Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canadian gifts that ship across Canada

The best gifts from Nova Scotia are the everyday things made here: a bag of Lunenburg coffee, a candle hand-poured in Halifax, Annapolis Valley honey, maple syrup from New Brunswick. This guide is for anyone sending a taste of home, or a souvenir of a visit, to family and friends across Canada, with the Atlantic Canadian makers we love on our shelves and how shipping works.

Nova Scotia's craft traditions run deep, with Mi'kmaq, Acadian, Gaelic and fishing roots, and today you'll find that spirit in small makers across the province. Shopping for someone here in Halifax? Our Christmas gift guide has ideas for local gifting and same-day delivery. This one is about gifts that travel.

What makes good Nova Scotia gifts to ship?

The gifts that ship best are shelf-stable, sturdy and light: coffee and tea, honey and maple syrup, jam and preserves, candles, soap and skincare, and snack bars. Fresh, fridge and freezer items like local cheese and fresh bread are local delivery and pickup only, so save those for people in HRM.

Every gift below is made in Atlantic Canada, most of them by small, independent makers and family businesses, and you'll find all of them, plus many more unique items, in our Shop Local: Atlantic Canadian Made collection.

Coffee and tea from Nova Scotia roasters

Coffee is one of the easiest Nova Scotia gifts to mail: light, shelf-stable and something people use every day.

Laughing Whale has roasted organic, Fairtrade coffee in Lunenburg since 2003. Just Us! is a worker co-operative in Grand Pré, and in 1996 it became Canada's first fair trade coffee roaster. Tuck in a Made with Local bar, made in Halifax with Atlantic Canadian ingredients and organic fair-trade dark chocolate, and you have a small care package. Our Nova Scotia coffee roasters guide has more.

Candles hand-poured in Nova Scotia

Candles are a classic gift from home, and these four are all hand-poured in Nova Scotia.

LightWater hand-blends its oils in small batches in Halifax, and its candles are the only ones we carry that are scented purely with essential oils. Lawrencetown Candle Co pours soy candles in small batches, Circle & Wick uses 100% soy wax and cotton wicks, and Alben Lane makes hand-poured soy candles and perfumes in Halifax. Our Nova Scotia candles guide covers every scent.

Honey, maple syrup and preserves

A jar of something sweet is a gift almost everyone enjoys, and it keeps well in the mail when it's packed snugly.

Cosman & Whidden is a family bee farm in the Annapolis Valley. Wabanaki Maple was founded by Jolene Johnson in 2017 on Neqotkuk, Tobique First Nation, in New Brunswick, and its barrel-aged syrup has notes of oak, molasses and brown sugar. HardyWares makes green tomato chow, pickles and jam on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore, and Halifax Honey Company infuses its Stingin' Hot Honey right here in Halifax. For more, see our local honey and maple syrup guide.

Skincare and bath gifts from Atlantic Canada

Small-batch skincare makes a thoughtful gift, and it's light to ship.

The Cure Skincare started in Nova Scotia and is now handmade in small batches in Hamilton, Ontario; its sea moss skincare still carries those Nova Scotia roots. Upfront Cosmetics handmakes plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars in Nackawic, New Brunswick. Flock & Tallow is a small Nova Scotia company started by a military veteran who renders the tallow himself from local beef.

Local drinks for gifts closer to home

Drinks from Nova Scotia's wineries, breweries and cideries make great gifts too, and several makers offer alcohol-free versions we carry. We suggest these for gifts in HRM: pick them up at either store or send them with same-day delivery. Bulwark non-alcoholic cider is made with flavours from the Annapolis Valley, and Benjamin Bridge, Nova Scotia's sparkling wine house in the Gaspereau Valley, makes Pink Piquette Zero. Our non-alcoholic beer, cider and wine guide has the full list.

Gift ideas by person

For the card, Jill + Jack makes plantable wildflower seed cards with art illustrated in Halifax: the recipient can plant the card in the spring.

Jill + Jack Seed CardsWildflowers seed cardPlant it in the spring. Illustrated in Halifax.Shop →

How does shipping work?

1. Order online. Add your gifts to the cart and enter the recipient's address at checkout.
2. Free shipping over $80. Orders over $80 ship free anywhere in Canada.
3. Atlantic Canada in 1 to 3 business days. Gifts to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador usually arrive in 1 to 3 business days.
4. Local delivery in HRM. Order by 11 am with Luminate Express for delivery between 2:30 and 6 pm the same day, or pick up at either store.
5. Order early in the holiday season. Leave extra time in December for gifts going out of province.

Our shipping and returns page has the details, and Atlantic Everyday explains what ships well across the region.

Send something made close to home, and the parcel tells part of the story.

Questions we get a lot

What are good gifts from Nova Scotia?

Something made here that the person will actually use: Laughing Whale or Just Us! coffee, Cosman & Whidden honey, a LightWater, Lawrencetown or Circle & Wick candle, HardyWares preserves or The Cure Skincare. All of them travel well.

Can you ship Nova Scotia gifts across Canada?

Yes. We ship across Canada, free on orders over $80, and gifts within Atlantic Canada usually arrive in 1 to 3 business days. Fresh, fridge and freezer items are local delivery and pickup only.

Where can I buy Laughing Whale coffee in Halifax?

In our Bedford and Dartmouth stores and online. We carry Laughing Whale in bags and by weight from the bulk section, so ask at your store for what's on the shelf.

Where can I buy Lawrencetown Candle Co candles?

In our stores and online, with shipping across Canada. Lawrencetown pours its soy candles in small batches in Nova Scotia.

Is Wabanaki maple syrup from New Brunswick?

Yes. Wabanaki Maple was founded in 2017 on Neqotkuk, Tobique First Nation, in New Brunswick. We carry its barrel-aged and infused syrups.

Do you make gift boxes?

We don't sell ready-made hampers online. Most people build their own from individual products, and we're happy to help you choose at either store.

Find Atlantic Canadian gifts at Luminate

Local makers are on shelves throughout both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. Meet more of them on our local makers page. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

This article is general information. Check each listing for ingredients and allergens.