True gifting considers the receiver, respects their world, and chooses quality not for extravagance, but for longevity.

The great gifters of history understood these two things:
→ gifting at its best is a quiet study in elegance, and…
→ a thoughtful exchange of intention

But intentions are often misunderstood when gifts go beyond the scope of someone’s comfort zone, or what the receiver can translate.

Emperor Constantine VII sent foreign rulers gifts in bulk (like Costco, but royal). Imagine receiving 1,000 swords, shields, coats or helmets. Recipients were both flattered and terrified. Because nothing says “friendship” like a suspicious number of weapons.

A generous gesture can look excessive, while a thoughtful upgrade may be mistaken for vanity.

The Hawaiian King Kamehameha once received a British ship as a gift and he loved it. Unfortunately, no one on his island could operate it.
So, it sat there like a giant floating coffee table. Elegant yes, but completely useless.

That’s why the art of gifting lives in nuance.
Match the meaning, timing and emotional fluency.

They invented a kind of gifting that blurred into power, patronage and a quiet kind of domination, all beautifully wrapped in a gold leaf.

Their gifts were not objects. They gave careers.

A Medici gift included sponsoring a young sculptor’s entire livelihood, giving a poet housing for life, funding an apprentice’s training for a decade, commissioning paintings that launched an artist into immortality, etc.

This is how we got Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, and Leonardo, all touched or elevated by Medici patronage.

It wasn’t about generosity.
It was legacy engineering at its finest.

They fueled growth with their deliberate and intentional gifting that now, centuries later, we call legends of the Renaissance era.

Their gifts were world-altering acts of influence wrapped in velvet and unspoken obligations. It was the epitome of a strategic chess move, a signal of their trust in you, only for loyalty in return.

💡 Takeaway: If we all gifted this way today, we would realize that gifts are investments in relationships, influence and trust. Our long-term strategies would include gifting as a means of preservation.

So, as we consider gifting candle sets in the modern age, let’s also consider which color, shape, design, texture or aesthetic the receiver would appreciate (if at all).



(Next Week: The Last → Five-Course Tasting of 2025!)

(the below is in no particular order; just a look at the things I love, dream of and cannot live without).

…which is precisely why most of my picks are geared towards the warmer months of the year.

⚫ Bottega Veneta Sardine Leather Wrap Belt - if you know me, you’ll know how many shirt dresses I own and how much I adore wrap and chain belts. This one is a mix!
⚫ Maison Francis Kurkdjian “Aqua Media Parfum” - fresh scents of bergamot and verbena envelope my nostrils sending me on a dreamy escape. Adore this scent!
⚫ Jimmy Choo “Azia 95mm” Black Patent Leather Sandals - simply the best shoe for a night out, for dinner, for a gala or similar event, and happens to be comfortable too.
⚫ Nambe “Yin-Yang” Divided Server Set - as someone always seeking statement items, this one also carries meaning and reminds me to stay balanced 🙏

⚫ FRAME “The Pinafore” Denim Mini Dress - the versatility of shift dresses has always inspired me. This one emits a modern Jackie O feeling with its gold buttons. It’s easy to take this number across seasons with a tee for summer, or a turtleneck in fall.
⚫ Burberry Checked Mulberry Silk-Twill Scarf - accessories like these shape the look in texture. I love tying it on my neck, as a belt or even on my bag.
⚫ L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil - the ultimate best oil for sensitive skin, for shaving or washing and keeping skin moisturized especially in the colder months. My favorite!
⚫ L’AGENCE “Sheila” Tux Velvet Blazer - perfect holiday velvet navy blazer to dress up or down and the fit is always outstanding with L’AGENCE.

⚫ Bronx and Bonco “Tokyo” Feather Cuffed Minidress - when I think of holiday, I think of black tie, and this lovely gold number is an updated twist from the Gatsby era.
⚫ Assouline “The Big Book of Chic” - as a lover of editorial and magazines, I am equally obsessed with coffee table books and reflections of culture and art. Love this!
⚫ Jonathan Adler Op Art Round Serving Tray - I am a seeker of untraditional patterns in contrasted colors, so when I find these standout pieces, they truly make events shine.
⚫ La Prairie Skin Caviar Moisturizer - precious nutrients like caviar extract and 24-kt gold make this cream a powerful shield against aging. It can’t be too surprising that I’d feature it on Extra Caviar, would it? 😉

There is still time for making the upcoming holidays special. Scroll through the below themes & ideas 👇 Click on the coordinating numbered links to learn more about the items that interest you. Happy indulging!

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: a tasteful riot, would you agree? We’ve got Fornasetti’s whimsy, Bulgari’s Serpenti drama, feathered bags, leopard Louboutins, and even a swan dish that absolutely knows it’s fabulous. Proof that more is more, and perfection is a little extra. After all, statement pieces belong in their natural habitat.

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: Because some people collect countries the way others collect mugs. Jet-lag fixer, tiny-but-mighty gadgets, a cocoon of cashmere, smart bottles, and a passport dressed in Bottega. Bon voyage, always.

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: for the person who has everything, behold the exceptions from fire, caviar, jewels, games, and glassware that turns everyday moments into small celebrations.

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: a tiny world for the big-imagination set. Welcome bear fleeces, Parisian dollhouses, mini Maserati’s, storybook tea sets, unicorn companions, cozy monogrammed pillows, and gloves that sparkle with possibility. Small in size, oversized in wonder.

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: an exceptional mix of designer coffee, gourmet sweets, festive scents, luxe minis, and one lucky butterfly—perfect for impressing someone you hardly know (yet). Gifts that say “I have impeccable taste” without oversharing.

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: the four legged ruler of your life deserves designer scents, couture collars, gourmet macarons, and a lounger worthy of a very small, very spoiled monarch. Nobility has never been so adorable.

Tastemaker’s Love ♥ Note: a toolkit that never breaks a sweat → beautiful knives, artful oils, striped cheery storage, LOEWE fragrant rooms, gemmed cheese plates, warm bread rituals, personalized boards, travel-inspired candles, bar-perfect ice, and… caviar by Chef Thomas Keller. What, like I wouldn’t include my favorite of all? 😉

Holiday magic hits different when the olives come with caviar.