The holiday season is a strange time of year for pipe smokers because we know the chance of our loved ones finding the right gift for us is vanishingly small. You have to know a lot about this esoteric subject to choose wisely. It's like that with every hobby or specific interest, though. How can anyone without experienced knowledge purchase the right sharpening stone for a knife collector, for example, or a coin album for a coin collector? Imagine giving a heavy-duty vise from Home Depot as a gift to a jewelry maker. Appropriate gifts require some hints from their potential recipients.

It's a little awkward, perhaps, to admit to our family that despite the dozens or hundreds of tins of tobacco we already have, what we really want for Christmas is more tobacco. Or that despite being unable to smoke more than one pipe at a time, what we really want is another pipe. It's the holidays, though. It's the time of year when guilt-free fulfillment is encouraged by those we love.

They want to give us the perfect gift, and it's our duty to make the lives of our families easier and to selflessly provide the tools necessary for them to live their dream. It would be despicable to let them flounder and flail and see our disappointment when we open a gift box of tube socks. Yes, tube socks are great, we all like tube socks, but the special reaction they're hoping for will not be found on the road to podiatric comfort. In the interest of their emotional health, we must be honest and admit that, yes, another pipe would be fantastic, even better than socks, especially this one right here; let me send you the link.

Still, the element of surprise is hard to resist and we don't want to deprive anyone of that joy, so it's best to provide lots of good options and let them choose. If there's a list of items that would be great to find under the Christmas tree, it gives our loved ones the opportunity to provide a gift that's both special and reasonably surprising.

It's a winning strategy, but we're left with another problem: what do we choose for such a list? With the Wish List option here at Smokingpipes, it's easy to populate and share that list. Beyond that, we have some great suggestions to consider. There are even multiple gift wrapping options available to make things even easier for the important people in your life.

Peterson's 2021 Christmas Pipes

What better way to celebrate the traditions of the Christmas season than with a pipe from Peterson, the longest continually running pipe workshop in the world? The first Christmas series comprising Peterson's popular and iconic Sherlock Holmes shapes, the 2021 edition is accented by a warm, festive copper band and is available in rusticated, sandblasted, and smooth Heritage finishes. The pipes are accompanied by a commemorative, black leather pipe stand exclusive to the series and emblazoned with the famous Peterson Sherlock Holmes logo. Instead of the vulcanite mouthpiece that has accompanied previous Christmas pipes, Peterson has chosen acrylic for this year.

Savinelli's 2021 Saint Nicholas Pipes

The Saint Nicholas line debuted in 2013, and each year presents a festive color palette. 2021's edition showcases one of Savinelli's high-quality acrylics, this year's in a variegated conifer green that the marque custom sourced specifically for this celebratory, seasonal release. Available in 10 iconic Italian shapes, Savinelli's St. Nicholas 2021 features a dark rustication and a snow-white accent of acrylic flanked by brass rings.

Mark Tinsky Christmas Pipe 2021

No artisan pipe maker has more long-term experience making Christmas pipes than Mark Tinsky. For 38 years he has crafted a new, singular shape for this limited-production release celebrating the season with his distinctive shaping and exciting accent materials. This year's Mark Tinsky Christmas pipe is a robust bent Pot with a curved shank and stem. Choices include Mark's own smooth Natural, Root, Bengal, Sunrise, and Pristine finishes as well as his textured Coral and Black and Tan rustications, and of course his distinctive sandblasts. Each color palette is elevated by accent materials such as morta or exotic hardwood.

Dunhill Christmas Pipes

Perhaps the rarest and most coveted of holiday renditions, Dunhill's Christmas pipes first appeared in 1980, and since 1982 have been housed in stunning leather presentation boxes in the shape of a book. Demand has always exceeded supply for these collector items, but we are fortunate to have several editions on-site, including those from both 2017 and 2018. The 2017 pipes are sleek, Shell-Briar Billiards with a prominent heel, akin to a Danish Acorn style. Each is accented by a band of Christmasy sterling silver, and as part of their 12 Days of Christmas series, includes a heavy sterling silver tamper, this edition featuring the shepherd children from The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The 2018 edition is of course housed in a leather book-style case and is a classic Canadian shape, textured with the warm sandblast of the Cumberland series and elevated by an attractive Cumberland mouthpiece and sterling silver tamper depicting the seven-headed mouse king.

