It’s officially here. Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2021, aka everyone’s must-have gift guide of the holiday season, has arrived. We also have to toot our own horns, because we’ve written and reviewed a lot of the products on Oprah’s list here at SPY.com over the past 11 months. That means SPY readers will already be familiar with a lot of the coolest products from Oprah’s Favorite Things 2021, and we wanted to share some of the top picks.
In case you’re not familiar with this time-honored tradition, “Oprah’s Favorite Things” was an annual segment on The Oprah Winfrey Show that ran from the 1990’s all the way through the early 2000s to 2008 and 2010. She has continued offering recommendations in the years after the show through a list published on Oprah Daily leading up to the holiday season. This year, she’s handpicked 110 gifts across a variety of categories from tech gadgets to home decor, cozy things and must-have kitchen tools. It’s all beautiful and has officially put us in the holiday spirit.
Similar to last year, Oprah’s list spotlights gifts from small businesses, women-owned brands and products developed and created by people of color. No matter who you’re shopping for, you’re almost guaranteed to find something they’ll love on this list. She’s got gifts for mom, gifts for dad, tech gifts, gifts for chefs, stocking stuffers and more. We’ve handpicked a few notable winners below, and we encourage you to check out the full list for all her top-notch recommendations.
Read More: The 101 Best Christmas Gifts of 2021 That Will Be on Everyone’s Wish List
Related Stories
1. Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier
Blueair is a favorite air purifier brand here at SPY, and clearly Oprah agrees. The gifting expert herself explained the pick by saying, “These days, we’re all washing our hands and wiping down surfaces a bit more often. Now you can clean the air in your home, too.”
It’s designed to provide 24/7 protection against bacteria and viruses through GermShield technology, and it removes up to 95% of wildfire odors in just 30 minutes of usage. It’s got HEPASilent Ultra technology for removing 99.97% of airborne particles and operates at the noise level of a regular conversation (45 dB) on high.
2. HEAD LIGHTZ LED Light Beanie
Skip trying to hold a flashlight and the dog leash at the same time, and grab this beanie with an LED light built right into the front! It’s a perfect accessory for outdoor adventures in winter when light disappears fast. It’s got a lithium-ion battery that lasts for up to 8 hours on a single charge, and has three different brightness settings. It’s machine-washable, and is made with soft acrylic fabric designed to keep you warm. It would make a great practical gift or stocking stuffer for the outdoorsy person (or people) in your life.
3. Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker
Fresh, homemade pasta is the best, and a pasta maker is a great gift for a chef or dedicated noodle lover in your life. This pasta maker from Philips mixes, kneads and extrudes as much as a 1/2 pound of pasta in as little as 10 minutes. It comes with four different shaping discs for making a variety of noodle shapes including fettuccini, penne, spaghetti, lasagna, etc. It also comes with a convenient storage drawer for keeping all the tools organized.
4. UBAH HOT Hot Sauce Variety 3-Pack
Oprah always loves a good hot sauce. One of our favorite brands TRUFF, was on her list a couple of years ago. And now she’s spotlighting UBAH HOT, an African-inspired hot sauce lineup with three signature spice levels for the most spice-modest folks all the way up to fire-breathing dragons. Ruby, emerald and yellow get hotter in sequential order, and Oprah exclaims that “just a dab of these instantly elevates even the simplest meal.”
For any hot sauce lovers out there, this would be a great gift from a brand they may not have tried yet.
5. Philips One by Sonicare Rechargeable Toothbrush
This slimmer, sleeker version of a classic Sonicare toothbrush is still a massive step up from manual brushing in its smaller casing. It’s got tapered bristles and micro vibrations that gently, but effectively, polish teeth for a bright smile. It’s got a two-minute timer built in with 30 second notifications, and it comes with a convenient travel case and sleek charger that both make traveling easy.
6. Bose Sleepbuds II
Healthy sleep hygiene is essential to a healthy life, and these Sleepbuds help Oprah get her ZZZs, so they’re probably worth the investment. “Drown out a partner’s snoring or listen to white noise at night with these earbuds. They are so darn comfortable— even if you sleep with your ear smushed up against the pillow.”
