What Gift Should You Buy an Older Woman?
Jul 15, 2026
I recently learned that one of the most common gift questions people type into Google is some version of: “What gift should I buy for an old woman?”
As a 48-year-old woman, I have thoughts.
First, 48 is obviously not old. Neither is 58. Or 68. And based on some of the women I know, even 88 may be debatable.
But I understand the question behind the slightly unfortunate wording. You need to buy a gift for a woman who is older than you, and you have no idea what she wants. Maybe it’s your mom, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, neighbor, boss, family friend, or someone who has been especially amazing—as so many women in our lives thankfully are.
Because she’s already lived some life, she probably already has a lot of the things she wants. That’s one of my personal favorite things about getting older. If she’s like me, she doesn’t just insist she doesn’t need anything—she really means it. If she’s fortunate, gone are the days of scrimping and saving to buy that one thing she’s been eyeing for a year and a half.
Meanwhile, you’re trying not to panic-buy another candle, scarf, or mug with a saying on it.
Begrudgingly, I’m here to admit that I basically have three skills in life:
- Making things pretty. A flower company probably should have been an obvious idea instead of idea number 1,462, huh?
- Being a pretty stellar gift giver.
- Solving problems quickly, which is definitely the skill that comes in handy most when you own a business.
My entire life, I’ve wanted my skill set to look very different—like contributing to a cure for cancer or being smart and connected enough to help end world hunger. But alas, that’s not what our maker saw fit to give me.
So, after Ethan, our campaign ads manager, filled me in on the most-searched term in our category, I thought maybe I should lean into the skills I do have and help you out with some ideas.
It may sound oversimplified, but the best gift for an older woman is something that feels like her. The mistake people make when shopping for an older woman is treating her age as if it’s her personality.
Women do not turn 60 and suddenly develop one collective interest in scented candles, beige cardigans, fuzzy slippers, lavender lotion, and decorative plaques about grandchildren. They may love those things (my beige cardi is one of my favorite things!), but it’s not a given.
The key is to think about who she actually is. Does she love to cook? Garden? Read? Travel? Entertain? Watch British murder mysteries where someone is inevitably killed near a very charming cottage?
Does she care deeply about beautiful things? Does she prefer practical things? Is she sentimental? Minimalist? Maximalist? Fancy? Funny? Impossible to shop for? Her age can provide a little context, but it should not be the whole gift brief.
My mom loooooves gardening. So I have my eye on a new Eley hose and reel for her because it’s my favorite thing in the garden right now, and I think she would love it too. And I’d send her a plantfrom Farmgirl because they bring her far more joy than cut flowers.
My aunt loves anything retro Coca-Cola, so finding her a rare piece of Coca-Cola memorabilia would top my list. She also loves gerbera daisies, so if I can’t find the right memorabilia, I’d send her some gerberas from Farmgirl (of course!).
One of my best friends is a true minimalist but loves sloths, so I’d donate to a sloth rescue or symbolically adopt one in her name. She would love that way more than anything that would clutter her house. And if I’d already done that for a previous holiday—which is a true story—I’d send her Farmgirl Flowers. They’ll bring her joy for a week and then be gone, just the way she likes it.
And I’m really not saying this just because I own a flower company—I promise.
Yes, I recognize the bias. But honestly, this may be exactly why I started Farmgirl in the first place. I love letting people know I care and that I’m thinking about them, but I don’t always know them well enough to choose the right clothing, jewelry, perfume, or permanent thing for their home.
Flowers solve that.
One of the biggest surprises I had when I started Farmgirl was learning that 92% of the people buying flowers were women—not men buying them for women, but women buying them for other women.
The more I thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. Women know what it feels like to receive flowers. We know that little jolt of happiness when they show up unexpectedly, making you feel special and loved, and remind us that someone was thinking about us. And we want the wonderful women in our own lives to feel that way too.
They feel personal without requiring you to know her size, favorite scent, decorating style, or whether she already owns three of the thing you’re about to buy.
And after sending flowers for just about every occasion imaginable, I’ve found there are very few times when they don’t feel appropriate—and even fewer when they aren’t appreciated.
Flowers don’t require her to display something in her home even if it isn’t her style. They don’t ask her to wear a color or fabric she doesn’t like. They don’t become another object she feels guilty getting rid of six months later—or guilty for not wearing or displaying the next time she sees you.
They arrive, make her feel special and loved, and brighten up her day. That’s the entire job of a gift.
As for what type of flowers to send, I know that can feel daunting too. I usually suggest thinking about your person and how she dresses or decorates her home.
If she loves bright, bold colors, pick a mixed bouquet filled with bold, colorful flowers. If she’s more of a beige lover—no shame, I love a calming neutral vibe—a minimalist bouquet or a single-variety arrangement of lilies, ranunculus, garden roses, or hydrangeas is always a winner.
I promise, you don’t need to know her favorite flower to make her feel seen. My favorite little tip is to tell her why you chose that particular bouquet in the card. Even if it isn’t her favorite flower now, it might be after she knows why it reminded you of her. Because don’t we all just want to feel seen and loved?
And I bet we can all agree that we could definitely use a lot more of that in the world right now.
xx,
Christina