Money, Softly Managed
10 Bougie Things That Are Actually Worth the Money
Ten small luxuries I genuinely use, love and would buy again - tested against The Ordinary Tuesday Test, my own rule for what is really worth the money.
7 min read
“Are they actually worth it, or are they simply expensive?”
The internet is full of lists of expensive things that are supposedly "worth it." Luxury handbags, designer gadgets, five-star hotels. While they’re fun to read, they often leave me wondering one thing: are they actually worth it, or are they simply expensive?
Over the years, I’ve realised that the purchases I value most aren’t necessarily the biggest or the most luxurious. They’re the ones that quietly make ordinary life feel better.
A beautifully lit living room on a rainy evening. Fresh pasta on a Sunday afternoon. A towel that feels like a boutique hotel. A drinking glass that makes even sparkling water feel special.
Those are the luxuries that stay with you.
Before anything earns a place in my home, it has to pass what I call The Ordinary Tuesday Test.
The Ordinary Tuesday Test
Every item in this list answers "yes" to these five questions.
Do I genuinely use it?
Does it make an ordinary moment noticeably better?
Would I immediately replace it if it disappeared tomorrow?
Will I still enjoy it years from now?
Did I consciously choose this instead of buying lots of smaller, forgettable things?
Because that last question matters.
Beautiful living isn’t about buying everything. It’s about buying the right things.
1. Philips Hue Lighting
Worth Saving For
Lighting changes a room more than almost anything else.
Throughout my home I use Philips Hue for indirect lighting rather than relying on bright ceiling lights. During the day the lights are barely noticeable. In the evening, however, they completely transform the atmosphere.
A warm amber glow while reading. Soft lighting during dinner. Cosy autumn evenings.
Even Christmas becomes more magical simply because the lighting adapts to the season.
It isn’t just smart technology. It’s atmosphere on demand.
The Essy’s Verdict
★★★★★ Daily joy
★★★★★ Frequency of use
★★★★★ Would buy again
2. Diptyque Candles
Worth Waiting For
No one needs a luxury candle. That is precisely why a truly beautiful one feels so special.
A Diptyque candle isn’t simply about fragrance. It’s about creating a ritual. Lighting it signals that the working day has ended and the evening has begun.
Would I fill my house with them? Probably not.
Would I happily own one that I genuinely love? Absolutely.
Sometimes one beautiful candle is more satisfying than five cheaper ones that never quite smell the way you hoped.
The Essy’s Verdict
Worth every burn.
3. Aesop Hand Wash
Worth Upgrading
There are very few products you use as often as hand soap. Which is exactly why this one deserves a place on the list.
Every single day I walk past the sink countless times. Every single day I enjoy using it.
Beautiful packaging alone would never justify the price. But a lovely fragrance, a pleasant texture and a bottle that quietly elevates the kitchen or bathroom? That becomes a luxury you actually experience several times a day.
4. Anthropologie Glasses
Worth Upgrading
This might be the most "me" item on the list.
Yes, spending around fifteen euros on a drinking glass sounds excessive. Until you realise you reach for it every single day.
Whether it’s iced coffee, sparkling water or a Coca-Cola Zero with plenty of ice, these are always the glasses I choose.
They make an ordinary drink feel intentional.
The real luxury isn’t owning beautiful glasses. It’s never feeling the need to save them for guests.
Beautiful things deserve ordinary Tuesdays too.
5. The KitchenAid Pasta Attachment
Worth Saving For
This is probably the most expensive accessory in my kitchen. It also happens to be one of the most enjoyable.
Fresh pasta initially feels intimidating. It isn’t.
Once you’ve learned the process, you can make beautiful fresh pasta surprisingly quickly. But the real value isn’t the speed. It’s the experience.
Rolling the dough. Watching it become ribbons of tagliatelle. Cooking something completely from scratch.
It turns dinner into an activity instead of another task on the to-do list. Comfort food somehow tastes even better when you’ve made it yourself.
6. Exceptional Hotel-Quality Towels
Worth Upgrading
This is one of the most underrated home upgrades imaginable.
