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We know the truth: Some things are just easier to order on Amazon. Quick deliveries, low or no shipping costs, and easy returns make it a convenient emporium. While most don’t exactly think of the site as a destination to source high-quality or pretty products, there are a few elevated household and personal-care items our team buys over and over. From a fancy hotel candle to refillable German wood dish brushes, many of these must-haves would just as likely be found at a cute boutique. We tapped our editors and rounded up all our favorites, below.
Samantha Weiss-Hills, managing editor, home and shopping
Marvis is the only toothpaste brand I’ve used for years, and my dentist tells me my teeth are very clean. I love that the distinct design makes it nice to look at on our open shelves and it can stand upright on its shapely cap. But it can be hard to find except in specialty stores, so Amazon is the most reliable place to order it.
For dinner parties, I love to serve meals by candlelight. That means I tend to burn through tapers quickly. I prefer beeswax, not only for the natural color but also because they don’t drip and are unscented. These make sure I’m always stocked for the next time people come over.
A tub of Maldon sea salt is one of my go-to presents for housewarmings, birthdays, or even a just-because occasion. It’s the gift that keeps on giving for home cooks and hosts.
We bought a Townew self-sealing trash can during the pandemic for a variety of reasons. For one, you don’t have to touch it to open it; you just wave your hand over the top and it opens and closes with enough time to toss your rubbish. It charges via USB and uses heat to seal the bag. It’s also quite small, which is great for our shoebox-size kitchen. Plus for a two-person household that composts and recycles and takes the trash out quite often, we didn’t need something bigger. Once or twice a year, we stock up on these refill rings that fit snugly inside the top.
Julia Stevens, style contributor
Hand-washing clothing is by far my least favorite chore. I thought buying yuzu-scented soap might make it more tolerable, and it actually worked. My mom, a woman who somehow enjoys hand-washing, swears by Soak—it’s designed to work in cold water and somehow doesn’t need to be rinsed out—so I followed her lead and even got this collapsible IKEA bucket to go with it.
I believe that even the most mundane household tools can be beautiful, like this dish brush from Redecker, a German heritage company. You only need to buy the handle once, as it sells refill packs that fit into the metal wire. And if you’re all set on scrubbers, there are plenty more wood brushes from the brand.
Since I live alone, I do a lot of simple cooking. Quality olive oil makes a basic dish so much yummier, and it doesn’t require any more work on my end. Rather than lugging these home from Whole Foods, I just add them to my Amazon shopping cart when I’m almost out.
Belle Morizio, staff photographer + assistant photo editor
As a Taurus, I take my beauty products very seriously. I’m a big fan of the slicked hair look, especially when I’m in a rush to leave the house. Gels can be pretty damaging to your hair, so that’s why I opt for a hair mask instead. Amika’s Soulfood Nourishing Mask works great for my hair and it smells amazing, which is always a bonus.
Whenever I have an acne flare-up, I depend heavily on my Rael Beauty Miracle Patches. I just slap one of these bad boys on before bed, and in the morning the results are crazy (in a good way!). They are a must-have in your medicine cabinet.
This is the year I’ve started to take flossing seriously. I always struggled with using dental floss, so I decided to try out a water flosser instead. Best decision ever! The Quip cordless rechargeable water flosser works great for my sensitive gums. There are two different pressure modes, gentle and deep clean. The floss tip is magnetic so you can take it off and store it easily in a bathroom cabinet.
Lindsey DeSimone, senior marketing manager
I’m all for indulging in self-care, so when I got this six-pack of shower steamers as a stocking stuffer last Christmas, I of course tried one that very night. And it was a merry Christmas, indeed. Since then I’ve restocked, opting for the larger 15-count size. Soaking in the scent of eucalyptus and mint as I wash away the day has become a relaxing, pre-bedtime ritual I practice weekly, at minimum.
Lydia Geisel, home editor
I made a resolution a few years ago that I wanted to become the kind of person who other people interrupt just to tell them how good they smell (and/or how delightful their house smells)—and I’ve actually stuck to it. After staying at the Edition Hotel in Miami, I knew I’d found my home scent. Its signature candle is a bit pricey, so I try not to burn it all in a week’s go, but it’s also become a go-to housewarming gift for friends.
Maybe I just have a thing for sleek black packaging, but Homecourt’s Cece Hand Cream smells as sexy as it looks.
Andie Diemer, photo director
Various art supplies usually end up in my cart, but I’m loyal to the same film I’ve been using for a decade.
This imported hot sauce (which pairs great with tinned seafood) is flavorful and vinegary without being too spicy. Perfect to bring along on a summer picnic.
My husband originally ordered these glass jars for sourdough starter, and we’ve had to continuously add to our collection since discovering their versatility—they are perfect to use as leftover containers or to keep snacks fresh in the cupboard.
Lindsey Mather, digital director
Here’s the thing about moving from an apartment to a house: You inevitably accumulate more and more stuff. There’s technically room for the off-season bedding now in our possession, but actual organization has been sorely lacking. Enter these zip-up storage bags, which corral the sheets and comforter neatly under our guest bed while also keeping dust at bay.
In a mere eight months, my daughter has been through four types of baby bottles, and the chaos of the drawer they live in was bringing me down every time I opened it. Thankfully, mDesign’s divider keeps not only the bottles but their various unwieldy accessories in orderly columns.
After a few weeks of hopping soaking wet across our new bathroom to access the oddly faraway towel rod, I purchased two of these Blomus over-the-door hooks to slot over the glass partition of our walk-in shower. They’re so simple, and they just blend in, plus they have a silicone liner to prevent scratches.