Smokingpipes Pipe Starter Kits

For an economical smoking set that includes essential accessories, Starter Kits provide a traditionally shaped briar, a pipe tamper/nail, a package of BJ Long pipe cleaners, and a tobacco pouch — all the essentials (barring a little tobacco) for beginning one's pipe-smoking journey. There are several choices for your loved ones to choose from, and they'll have the comfort of knowing they've provided a gift both enjoyable and practical. It's also a terrific gift for any friends who have expressed an interest in pipe smoking, providing the basics for them to start their journey of discovery.

Cornell & Diehl We Three Kings

Inspired by the first widely popular Christmas carol composed in the United States, Cornell & Diehl's We Three Kings delivers gifts of its own: rich Black Cavendish with equal measures of matured Red and Bright Virginias and specially sourced Katerini Turkish leaf. Its notes of baked goods, allspice, cinnamon, and vanilla are supremely appropriate to the season, its flavors of confectionary tanginess mixing with brown sugar tones and the scents of freshly baked cookies and other holiday treats. This mixture will please Aromatic fans searching for a more tobacco-forward flavor; likewise, Virginia lovers will appreciate We Three Kings' complexity and nuance, enhanced by a room note that will make any day special.

Peterson Pipe Lighters

Among the great advantages of Peterson's pipe lighters is the soft, angled flame of the dual nozzles, offering more wind resistance than many butane lighters. Available in several colors including new models featuring icons of Peterson's System pipes and the Irish Harp symbol, they are stocking stuffers that will leave a lasting impression.

Pipe Books

Our Smokingpipes' library of pipe- and tobacco-related literature is impressive, including classics like Rick Newcombe's In Search of Pipe Dreams as well as photographic memoirs and tomes chronicling the early days of pipe smoking. Among our favorite volumes, however, is Le Pipe, Mie Figlie. Meaning "The Pipes, My Daughters" in English, it was written by Castello's current director, Franco "Kino" Coppo, and tells the story of the venerated workshop, beautifully capturing the passion and craftsmanship behind every Castello pipe. This bilingual, Italian/English book contains more than 200 pages, including dozens of high-quality pipe photos. Featuring fascinating stories from the marque's early days and personal anecdotes from Coppo, it's a read that will enhance any aficionado's appreciation for Castello's place in fine Italian pipe making.

Claudio Albieri Leather Goods

Italian leather crafting at its finest is combined with the practical experience of a seasoned pipe enthusiast in Claudio Albieri's accessories. He not only knows leathercraft, but he knows tobacco and pipes. He started working in his family's tobacco shop in Italy when he was 18 and later completed a masterclass in tobacco provided by Davidoff. He loves pipes and tobacco, and his dedication to the crafting of the finest leather goods to accompany them is unparalleled. From pipe stands to roll-ups to fine multi-pipe carrying cases, they are made by a pipe smoker for pipe smokers.

Scott Tinker Pipe Furniture

Good pipes deserve an elegant place to rest, and for the ultimate in old-world woodworking craftsmanship, Scott Tinker delivers pipe furniture that is heirloom quality. Scott has dedicated years to crafting pipe furniture as beautiful as the finest pipes in our collections, and he does so through a meticulous hands-on approach to the craft, relying whenever possible on actual hand tools over machinery. He creates his own varnishes from natural, raw resins and oils that produce a beautiful shimmer on the hand-planed surfaces, and this beauty is accompanied by superior function as well, each pipe held to its corresponding wood inlay by a magnetic ball that is placed inside the bowl for an unencumbered display of the finest smoking instruments.

Peterson Tobacco Jars

Peterson's dedication to innovation is evident in their fine lines of accessories, including their tobacco jars, which are designed to withstand more portability than glass and ceramic jars. Available in two sizes and colors, each is wrapped in durable leather and secured with a Peterson-branded zipper to protect tobacco from sunlight and any potentially damaging drops.

Savinelli Ashtrays

Practical and unique, Savinelli's pipe ashtrays are designed to enhance any environment with luxurious attention to detail and stunning attractiveness. Each provides a comfortable resting place for a pipe and a cork knocker for safely ejecting dottle, and their curved shapes remove any sharp corners that could potentially damage a fine smoking instrument.

