I hosted a retreat at a chateau in the South of France to help people reconnect with pleasure. 

_{[Image: Here's a photo of some of our retreat group enjoying the view from a hike at Pic Saint-Loup!]}

All of the participants specifically commented on how much they loved the gift bag items I included so I thought I'd share them with you!

_{[Image: most of the items from this list displayed on a gold shelf with detailed white and gold patterned wallpaper in one of the guest rooms in the chateau]}

Feel free to incorporate my suggestions for your own retreat, use this guide to create a cozy gift package (an amazing holiday present!), or pick and choose items for yourself that will give you the softness you're seeking in your life. 😊

Side note: I also have ADHD and these items are super specifically selected to feel amazing for all of the senses. AND you can rest assured that I went way too deep into researching each item with my hyper-focus to find the most amazing product I could.

Here are the most beloved gift bag items from my retreat:

_{[Image: photo over the shoulder of a retreat participant writing notes in their notebook during a workshop using the pen mentioned in this blog]}

Gel Ink Pens - 10 pack

In most retreats, you're going to do a lot of journaling and writing. I knew any old pen wasn't going to cut it and searched for days before finding these. Everyone raved about these pens throughout the retreat and reached out after the retreat to ask where to find them! It's still my go-to pen for daily journaling and feels amazing.  

_{[Image: Screenshot of the Moleskine notebook in my preferred color, Myrtle Green]}

The best notebook

I buy a Moleskin notebook almost every year for journaling, recording tarot card readings, and generally taking notes. It's sturdy, classy, and lined. I especially love this green color! 

_{[Image: Julia, a Jewish-American woman with short hair sits on a rug during the retreat. She is laughing and positioned with hands wrapped around one knee and wearing the cozy socks listed in this blog in an oatmeal color.]}

Thick fuzzy slipper socks - 3 pack (available in multiple colors)

My retreat was in February so I knew coziness was a must, but people were also traveling there from around the world so I didn't want to send anyone home with bulky slippers. Instead, these ultra-lightweight super soft sock slippers kept us toasty in a big chateau! Plus they have anti-slip spots underneath so nobody was sliding around on smooth floors. My husband actually "borrowed" a spare set of these and wears them almost every day. 

[Image: 

Sheet Masks Variety Set - 12 pack and Gold Undereye Masks from grace and stella - 24 pack

There's something so intimate and pleasurable about face masks. Since our theme of the retreat was around reconnecting with pleasure for people who work in social impact, I knew they were a treat I wanted to share with the group. I'm a big fan of the grace & stella gold undereye masks and decided to add a couple sheet masks from a variety pack for everyone which were a huge hit. People had fun swapping them and used up all the extras that I left out as bonus gifts! 

Also seen above - Fleece Throw Blanket - 10 Pack multicolor

I bought the blankets for this retreat locally to save space on packing, but you can find affordable multi-packs of different colored similar fleece throws online. This one is super similar to what I had at the retreat. Also a great gift for travelers who can use these on airplanes or fold them up as pillows!

 Reusable Net Mesh Shopping Bags - 12 Pack

The retreat was in France and I wanted to go with a bit of a theme with a classic French market bag, but these are so much nicer than I even expected! I LOVE the colors in this mixed pack and had fun customizing colors for different retreat participants. The bags are also durable and really well-made, perfect for tucking into your pocket or purse since they take up very little space, and look cute over your shoulder with your baguette and cheese! 

Cocokind Mymatcha Stick 

I once attended a retreat in the winter where I was the only person there who had chapstick. This was pre-covid, but it was still kind of gross that we passed along my chapstick the whole time between 9 of us. 😂 Whether you're hosting a retreat in the winter, high altitude, or hot sunshine, including something to help with chapped lips and dry skin is a game changer. I actually didn't include this specific product in the gift bag (it didn't exist yet!) but it has great reviews and I LOVE this company so I would 100% include it in future retreat gift bags!

Fidget Toys

Ok so this might seem like a weird one, but I left out a few quiet fidget toys during workshops and retreat participants were so appreciative! Not everyone there had ADHD but turns out most adults are happy to have some toys to play with too. When we talk about reconnecting with pleasure, allowing ourselves to play, be curious, and enjoy the sensations of squishing, popping, and clicking toys is a great outlet and space for exploration. 

Ultra Luxury Bath Products from Fossette

In addition to the gift boxes, all retreat participants received a set of these incredible bath products: Moisturising Body Bar, Perfect Shampoo, Silkening Conditioner, and 4-in-1 Essential balm. I love these products so much - they smell amazing and feel so good. I use the 4-in-1 Essential balm most days for lips and hands and always travel with the body bar, shampoo, and conditioner. The scents are gender-neutral - a bit herbal and lightly floral but not highy perfumed. They're also great for sensitive skin.

What else would you want in your retreat gift bag??

Photos 1, 3, and 5 are by the incredibly talented photographer Lina Bernard from during the retreat. Photos 2 and 6 are also from the retreat but were taken on my iPhone. 😂

Full disclosure about the products above: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.