Even without a kitchen in sight, herbs and spices can bring familiar tastes and scents to a new college "home." Help your favorite college-bound student adjust to the challenges of dorm living with these thoughtful gifts
1. Popcorn Popper
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A popcorn popper might not be the most common dorm room appliance, but it might just be the most fun. Air-popped corn is healthy, inexpensive, and perfect for study breaks and late-night snack attacks. Plus, food is a great icebreaker, and the aroma of freshly popping corn is sure to draw new dorm-mates down the hall to meet your favorite college student. Be sure to include popping corn, a bottle of olive oil, sea salt, and a few spice blends for do-it-yourself customized popcorn. Good bets include curry powder, cinnamon and sugar, and chili powder.
2. Coffee Maker
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Lots of coffee habits start in college, and no wonder. Between early morning classes and pulling all-nighters to finish those 30-page papers, making friends with caffeine can seem an awfully good idea. Of course, most cafeteria coffee is pretty ho hum, and frequent latte runs can get awfully pricey. With a programmable coffee maker on hand, young scholars can wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Supply some flavored ground coffee, and cinnamon, vanilla, and cocoa powders for sprinkling, and enterprising students can even set up a little dorm room coffee bar business.
3. Hot Pot
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Not so keen on encouraging a coffee addiction? Send a hot pot to school, along with a selection of soothing herbal teas and hearty instant soups. Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger teas are great for soothing colds, recovering from late nights, and easing anxiety. Nile Spice and Fantastic Foods are among companies that make spicy instant soup cups that are far more nutritious than ramen, and perfect for when dining hall ennui sets in.
4. Aromatherapy Eye Pillow
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Sharing a small dorm room can be a challenge -- especially when one's roommate is on a wildly different sleep schedule, or, worse yet, has super-smelly socks. An aromatherapeutic eye pillow can help on both counts, by blocking out light and exuding a pleasant, soothing aroma thanks to the lavender and chamomile it contains. Even annoying roommates don't seem that bad when you've gotten a good nights' sleep.
5. Mint Body Wash
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Communal dorm bathrooms can be a drag -- what with lugging toiletries back and forth, waiting for a shower, and hoping there's hot water. At least an invigorating mint body wash makes shower time something to look forward to. Even if enjoying the minty aroma encourages a little hot water-hogging.