By Amber R in UNDER $100 — 06 Oct 2026

UNDER $100: Five Genuinely Good Things, From Grooming to the Kitchen

Five genuinely good things from five corners of life: grooming, home, stationery, kitchen and accessories. All under a hundred dollars

UNDER $100: Five Genuinely Good Things

UNDER $100 is our rule for the week: five genuinely good things, each from a different corner of life, and none of them costing more than a hundred dollars. The picks are deliberately broad, so there is something for most people on your gift list or your own shelf.

Grooming: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

An Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm tube in pale apricot with black lettering — The 75ml tube. Image: THE ICONIC

The Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm is the grooming item you will actually reach for. It is a hydrating hand cream with a citrus aroma, built around sweet almond oil and macadamia nut oil, and it is described as absorbing quickly with a greaseless finish. That last point is the reason it works on a desk or in a bag. It costs $47.00 for 75ml at THE ICONIC.

Home: Ecoya Sweet Pea & Jasmine Madison Candle

An Ecoya Sweet Pea and Jasmine Madison candle in a frosted glass jar with a silver lid beside its pink box — The 400g Madison jar. Image: Ecoya

A good candle changes a room more than most furniture does. Ecoya's Sweet Pea & Jasmine Madison Candle is a 400g soy wax candle in a glass jar with a silver lid, and the brand quotes up to 80 hours of burn time. The scent is a floral pairing that Ecoya describes as pretty, delicate and soothing, which makes it a safe pick for a bedroom or a living room. It is $49.95 direct from Ecoya.

Stationery: Lamy Safari Fountain Pen

The Safari in yellow. Image: Officeworks

A good pen is a small upgrade you notice every day, and the Lamy Safari is the easy way in. Officeworks lists it in 12 colours, and the yellow version with a medium nib is $50.00. Pick it up if you want one proper pen for notes, journals and signing things, and an object that looks good beside a laptop.

Kitchen: Bialetti Moka Express 6 Cup

A polished aluminium Bialetti Moka Express stovetop espresso maker with a black handle — The eight-sided Moka Express. Image: Kitchen Warehouse

The Bialetti Moka Express is a polished aluminium stovetop espresso maker made in Italy, and it is a classic stovetop design that has barely changed shape. The 6 cup size holds 300ml at most, which Kitchen Warehouse reviewers say makes about two standard cups. It is not suitable for induction cooktops. Kitchen Warehouse has it at $53.95 against a listed RRP of $95, and sale prices move, so check before you buy.

Accessories: Bellroy Card Pocket

A black leather Bellroy Card Pocket zip wallet partly open to show cards and notes — The zip-around Card Pocket. Image: Bellroy

The Card Pocket is a small leather zip wallet that holds up to 15 cards, with a separate coin pouch, a spare SIM slot and a secure zip closure. At $95 from Bellroy it is the most expensive thing here, and also the one most likely to be in your pocket every single day. If a full-size wallet feels like too much to carry, this is the upgrade.

At a glance

Grooming: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm 75ml, $47.00 (THE ICONIC)
Home: Ecoya Sweet Pea & Jasmine Madison Candle 400g, $49.95 (Ecoya)
Stationery: Lamy Safari Fountain Pen, medium, yellow, $50.00 (Officeworks)
Kitchen: Bialetti Moka Express 6 Cup, $53.95 (Kitchen Warehouse)
Accessories: Bellroy Card Pocket, $95 (Bellroy)

Verdict: If you only buy one, make it the Lamy Safari: at $50 it is the easiest to justify and the one you will probably reach for most days. The rest suit different people, so pick the corner of life that needs the upgrade.