Mother’s Day gifting shifts from sweets to self care

MUMBAI: This Mother’s Day, India didn’t just say “I love you, Mum” with flowers and cake, it also quietly added protein shakes, sleep gummies and massagers to the basket. Instamart’s Mother’s Day Gifting Trends 2026 report suggests that gifting habits across India are beginning to move beyond predictable bouquets and chocolates towards more care-driven, wellness-focused choices. While flowers and sweets still dominated carts, the real story this year lay in what was added alongside them. Wellness products, self-care kits and lifestyle upgrades emerged as some of the fastest-growing gifting categories, signalling a broader shift in how consumers define thoughtful gifting.

Massagers recorded a sharp 136 per cent jump in orders, while premium perfumes surged 134 per cent as shoppers appeared increasingly willing to splurge on more personalised and premium presents. Beauty gift packs also climbed 77 per cent, turning skincare and grooming into Mother’s Day staples alongside traditional chocolates and cakes.

Even home ambience joined the celebration. Candles, diffusers and décor products pushed gifting demand up 34 per cent, particularly in cities such as Kolkata and Jaipur, where consumers leaned into comfort-first gifting.

Still, some traditions refused to budge. Chocolates remained India’s universal gifting language, appearing in 15 of the top 20 most-ordered gifting items during the week leading up to Mother’s Day on 10 May 2026.

Bouquets nearly doubled with a 97 per cent rise, showing consumers were opting for more elaborate floral arrangements rather than quick token purchases. Cakes continued their evening dominance too, with ice cream cake orders jumping 69 per cent and peaking around 7 pm as families gathered for at-home celebrations.

The report also revealed India’s favourite gifting hour: the busiest order window fell between 8 pm and 9 pm, while the most expensive gifting carts clustered around the Rs 5,500 mark.

Bangalore emerged as the country’s biggest Mother’s Day gifting hub, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi. But the trend extended well beyond metros, with cities such as Nagpur, Patna, Lucknow and Kolkata also showing strong quick-commerce gifting momentum.

Local tastes, however, added their own flavour to the celebrations.

Mumbai and Pune paired chocolates with fresh mawa cakes, Chennai and Kochi leaned towards brownie cakes and regional favourites, while Kolkata doubled down heavily on chocolates. Delhi and Gurgaon kept things classic with sponge cakes and chocolate-heavy combinations.

Some gifting carts stood out for being especially revealing and unintentionally entertaining.

Mumbai’s biggest order resembled a luxury pamper hamper packed with artisan chocolates in flavours ranging from gianduja hazelnut to orange chocolate. Gurgaon’s standout cart looked straight out of a fitness influencer starter pack, loaded with whey protein, fermented protein cold coffee and pre-workout supplements.

Jaipur, meanwhile, may have won the award for the most exhausted city. One standout order focused entirely on magnesium supplements and sleep gummies, effectively turning Mother’s Day into a prescription for uninterrupted rest.

And Hyderabad perhaps summed up modern gifting best, a cart carrying protein shakes, skincare products and classic chocolates all at once. Equal parts indulgence, wellness and self-care, it perfectly captured how India now seems to be saying: “Take care, Mum properly.”