We’re not talking about all moms, but a brief and unscientific survey confirmed that there’s one gift most moms everywhere would love: time. Time without saying, without any structure, without any obligations. Though we didn’t find extra hours on sale anywhere online, we did find some gadgets and gizmos that help save time and some that make precious free time even more fun.
Our recommendations include some gifts we’ve given the moms in our lives as well as what moms on staff would like. Most people think of technology as a must-have, because that’s just who we are, but all should appeal to any mom who wants to make the most of her time.
Levoit Core 400S Air Purifier
When I tested air purifiers for our guide, I found that the best way to clean the air is to open the windows—but if the mom in your life struggles with allergies or lives in a place where air quality can be poor, an air purifier might be the next best thing.
The Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier was one of the quietest models I tested and performed on par with models three times more expensive. It has a three-stage filter (including an activated carbon layer and particulate filter), and the internal particulate matter sensor can automatically adjust the fan speed as dirt in the air increases.
The companion app shows historical air quality readouts and makes it easy to control and schedule the unit. Plus, replacement filters aren’t as expensive as other units.
Ember Mug 2
Take your mom’s morning coffee routine up a notch with the Ember Mug, a self-heating smart mug that keeps beverages at the perfect temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day if the mug is placed on a charging coaster. Its temperature ranges between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, letting your mom decide how hot she wants her coffee.
There’s also a companion app that lets her save preset temperatures for her favorite drinks, track her caffeine intake, customize the color of the LED light on the front of the mug, and more. The latest version also comes in a beautiful rose gold color as well as white, black, gold, silver, and copper.
Mpix Photo Book
Many of us take hundreds of photos with our phones and then never do anything with them. They’re left to rot in our camera rolls, only to be exposed when you have to scroll back months to find that one image you’re looking for. If you want to give mom another great way to view her favorite photos, an album from Mpix will do the trick.
You can customize your photo book from the start, choosing the best pictures of her family and friends and arranging them neatly on each page. You can also choose from a variety of cover options and paper weights, making the final product as premium as you want it to be. With options starting at $30 per book, it’s pretty easy to give mom a gift she’ll want to reread long after the holidays are over.
Pura Smart Scent Diffuser
I’ll be the first to say that the Pura Scent Diffuser surprised me. Before trying it out, I didn’t believe such a small device could actually spread strong fragrance throughout my home. But it didn’t take long to prove me wrong. The one I have stays plugged in near the front door in the family room of my house, and as soon as I walk in when the Pura is on, I smell the lovely scent of Amalfi Lemon, Lavender Fields or whatever other scent I’ve chosen.
The Pura can hold two different proprietary fragrance capsules at a time, so you can create very different vibes depending on the time of day, the occasion or anything else. The Pura app also makes it easy to set a per-scent diffusion schedule, and it can pause diffusion altogether if you’re away from home. Are you going to create ambiance throughout the house with this CD-sized gadget? No (maybe try the new Pura Plus for that), but it will make whatever part of your house it’s in feel a lot more luxurious.