Mine are oversized, thick and heavy enough to wrap completely around myself after a shower.
It’s difficult to explain until you’ve experienced the difference. Once you have, standard towels simply feel disappointing.
Some luxuries aren’t about appearances. They’re about comfort.
7. Really Good Olive Oil
Worth Upgrading
Some upgrades cost hundreds. Others cost just a few euros more.
A genuinely beautiful olive oil is one of them. It’s something you use repeatedly throughout the week, making simple pasta, roasted vegetables or fresh bread feel just a little more special.
Sometimes luxury isn’t complicated. Sometimes it’s simply choosing the better ingredient.
8. A Signature Fragrance
Worth Waiting For
I’d rather own one fragrance that feels unmistakably like me than a shelf full of perfumes I barely wear.
When something becomes part of your daily routine, the cost per use becomes surprisingly small.
The best purchases become part of your identity.
9. Beautiful Bed Linen
Worth Upgrading
You spend roughly a third of your life in bed. That alone makes good bedding one of the most worthwhile investments in a home.
Beautiful fabrics, calming colours and quality that improves with washing create something that luxury hotels have understood for decades: comfort begins long before you fall asleep.
10. Buying Back Time
The Most Unexpected Luxury
The final item isn’t something you can display on a shelf.
Sometimes the best luxury is paying for more time.
Ordering groceries during an exceptionally busy week. Having something professionally repaired instead of replacing it. Letting someone else do a task that steals hours but brings you no joy.
Not every worthwhile investment comes in a beautiful box. Sometimes it simply gives you your afternoon back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What bougie things are actually worth the money?
Based on years of everyday use, the small luxuries that consistently earn their price are indirect home lighting (like Philips Hue), a candle you genuinely love, a hand wash you enjoy using several times a day, drinking glasses you reach for daily, a quality kitchen tool like a pasta attachment, hotel-quality towels, really good olive oil, a signature fragrance, beautiful bed linen, and - perhaps the most valuable of all - paying to buy back your own time.
Are Diptyque candles worth it?
For one candle you genuinely love, yes. A Diptyque candle isn’t really about fragrance - it’s about ritual, marking the shift from the working day into the evening. One beautiful candle is usually more satisfying than several cheaper ones that never quite smell the way you hoped.
Is Aesop hand wash worth it?
Yes, because it’s used so often. Hand soap is one of the few products you touch countless times a day, so a lovely fragrance and pleasant texture turns one of the most repetitive moments of the day into a small luxury, several times over.
Is Philips Hue worth the investment?
For anyone who wants a home’s atmosphere to genuinely shift with the time of day, yes. Indirect lighting like Philips Hue is barely noticeable during the day but completely transforms a room in the evening - it functions as atmosphere on demand rather than simply lighting a space.
Are Anthropologie glasses worth buying?
At around €15 each, they’re worth it if you’ll genuinely use them every day. The real luxury isn’t owning beautiful glassware - it’s never feeling the need to save it for guests.
Are hotel-quality towels worth it?
Yes. Oversized, thick, heavy towels create a daily moment of comfort that is hard to go back from once you’ve experienced it - one of the most underrated upgrades a home can get.
Is the KitchenAid pasta attachment worth it?
It’s one of the more expensive kitchen accessories, but the value isn’t speed - it’s the experience. Making fresh pasta from scratch turns dinner into an activity rather than another task on the to-do list.
This article isn’t really about expensive products. It’s about intentional choices.
Whenever I buy something significant, I ask myself one question: will this still make an ordinary Tuesday better six months from now?
If the answer is yes, it’s usually worth saving for. If the answer is no, I happily leave it behind.
Because beautiful living has never been about owning more. It’s about choosing better. One beautiful purchase at a time.
If this article inspired your next intentional purchase, my free guide One Beautiful Purchase can help you choose it well.
A Note on This Content
The content on Essy’s Essentials is intended for general inspiration, personal organisation and educational purposes. It does not constitute personal financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Always consider your own circumstances and seek qualified advice where appropriate. Any amounts shown are illustrative examples only, never a recommendation for what you personally should save or spend.