... But a little something wrapped in pretty paper doesn’t hurt. Say no to the tired chocolate-covered strawberries, and peruse our Valentine’s Gift Guide for some of this year’s most unusual ideas.

by Jeff Katz

1. Puppies are so expected. This year, show a little otter love with the Sexy, Cuddly, Warm & Feisty Four Piece Valentine’s Gift Set from fashion label Otter. Included is a must-have accessory (the steel disco sex bracelet), delicious scents (red ginger soy candle) and, of course, a cuddly otter. $55. www.otterfashion.com

2. Give a gift that is sugary sweet, but calorie free, with Sweet Beauty’s Love Potion. This dark chocolate and rose petal body scrub packs in all the health and beauty benefits of cocoa, while also making you (or your Valentine) the perfect after-dinner dessert. $19. www.sweetbeautyspa.com

3. Wrap your Valentine up in love, warmth and sweet aroma with the Fruit Scented Throws by Owen Lawrence. Partners Owen Halpern and Lawrence Pritchard have the colorful fringed blankets exclusively made in Italy, with sweet scents including lemon, raspberry and apple. $70. www.owenlawrence.com

4. The England-based Lush is finally making its way to this side of the pond, and just in the nick of time. The handmade cosmetic emporium has the perfect gift for a Valentine’s rub down, with the Massage á Trois pack. The three sweet massage bars will leave your skin feeling smooth and in the mood. $29.95. www.lush.com

5. Try your hand at old-school elegance by having tea time with your beloved. Gaiam’s Teaposy Set provides something pretty to look at, with hand-sewn green tea blossoms blooming in a glass diffuser. With a bamboo hot plate and serving wear, you’ll have beautiful tea for two! $78. www.gaiam.com

6. Once you’ve boiled some delicious tea in your new Teaposy, serve up some lovin’ in these limited edition Cupid Cups, designed by Ed Hardy. The handmade porcelain crafts come from Japan and, with only 108 sets made, they are a rare collectable. $145. Ku Ambiance, WeHo or www.kuambiance.com

7. Artist Robin Antar took her talents for sculpture and threw in a little vino, creating this line of Wine Knots. The curvaceous pieces are a modern take on the wine rack, serving as both display cases and works of art. The color of the bottles, or wine itself, create a cool color effect transposed onto the knot’s white finish. $600. www.rantar.com

8. Diamonds may be a girl’s (or boy’s) best friend, but a commissioned piece of wearable art is certainly the way to your Valentine’s heart. Artist Andy Gersh‘s pendant collection includes some of the brightest and most interesting designs to be slapped around someone’s neck, including the Grey Orbs pendant seen here. Each glass charm is specially made for each order, but Gersh’s inspirations are endless. $30. www.andygersh.com

9. There’s something about the color red that just puts us in the mood for love. So if you have a techie Valentine who needs a shot of romance, check out the brand-new Pantech Duo in its special-edition ruby red finish. This smartphone flips open in two directions, revealing both a Qwerty keyboard and a numeric set—all while looking slim and sleek. $349 (before contract). www.pantechduo.com

10. Cakes aren’t only for birthdays, and Bake Me a Wish! has come up with the perfect recipe for love. Their Red Velvet Chocolate Cake features a Belgian chocolate Valentine’s Day message and, best of all, 5 percent of sales are donated to the Make-A-Wish foundation. $39.95. www.bakemeawish.com

11. Who doesn’t like a little French kiss every now and then? Marani vodka has the perfect pucker with their French Kiss Maranitini. Combine 4.5 ounces of the premium vodka with a splash of Chambord, throw in a few chocolate kisses and enjoy. Marani Vodka, $29.99, Vons.

12. One of the most original gift ideas out there this year is the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s ADOPT an Animal program. For $35-1,000 you can make your mate official guardian of a zoo animal for the year (ADOPT stands for “Animals Depend on People, Too). The koala and meerkat are cute, but we’re partial to the kookaburra. www.lazoo.org/support/adopt

13. Your lover will look hot in leather with a Rock Band wrapped around his or her wrist. Lee Dahlberg’s accessory line is huge, with tons of different stones to meet anyone’s personal style. We especially like the square-cut Plum Jasper stone and the heart-shaped Rose Quartz stone seen here. $250. www.rockbandfashion.com

14. Picked from the best grapes in Sonoma’s wine country, Hope Wine has three distinct vino varieties that help fund research for three important causes. Fifty percent of sales from the Chardonnay go towards breast cancer support, while the company’s Merlot helps the fight against AIDS, and the Cabernet Sauvignon works on autism research. $18.99 each. www.hopewine.com

15. A Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a little chocolate treat. Choclatique’s Indulgence Collection features 30 of the most gorgeous (not to mention delicious) bite-size desserts in assorted flavors and fillings. $45. www.choclatique.com