Inventive Gifts under $125

Adventurous cooking is fun, but how often have you scanned the abundance of left-over exotic spices and found yourself disconsolate at the thought of how fast they'll lose their flavor? The founders of Baltimore-based TSP Spices, self-dubbed "carda-moms" Katie Luber and Sara Engram, offer a simple solution: herbs and spices sealed in one-teaspoon packets. Each pre-measured packet of organic spice is a dose of dense flavor without the fuss, and they're all free of the salt, fillers and stabilizing agents found in most spice brands, such as McCormick's salt-loaded blends. “Healthy living is everyone's right,” says Katie. “And it's antediluvian the way we all buy spices these days—our mission is to change that.” She points out that most TSP Spices are sugar-free as well. The seasonings are packaged individually, rather than pre-blended, so creative foodies can try their hand at coming up with tasty combinations, but the duo has devised some rather attention-grabbing boxed sets to get you started. My favorites are the Sweet Heat Blend (Ancho chili pepper and cinnamon) and Savoir Faire (marjoram and sage). Beyond being high-quality and practical, the spices come in sleekly designed tins, great for easy storage and elegant enough to display on countertops, reducing cupboard clutter. Their boxed sets are perfect for gift-giving. Sold online or in select stores throughout the United States, including Sur La Table, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. TSP will soon be available in the UK at Harrods and select gourmet food shops.

Kits from $42.

I love to send people impromptu gifts through the post—it's so nice to receive a surprise—but sometimes flowers aren't quite right. Oprah Winfrey loved these beautiful custom gift baskets so much she invited the company founders Cynde Cassel and Marnie Lerner onto the show to tell the world about them—now that's what I call star treatment. Based in Los Angeles, of course, the stylish women have proven their knack for coming up with creative gift ideas for hard-to-please, jaded Hollywood industry types. Ask them to create a personalized gift basket for your friends, loved ones or business associates. Star Treatment will tailor the design and content of the gift to suit any celebration, occasion or personality. If the gift baskets don't appeal, Star Treatment can arrange personal shoppers to help you source those hard-to-find gifts.

Baskets from $45.

I know so many guys who travel, it's a wonder I haven't done a file on something like this before. It's such a hassle having to decant gels and creams into flight-suitable bottles, or trying to fit the full sizes into a case—and we all know how much men and boys hate hassle. So, surprise a well-groomed guy with the carry-on kit from Art of Shaving. The kit contains the four steps for the Art of Shaving “perfect shave;” prepare, lather, shave and moisturize. The Pre-Shave Oil protects your skin from the harsh razor edge, the Shaving Cream makes sure that even the smallest hairs can be caught while coconut oil and glycerin moisturize the skin and the After Shave Balm helps to soothe and regenerate, with grapeseed, shea butter and vitamin C. There's even a small badger shaving brush—travel is no reason to step back on style. Depending on your skin types, you can choose from the unscented hypoallergenic kit, or from three essential oils; lavender for normal or sensitive skin, lemon for normal to oily and sandlewood for normal to dry. And all this in 3-ounce or less bottles that meet Transport Security Administration carry-on requirements, packaged together in a clear zip-top bag. Easy peasy.

Carry-On Kit $50.

Another suprise that comes via the mailman ... The clever Brits behind Biscuiteers say their gifts are good enough to eat, and they're absolutely right. Visit their unique online gifts-and-goodies store for the most delicious homemade and hand-iced biscuits, beautifully boxed to make the perfect present. The biscuit designs can be tailored to suit any celebration—new baby, get well soon, birthday, anniversary, wedding, new home, mothers' and fathers' days, or a simple "thank you"—and shipped in special tins to anywhere in the UK. I love the “L.O.V.E” set—so cute. If a whole tin of biscuits is too much, there's a new line of very cute biscuit "cards" which can carry a message of your choosing. Forget flowers and greeting cards, these melt-in-the-mouth treats are the height of, dare I say it, good taste… Based in London but ships internationally.

Prices from $63.00.

Rubber inner tubes are not necessarily the first thing to come to mind when you think about luxury handbags, but in the hands of Ken Kobrick and Angela Greene, a welder and an inventor, respectively, the material somehow seems appropriate for a Saturday night gala. Their contemporary yet classically elegant bag collection includes clutches, messenger bags, totes and purses, all made with soft rubber repurposed from inner tubes that have spent most of their lives as part of the giant wheels on agricultural tractors. Added style-factor comes from combining the rubber with calf leather that's vegetable tanned and chrome-free. Ken says the rubber, which they save from its fate in a landfill, is so soft that it sews and cuts like leather. And with each tire having its own individual marks and scuffs, each bag is a one-of-a-kind. These chic handbags might get you some serious mileage at cocktail parties, so to speak.

Prices from $120.