Unquiet
Things

A commenter recently asked if I would be doing a video showcasing my favorite things from the past year. While that particular roundup will manifest as a written piece here on the blog (because attempting to recall and articulate twelve months’ worth of treasures in a video format would result in a rambling mess of “oh! and this! and that! and I can’t believe I almost forgot about…”), it did plant the seed for something else: a shorter video featuring some of my recent acquisitions.

The timing feels particularly appropriate as we creep ever closer to the holiday season. We all know the peculiar anxiety of last-minute gift shopping – that frantic search for the perfect present when time is running out and inspiration seems to have abandoned us entirely. Perhaps you, too, have found yourself desperately scrolling through pages of suggestions that feel hopelessly generic, wondering how to find something special for that person in your life who prefers their gifts with a touch of shadow, a hint of mystery, or a whisper of the arcane.

I confess there’s also something deliciously self-indulgent about holiday shopping for others. You know the ritual: one for them, two for me. After all, how can we truly recommend gifts if we haven’t tested them ourselves? At least, that’s what I tell myself as I add items to my cart, justifying each purchase as “research” for future gift recommendations. It’s a slippery slope from “this would be perfect for so-and-so” to “but first, let me make sure it’s as wonderful as it seems.”

What began as a simple “look what I bought” video has transformed into something I hope you’ll find more useful: a carefully curated guide for those seeking gifts for their favorite shadow-dwellers. Whether you’re shopping for the friend who conducts beauty rituals by candlelight, the loved one who collects Victorian curiosities, or the companion who reads tarot while sipping botanical spirits, you’ll find something here to intrigue and delight. Let’s explore these treasures, shall we?

Scents & Potions:

• Heretique’s Nosferatu perfume
• Eauso Vert’s Fruto Oscuro
• Miskeo Parfums
• Anjali Perfumes
• Forthave Single Batch Floral Bittersweet Liqueur
• A24’s Genre Candles – atmospheric scents inspired by film

Beauty & Ritual:

• Rituel de Fille’s ceremonial approach to beauty

Tools for Recording Dark Thoughts:

• Open Sea Design’s Witch’s Year planner
• The elegantly practical chrome pen
• A gravestone-rubbing inspired address stamp that adds gothic flair to correspondence

Oracle & Wisdom:

• The Dark Goddess Oracle
• Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life
• The Universe in 100 Colors: Weird & Wondrous Colors from Science and Nature
• Moon Lists: Questions and Rituals for Self-Reflection: A Guided Journal

Curios & Antiquities:

• Select pieces from Roses and Rue Antiques
• Dellamorte Co.’s darkly beautiful offerings

While the items above represent my recent acquisitions, I would be remiss not to mention several perennial favorites that deserve a place in any gothic gift guide. These are the treasured pieces and reliable sources I return to again and again – items that may not have made it into the video (as they weren’t recent purchases) but which have proven themselves worthy additions to any dark soul’s collection. Some are single items that have earned their place through years of use, while others come from sellers and artisans whose work I’ve collected over time, each piece adding to a carefully curated cabinet of curiosities. Consider these time-tested additions as you plan your gift-giving this season…

Adornments & Artifacts: Flannery Grace Good creates bold, soulful jewelry pieces that speak directly to the heart – each creation reflecting not just masterful craftsmanship but the warm, wickedly clever spirit of an artist who pours genuine love and understanding into every piece. Under the Pyramids crafts portable magic in the form of talismans, amulets, and magical symbols, each piece handcrafted in recycled silver to serve as wearable vessels of power and intention.

Bloodmilk’s creations emerged from the liminal space of grief, beginning as personal talismans of psychic armor and evolving into a collection that weaves together Victorian spiritualism, dark romanticism, and profound personal narrative. Each piece serves as a physical reminder – of love, of self-reliance, of mourning, of the fleeting nature of beauty – crafted with an understanding that jewelry can be more than adornment; it can be a tangible manifestation of our most nebulous dreams. Alexis Berger’s hand-fabricated glass jewelry captures the luminous beauty of Art Nouveau and the Belle Epoch, with translucent lampworked beads creating pieces of timeless elegance, and Parrish Relics melds medieval grandeur with Pre-Raphaelite sensibilities in time-worn amulets that look as though they were unearthed from some ancient, flower-strewn cloister.

Garments & Sacred Spaces: Altar + Orb creates clothing and decor inspired by lunar mysteries, Victorian aesthetics, and the shadowy corners of nature, perfect for those who wish to wear their mysticism or create atmospheric spaces. I can personally attest that their sweaters are the best I’ve ever owned – managing to be both spooky and delightfully cozy, which is really the ultimate combination. Their blank books are equally stunning, providing the perfect vessel for recording all of your haunted thoughts and midnight musings.

Scent Stories: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab has spent decades crafting literary and mythological inspiration into wearable art through their vast catalog of atmospheric perfume oils. From Lovecraftian horrors to Victorian gardens, their scents tell complete stories. Arcana Wildcraft combines ancient perfumery techniques with wild-harvested plants and magical practice, creating process-oriented perfumes infused with elements of alchemy and witchcraft. Seance Perfumes draws inspiration from Victorian spiritualism and the metaphysical realm, creating fragrances that bridge the rational and emotional worlds, while Poesie Perfume crafts scents inspired by literature, wanderlust, and the romance of bygone eras.

Literary Treasures: Victoria Mier’s Beyond the Aching Door weaves Welsh mythology and Slavic folklore into a darkly romantic urban fantasy. Iris Compiet’s Faeries of the Faultlines provides a stunning artistic journey into otherworldly realms, while The Sphinx and The Milky Way shares Charles Burchfield’s fascinating naturalist observations. Una Maria Blythe’s Muses No More: Portraits of Occult Women illuminates the often-overlooked stories of female occultists throughout history. For those who walk in dreams, Naomi Sangreal’s Little Hidden Doors offers an artfully crafted guide to exploring one’s dream landscapes through a lens of creativity and compassion.

Sonic Spells: Chelsea Wolfe’s She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She provides a darkwave journey perfect for winter nights. This latest offering weaves together industrial rhythms, gothic rock, and ethereal vocals into a tapestry of transformation and self-discovery. Moving between haunting ballads and electronic storms, the album creates a world where vulnerability and strength coexist in shadow, making it an ideal soundtrack for those long dark nights of the soul.

If you enjoy posts like these or if you have ever enjoyed or been inspired by something I have written, and you would like to support this blog, consider buying the author a coffee?