A reed diffuser for Secret Santa: which of the four to give, under £20

Drawn a name at work and been handed a £20 limit? A reed diffuser is a safe choice. Nobody has to wear it, it does not need a size, and it ends up on a desk or a hallway table where it gets used. Ours are Maison Parfum reed diffusers chosen by Scentily: four scents, each 250ml and £17.99, so one bottle sits inside the £20 band most offices set.

The easy route: two colleagues, one order

If two of you have drawn names, order together. Any two diffusers are 15% off automatically at the basket, which brings a pair to £30.58, and UK delivery is free over £30. That is £15.29 a bottle, delivered, and one parcel to split between you in the office.

Buying one on its own is fine too. One bottle is £17.99, which fits a £20 draw, but add £3.49 standard UK delivery and a single bottle comes to £21.48 at your door. If the limit is strict, the two-colleague route is the way to stay under it.

Which one to give, by colleague

The one who has been there longest

Knows where everything is, keeps a tidy desk, takes their tea the same way every day. Give them Rouge: saffron and amber with a sweet, glowing warmth. It suits a bedroom or a living room, and it is the one we would pick when we are not sure.

The organiser

Runs the rota, remembers birthdays, probably set up this draw. Coco is bright orange over rose with soft patchouli beneath. Polished and easy to live with, for the living room.

The one who says anything is fine

Will not give a hint and means it, which makes them the hardest name to draw. Suave is fresh bergamot and pepper over clean woods. It belongs in a hallway, and it is the one we suggest for him.

The one with opinions

Strong views on the office playlist and the biscuit tin. Pomegranate Noir is dark fruit with a little drama. It holds its own in a bathroom and it does not apologise.

Handing it over

If you would rather it went straight to them, put their address in at checkout and add a note, and we send it to them. We dispatch within 1 to 2 working days and standard UK delivery takes 2 to 4 working days after that, so allow a week to be safe. Unopened items can be returned within 14 days of delivery.

Still stuck?

Think about where it would go rather than who they are. Our gift guide matches each of the four to a kind of person and a room, and the Gifts collection has all four in one place. Two names drawn, one order, 15% off and free UK delivery: that is the version we would go for.