They don’t stream music or podcasts, but instead are designed to play relaxing, white noise sounds so you can fall asleep and stay asleep all night. They sync up with an app that’s got their entire library of over 50 specially curated sounds, and they last up to 10 hours per charge — more than enough for a full night’s sleep. We also rated these among the best sleep headphones of the year, and we’re happy to see that Oprah agrees.
Read More: The Best Sleep Headphones
7. MATERIAL Knife Trio + Stand
Can you say the perfect balance between chic and utilitarian? This knife set from MATERIAL accomplishes both, and would look awesome on any kitchen counter. The knives are made of a combination between Japanese stainless steel and high carbon for strength and resilience that’s easy to care for. Each knife is heat-treated at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and then cryogenically tempered at -250 degrees Fahrenheit for making the steel harder on a molecular level. The blades are full tang so they extend into the handle and won’t break under pressure, and the dual-sided magnet stand makes storage smart and easy.
8. 32 Degrees Women’s Ultra-Light Down Puffer Vest
Who doesn’t love a good puffer vest? Oprah sure does. This one is made from ultra-light, packable down. It’s got double-sided pockets and 100% recycled cloudfill insulation and water-repellent fabric. The synthetic down is made from recycled water bottles, and it can easily be worn over a t-shirt, sweatshirt or underneath a jacket for an extra layer. It fits perfectly into the included pouch for travel, and can be put in the washing machine on the proper cycle. If your mom, mother-in-law or grandma loves practical outerwear, this is a great, Oprah-approved gift option.
9. Aarke Carbonator III Premium Sparkling Water Maker
We’re a big fan of sparkling water makers here at SPY, and have written about this brand before for their sleek designs and efficient machines. This is their latest release, which features a minimalist and compact design, and a range of finishes to choose from. It’s designed to fit on your countertop, and has a precision nozzle made of stainless steel that produces a single smooth, controlled spray. It’s designed to be user-friendly and comes with one BPA-free water bottle.
Read More: Put The Fizz in Fizzy With One of These Top-Rated Soda Makers
10. Courant Essentials Catch:3 Wireless Charging Station
Oprah’s a little late to the game on this one (we first wrote about this one in 2020), but we love her nonetheless. This wireless charging tray from Courant is stylish and practical, QI-certified and has a roomy valet tray for all your devices and EDC goodies. Each of these trays are made in a renowned fabric mill in Belgium that’s known for its sustainable processes, and are made stylish with durability as well. The tray comes with 3-coil wireless charging to reduce dead zones as well as a high-grade matte aluminum alloy structure that makes it even more durable. It comes in three colors, and is a great practical tech gift for anyone in your life.
11. The Chai Box Ultimate Chai Lover’s Gift Set
Tea fanatic in your life? You’re going to want to take a second look at this chai set. This set comes from The Chai Box tea masters and features flavor variations of chai for everyone. Hill Station features fragrant cardamom and rose, and comes from the Hill Station Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas. All Chai’d Up is an ode to traditional masala spice chai, Sweet Monsoon is inspired by the tropical landscape of India with soothing smells of coconut and mangoes, and Lavender Nights is caffeine-free and perfect for snoozing. The set also comes with a stainless steel steeper, that makes enjoying the flavors easy.
12. PhoneSoap SurfaceSoap Handheld UV Sanitizer Wand
This SurfaceSoap UV Sanitizer wand comes from the popular smartphone disinfector brand PhoneSoap, maker of the SPY-editor-favorite UV phone sanitizer. This sanitizer is made to go far beyond just your phone, and kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on surfaces across your home. It’s about the size of a hair straightener, and fits super easily in your desk drawer, backpack or purse. It’s also portable, so it makes a great travel companion if you want some extra assurance your hotel room is germ-free.
13. Kelsey Crossbody
For optimizing portability and style, a crossbody bag is the way to go. This year, Oprah has picked this one, and it’s best to not question her decisions. It’s made by K. Carroll Accessories and is inspired by the design of a camera bag, with compartments for organizing everything you need inside. It’s got three outside zippers and two interior compartments large enough to fit a passport, sunglasses, small wallet and other EDC items. It’s got RFID-protected card slots inside, and a 47 inch detachable strap and 8 inch leather handle so you’ve got options for how you carry it.
