We can blame Robbie Burns. That line about my love being like a red, red rose didn’t actually specify Valentine’s Day, but it has meant that 14 February is forever associated with roses at a time of year when they’re not in bloom. Not here anyway, which means that all the red roses around are from far-flung places. Plus they’re not really scented. No. Hold the red roses. Keep them for June and send them for midsummer or something.
Here are six suggestions for Valentine’s gifts that don’t entail actual roses. And on the whole, let’s steer clear of pink, shall we? The usual line up of pink items for Valentine’s, from bears with hearts on their paws to hear-shaped chocolates, can be a bit yuck. And since we’re all struggling to make ends meet, I’m including thrifty options. But if you add a bottle of champagne to any of these, so much the better.
- Flowers that Do Not Include Roses. The obvious option at this time of year is of course bulb flowers – tulips, narcissi, daffs, hyacinths – which are simply lovely, or flowering shrubs and hellebores. They’re far prettier than long-stem roses and practically every supermarket has a mixed bunch. May I just say that for most women, having a bouquet delivered to your place of work is terrifically gratifying. Two options: M&S Springtime February Fabulous Flower Bouquet – a bit of a mouthful for a very pretty (all right, pink) selection of hyacinths, tulips and stocks, £25. Or the Real Flower Company does a lovely bouquet of narcissi, tulips, anemones and herbs, from £56 for a posy.
- Chocolates (obviously). My joint favourite chocolatier (with Paul A. Young) is William Curley, whose caramels and truffles are heavenly. For Valentine’s, you could go for his new heart-shaped passionfruit caramels, or simply a heart-shaped beribboned box of his couture chocolates, which would do it for me. Hurry: order by midday today for delivery on The Day, unless you’re based in London and can drop into his Soho shop or the outlet in Harrods. Or, for something simple and delicious, how about a selection of Bare Bones chocolate bars, nicely ribboned? The Valentine’s Five Bar Collection is £30.
- A Romantic Book. This is quite tricky because obviously tastes differ (I would run a mile from anyone who gave me Sally Rooney), but the obvious option is a book of love poems. I love Macmillan Collector’s Library editions because they’re terrifically covetable – just the size to slip into your pocket – and affordable with it. For Valentine’s, you can’t go far wrong with its Poems for Love anthology. Or how about Shakespeare’s Sonnets, with lovely fat cupids on the cover? £9.99.
- A Nice Cheese. Not everyone has a sweet tooth, so how about a nice, heart-shaped cheese? Corny, but is this really a time for austere good taste? The long-established cheesemonger Paxton and Whitfield does a nice heart-shaped unpasteurised goat’s cheese, Coeur du Pic (£7.75). Or if it’s for me, a nice ripe Vacherin would do it.
- Scent. Obviously, you can go the whole hog with roses here, though I find full-on rose scent a bit cloying. But I’d certainly stick with florals. So how about Ormonde Jayne’s lovely Levant, which is like a bunch of peonies mixed with orange blossom? £135 for 50ml. But order quickly. Or if sweet florals aren’t what you’re after, Frederic Malle does an interesting rose and leather combo which is subtle and intriguing. £240 for 100ml eau de parfum.
- The Valentine’s Hamper. If money’s no object, just go for this Fortnum & Mason hamper. You can’t go wrong. Eleven items from tea and chocolates to cheese and wine in a wicker hamper. Yum. £210. Next-day delivery is available for orders placed before 6 p.m.
PS: If you want an interesting take on an e-card, you could try JiveBird, which has the option of sending a song with it. I was put on to it by one of the founders, my friend, Dominic McGonigal.
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