha Bandhan continues to evolve, so does the meaning of gifting. The growing popularity of personalised, thoughtful and useful gifts reflects a larger shift in how Indians celebrate relationships, with greater attention to the recipient’s personality, lifestyle, interests and everyday needs. Across categories, brands are responding by creating gifting experiences that feel more relevant, intentional and emotionally connected.
This Raksha Bandhan, the most memorable gifts may not necessarily be the grandest or most expensive, but those that show genuine understanding of the person receiving them. Whether it is a self-care essential, a personalised keepsake, or something thoughtfully chosen for everyday use, the value of a gift increasingly lies in the thought behind it. Ultimately, gifting is becoming less about simply marking an occasion and more about celebrating the unique bond between people, making every Raksha Bandhan feel a little more personal.
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