14. TRUFF Best Seller Gourmet Hot Sauce Pack
This brand has been on Oprah’s list of favorite things for a few years now, so you know it must be good. She puts their signature Black Truffle Hot Sauce on everything, and we have to admit we’ve been guilty of the same thing. It’s delicious, and this 3-pack would make a great gift for a foodie out there. It comes with the Black Truffle Hot Sauce, the White Truffle Hot Sauce and their Truffle Oil which is made by infusing olive oil with black winter truffles. It’s decadent, and good on just about any food from eggs to sandwiches, popcorn to avocado toast.
15. Amazon Echo Show 10
Oprah’s also a fan of the new Amazon Echo Show, and this bright, big beautiful Echo Show 10 screen. It’s got a 10.1″ HD screen that’s portable and can move with you throughout your home — whether you’re showing your mom your new apartment or testing out a new recipe. It’s got a 13 MP camera with auto-framing so you stay front and center, and it comes with full Alexa capabilities so you can play podcasts, answer the phone, check the weather and more.
Read More: The Best Alexa Speakers
16. Hydrow Connected Rowing Machine
Hydrow is essentially the Peloton of rowers. It provides a great low-impact sweat session at home and comes with a 22″ touch screen for streaming in classes from their library of over 2,000 full-body, on-demand workouts. The rower is designed to work 86% of the body’s major muscle groups in one session and is built with an electromagnetic drag system for the feeling of being out on the water from your home. They’ve got workouts filmed on stunning waterways from Miami to California, London and Boston, and have sessions led by world-class athletes. Apparently, Gayle has gifted this piece to a number of her close friends, in case you needed any more reasons to buy it.
SPY is actually in the process of testing this product, so keep your eyes peeled for an in-depth review in the weeks ahead!
17. Beast Blender + Hydration System
We’ve written about and reviewed the Beast Blender before, and love it just as much as Oprah does. It’s a stunning product with functionality to match. It’s designed to make perfectly blended smoothies and infused waters easily. The blender attaches to the motor base with ease and a secure fit, so you can blend with confidence. It’s got interchangeable lids that all fit together and match the bottle perfectly. The glass water bottle comes with a stainless steel infusion Chamber and a food-safe silicone Chamber mount. Each of the parts also has a ribbed construction, which improves the efficiency of each blend and gives you a firm grasp on the bottle as well.
Read More: Spy Review: The Beast B10+ Blender Is a Work of Art
18. Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam WiFi Oven
Okay, does Oprah read SPY, because we reviewed this product in 2021 too! (If you do read SPY, hi, Oprah! We love you.) This smartphone-controlled WiFi oven could very well reflect our cooking future, with its pre-programmed cooking modes, smartphone syncing and optional meal subscription. Almost needless to say, it’s looking bright.
Tovala’s oven app comes with the ability to scan hundreds of grocery items from Trader Joe’s and other stores and cook them automatically given pre-programmed specifications. It comes with a library of chef-developed recipes you can easily make at home, and it’s built big enough to fit a 4-pound chicken or 10-inch pizza easily.
Our product tester also loved this steam oven, and right now Tovala is running a great promotion where you can purchase this smart home product for just $99.
19. Bombay Hair Curling Wand Set
This curling wand comes with a comprehensive set of interchangeable barrels of different widths and shapes, so you can accomplish nearly any curl with one tool. It also comes with clips for evenly dividing up sections of your hair, a heat-resistant glove and a curling wand rest to prevent counter damage. It’s got a 360 degree swivel cord so you can move freely, and an adjustable sleep mode as well.
We’ve featured this set in our gifts for her gift guide in year’s past, and it would make an excellent present for anyone with long hair.
20. UGG Women’s Gertrude Long Teddy Coat
This gift is a must for women who love to be cozy. It comes from the brand best known for slippers that get us all through the winter, and they’ve got Oprah-approved outerwear as well. It’s a full-length, double breasted teddy coat with tortoise shell buttons for a nice stylish touch. The pockets are lined with hand warmer fleece for keeping everything warm on walks to and from dinner, the office or the grocery store, and the shell and lining are 100% polyester.