The Christmas Gifts Women Least Want, According to a Survey

Christmas is a season of giving, receiving, eating, and celebrating. This is when people go out of their way to delight one another, whether that means cooking huge feasts, singing carols, or, of course, hunting down the ideal gift, the one that will make a partner fall for them even harder than before.

Or does it? Let's be real: some presents will always get a polite “Oh honey, you shouldn’t have!” and then disappear into the basement for good, like an odd (read: ugly) vase or a gag coffee mug that isn't actually that funny. Then there are the men who can't (or won't) figure it out and accidentally choose a gift so terrible it could end the relationship. Think vacuum cleaners, self-help books, or bargain perfume sets from the drugstore… the cringe!

We asked 3,000 people around the country which gifts from their partners they hated most, and the answers were fascinating. Men, read this (preferably long before your Christmas shopping begins) and weep.

1. A Weight Loss Program Membership or Diet Book

This one topped the list in 20 states, and it's especially thoughtless given that people tend to eat more at Christmas than at almost any other time of year, indulging in turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cornbread, cookies, the whole spread!

Nobody wants a present suggesting their partner thinks they've become a tubby butterball, least of all right after eating one.

2. A Vacuum Cleaner or Cleaning Supplies

Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida mentioned this one a lot. Honestly, what woman wants to be treated as nothing but a maid who exists to clean up after her man? It's not the 1950s anymore, Toto!

3. Personal Hygiene Items

Ah, the faint hint that you might have… a faint whiff about you. Whether it's deodorant or mouthwash, the message is essentially, “You stink.” Women in Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, and Nevada take this gift especially badly. Next!

4. Drugstore “Panic Gifts” Grabbed at the Last Minute

Nothing says “I literally gave this no thought” like a generic “present” picked up at Walgreens or CVS. Whether it's a random perfume gift set or a cheap store-brand lipstick, steer clear of these at all costs, especially for anyone in Ohio, New Jersey, or Hawaii.

5. Self-Help Books Nobody Asked For

Woooo boy, this is a massive no-no, because it hints that you believe your lady love has a serious problem. Sure, lots of guys are convinced a practical solution can fix anything, but this, friends, is not how to go about it. Unless your partner truly wants help with a particular issue, whether that's kicking a smoking habit or coping with a pet's death, AVOID it no matter what.

Which Gifts Each State Hates Most

Everyone has their own taste, and the survey responses showed it, with results varying from place to place. Here's what respondents said they disliked most, state by state:

“Unfortunately, not everyone’s love language is gift-giving, and that can mean some well-intentioned partners give some pretty terrible gifts,” Emma Wilson, Director of Content for The Candid Date, said. “I wish this didn’t have to be said, but please, guys, don’t give a girl anything you got at the gas station.”

Men Come Armed With Gift-Giving Excuses

The survey also uncovered other intriguing results, and most of them confirm that plenty of men shopping for their partner's Christmas gift dig a hole and then keep on digging. Asked what the toughest part of shopping for their other half was, for instance, nearly a third (28%) answered, “She already has everything.” We doubt it.

Almost a quarter (23%) pleaded ignorance: “I have no idea what she likes.” And yet this is the woman you're dating?!

Tied at 17% were two gems: “She drops hints I can never pick up on” and “She’s impossible to shop for.” Then, perhaps the best of all, since it just shows off how stingy the guy is: “She has expensive taste” (16%). Really?!

Men are especially prone to putting off their Christmas shopping until the last minute, and the quality of the gifts (or lack of it) shows. In the world championships of “most last-minute gift ever received,” first place, with nearly half the vote (42%), went to a gift card whose value had been hastily scrawled on in pen.

For nearly a quarter (22%), the gift was a scribbled IOU promising a present at some later date, who knows when. Next on the unforgivable list was a gas station purchase (19%). Charcoal briquettes for the BBQ, maybe? You won't find anything classy for sale at a gas station. Worst of all, though, was a random item FROM THE GIVER'S OWN CLOSET! (17%) As though the recipient wouldn't recognize it!

Still, humans (well, men) make mistakes, and forgiveness is divine: 38% of women said they'd let a terrible gift slide if an amazing surprise present followed. Nearly a third (31%) said a heartfelt apology would be enough, and the same share could be won over by a romantic dinner or another sweet gesture.

Women aren't demanding expensive, luxurious presents, though. If their partner were truly on a budget, almost a third (28%) would be thrilled with something thoughtful and homemade that showed how well he understood them, and 25% more said a handwritten note or love letter would melt their heart, especially in an age of impersonal email.

Another 20% would really love a candle or cozy blanket meant to create a relaxing atmosphere, while 15% would like a subscription to a small treat, like chocolates or coffee, that they could enjoy all year long.

And 13% of respondents would be happy with a simple piece of jewelry that means something. Finally, if gifts were banned for one Christmas, most women (31%) said they'd be perfectly happy spending the whole day together without distractions, proof that each other's company matters more than anything material.

Close to a third (28%) would love to plan a romantic getaway as a couple, while 26% (just over a quarter) would like to cook a delicious holiday meal together. And 15% would be thrilled to get a heartfelt card or love letter from their partner, since seeing that devotion in writing would mean a lot.

Our Methodology

Our sample of 3,000 unmarried couples was carefully drawn from an online panel that's representative by geography and whose members had double-opted in. We then refined the selection to match the specific requirements of each survey. Questions throughout were designed to screen and confirm respondents, ensuring the people answering were the right fit.

To protect the integrity of our data, we used a range of data quality methods. On top of standard measures like digital fingerprinting, geo-verification, bot checks, and speeding detection, a dedicated team member reviewed every response for quality and contextual accuracy. That scrutiny covered open-ended responses too, which we checked for gibberish and plagiarism.