Pipe Making Kits

We've all been curious about the pipe-making process and wondered how hard it was. It isn't easy, but it is something that we hobbyists can do. There's nothing like the satisfaction of smoking a pipe that has been shaped with our own hands, especially one that will carry the memories of this holiday season into the far future. Pipe-making kits represent that opportunity.

Lamp Berger

We pipe smokers likely don't mind the sweet smell of lingering Virginias in our den, but our loved ones may disagree. Luckily, we do provide a number of air-purifying home fragrance solutions, including Lampe Berger. Established in Paris in 1898 by pharmacist Maurice Berger, Lampe Berger was renowned in the medical world for its antibacterial properties, and the brand exploded in popularity when its aromas garnered the interest of the period's greatest designers like Lalique, Galle, and Baccarat. Compatible with a variety of oils (including scented and unscented), Lampe Berger offers a number of spill-proof diffusers and air-purifying lamps with an elevated, retro design that doubles as art.

Savinelli Tobacco Jars

Tobacco maintains optimum smoking potential only with correct humidity, and what better way to maintain that moisture level than with an elegant tobacco jar from Savinelli? The famous Italian marque lives up to its reputation with distinctive humidors in a variety of festive and conservative colors, some widening at the top to make filling a pipe from its interior easy and intuitive, and some in a more traditional shape and with tobacco-specific graphics to keep one's interest. Savinelli is a benchmark of excellence and their tobacco jars are the perfect accessory for making any Christmas special.

Glotov Pipe Tampers

Tampers are essential accessories, assisting in the correct burning properties of our tobaccos, but they are often overlooked. Christmas is an excellent time to indulge ourselves in a tamper that will be a pleasure to use. A competitive slow smoker, Russian artisan Alexander Glotov intimately understands the importance of correct tamping, so his tampers are efficient and comfortable. Each is unique in design and made from electroplated nickel and brass, providing a high luster finish and reassuring heft in the hand as well as impressive resistance to corrosion and wear, and each tamper is housed in its own leather sleeve or case. Stocking stuffers can be impressive.

Craftsman Pipe Tampers

Handcrafted in Ukraine by Max Bogdan, these tampers combine the macabre with functionality in hyperrealistic fashion and are fashioned with sinuous beechwood shafts, metal feet, and weathered skulls pierced with a battle-ax or a sword. Eminently distinctive and loaded with personality, Craftsman pipe tampers will appeal to the barbarian warrior in all of us.

Dunhill Professional Pipe Reamer Kit

The White Spot's dedication to quality is evident in this professional pipe reamer kit based on a vintage design introduced by Dunhill in the 1920s. The modern version consists of a T-shaped handle and three dog-teeth blade options with a bayonet locking system — able to ream 16mm, 17mm, and 19mm bores to a depth of up to 24mm, all encased in a leather case. Maintain your pipes in luxurious style with one of Dunhill's most elegant accessories.

Neerup Pipe Cleaning Kit (Leather)

With bristle brushes in three sizes, for draft holes, mortises, and tobacco chambers, and a chamber reamer and shank reamer of stainless steel, this kit also includes a polishing cloth and is conveniently housed in a zippered leather case. It's the sort of maintenance kit that everyone needs and an excellent Christmas gift to make sure you have the right cleaning supplies when they are needed.

Savinelli Pipe Dopp Kit

A comprehensive cleaning kit equipped with all the products necessary for maintaining pipes in good condition, Savinelli's Pipe Dopp Kit includes stem and finish polishes, chamber solvent, a steel reamer, a pack of Savinelli pipe cleaners, two application cloths, and one polishing cloth — all nestled within a metal presentation box celebrating Savinelli's 140th Anniversary.

Stocking Stuffers

Stocking stuffers are difficult items to find. They have to be great gifts, of course, yet small enough and light enough not to bring the mantle down. Pipe smoking, luckily, tends to have lots of accessories that are pocket- and stocking-friendly, and we've curated a list of potentials to make any Christmas morning even more enjoyable.

• Gift Cards
• Dunhill Mouthpiece Polish
• Peterson Pipe Cleaners
• Peterson 9mm Filters
• Neerup Pipe Brushes
• Peterson Flasks
• 8deco Pipe Tampers
• Low Country Reamer
• Neerup Tampers
• Windcaps
• Humi-Smart Humidification Packs