Skip the flowers, choose a large mixed collection, and add his name if you want the personal touch. It is a practical gift that suits almost any man and almost any occasion, which is precisely why it works when the usual ideas have run out.

Under the lid, the chocolates are the same handcrafted collections Lily O'Brien's has made in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, so personalising the outside does not mean compromising on what is inside. That balance is the point. The recipient gets something that looks made for them and tastes the way the brand has always tasted.

It helps to choose a maker whose product you trust. Lily O'Brien's has handcrafted chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, so the favours arrive as something guests recognise and are happy to keep. That recognition does quiet work at the table.

A share bag suits the smaller, easier version of the same idea. It is right for a casual drop-in, for a flat rather than a house, or for a friend who would find a full hamper too much. It still says you thought about it, lilyobriens.ie and it disappears happily over an evening rather than sitting on a shelf.

Wedding favours run on two questions that couples always ask and rarely find a straight answer to: how many chocolates per guest, and when to order. Both have practical answers.

For clients, a hamper reads as considered. It arrives as an occasion in itself, it shares around an office, and it carries a professional message without tipping into extravagance. Choose one with a neutral presentation rather than anything overtly seasonal, so it works whether it lands in March or in the week before Christmas. A restrained box travels better across industries and personalities than a novelty one.