Diet Coke Gifts That Obsessives Want For Valentine’s Day

The beloved designer toy company Kidrobot is the developer behind Yummy World, a series of plush food and drink-themed collectibles. One of these covetable plushies is this soft and squishy Diet Coke can with a metallic exterior and an interactive top that you can tap on and it sounds just like when you crack open a crisp, cold can of Diet Coke.

Diet Coke’s official collaboration with Target launched at the end of last November, and DC-lovers responded in kind by nearly selling out its limited-edition stock. Fortunately, a few staples remain, including this intentionally oversized sweatshirt with a heart design. This classic crewneck, available in women’s sizes S-XL, is fleece-lined for softness and warmth.

Lip Smackers are the ultimate purveyors of soda-scented lip balms (remember the Dr. Pepper one from the early 2000s?), and they’ve done it again with this fun balm, perfect for all those Diet Coke obsessives out there. Meant to resemble a real Diet Coke, this balm can be clipped onto keychains, bags, or belt loops and promises to leave a moisturized, silky, and smooth finish on the lips.

Personal deputy editor Emily McCombs is HuffPost’s resident Diet Coke obsessive and a fountain of knowledge when it comes to finding all the best Diet Coke-related giftables and unique merchandise. McCombs calls this functional and fashionable iridescent keychain a “beloved” item in her collection, as it unzips to allow you an instant coozy for a full-size can of Diet Coke wherever you go. It can also be used to hold pens, makeup and other essentials while on the go.

McCombs recently asked if I had seen these limited edition Diet Coke Crocs that apparently have caused such fanfare that they are nearly completely sold out, except for one size on the Crocs website.

Fortunately, we tracked down a much healthier available stock on Zappos and Dick’s Sporting Goods, which currently offers these iconic and waterproof slides in gender-neutral sizing 4-11. Aside from closely resembling a Diet Coke can, these Crocs feature fun detailing like a bottle cap pendant on the hinge and a Diet Coke slogan on the heel strap.

According to Givens, this Diet Coke-scented candle would be a great gag gift – especially if you know your gift recipient is a Diet Coke-lover. Made with eco-friendly soy wax, this candle promises to throw out those recognizable and iconic notes of that beloved sugar-free soda into any space, and tons of reviewers have attested that it really does smell “exactly like Diet Coke.”

Possibly one of my favorite things to come out of the Diet Coke cultural lexicon is referring to cans of DC as “fridge cigarettes” because nothing really quite captures the experience of cracking open a cold one midday like the term fridge cigarettes. We can also speculate that the term was possibly inspired by the pervasive myth that Diet Coke causes cancer, even though it’s safe to say that these claims aren’t really supported by strong data and reflect correlation, rather than causation, but I digress.

McCombs shared this super cool print that she just ordered for her kitchen, and I quickly followed suit. I love that it looks a little retro, slightly worn and hand-painted. You can choose from six different colored backgrounds, tons of sizes, and even the type of material you want it printed on, like canvas or fine art paper. Plus, for those of us who want things ready-to-hang, you can choose to have it shipped to you framed.

While we’re on the subject of “fridge cigarettes,” this cool wall-mounting sign made from acrylic features a real neon light, in the color of your choice (there are 12 to choose from). Available in five different sizes, this sign is handmade in Los Angeles.

As someone who would describe themselves as outdoors-y, Givens thinks this clever cooler is “iconic.” Not only does it feature a Diet Coke can-shaped design and have a carrying capacity of 24 cans, but it also has a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker built into the lid. Made from five layers on insulated material. This cooler can keep contents fresh for up to 12 hours and can also be worn as a backpack for easy transportation.

“I could easily see myself taking this on a boat, to the beach, or lounging by the pool,” she said.

Givens and I spoke at length about the ritualism surrounding Diet Coke consumption and the concept of marination, a newly appointed term that, in this instance, refers to a can of Diet Coke sitting in the fridge for a set amount of time.

“For me, it has to be a can that’s been marinating in the fridge for at least 24 hours, so it looks nice and frosty on the can and poured over ice, with one True Lime packet sprinkled in,” she said.

Givens’ typical drinking vessel of choice is her Yeti because it keeps contents cold, and her Diet Coke won’t get watered down. However, she said she’s not immune to the trending TikTok videos where Diet Coke lovers pour their perfectly “marinated” beverages into one of these glass tumblers with “nugget ice” and sip them out of a glass straw.

“I like that it’s glass rather than plastic and the lid keeps any dust out,” Givens said when I presented this aesthetic alternative to her normal stainless steel tumbler.

Leah Knauer, 33, is a Los Angeles-based actor and comic and this portable mini fridge was among her top Diet Coke gifts, perfect for chilling up to six cans of Diet Coke comfortably, no matter where you are.

“I would put that under my desk and keep it stocked with Diet Coke to keep me working through the day,” she said.

It features a dual-rack interior, a four-liter capacity, and can even be used to keep contents warm if you need to transport hot food.

My partner enforces one rule in our household, which is that there must be a well-stocked fridge of Diet Coke. He shows his love for the carbonated stuff by wearing this exact ball cap at least twice a week, which he found at our local Ross. It’s a classic, five-paneled design and made from 100% cotton for a breathable wear and featuring a clear Diet Coke logo that’s almost as crisp as the soda itself.

“Fixation. Fetish. Call it what you will, there’s something percolating in the fast-food liquid zeitgeist with McDonald’s Diet Coke,” HuffPost freelance writer Joanna O’Leary previously wrote when covering the cultural phenomenon of why McDonald’s Diet Coke reigns supreme over all other forms.

And while that’s a story for another day, most Diet Coke drinkers will know exactly what you mean when you gift them this witty card with a completely blank interior so you can write whatever you want for any occasion.

As much as Givens is an ardent drinker of Diet Coke, she is also a curious fragrance seeker who is constantly in the know about new and interesting scents. When I asked her what she thought about something as intriguing as a cola-scented perfume, she said she would consider this to be a thoughtful gift that’s unique and special.

The indie fragrance brand Snif is no stranger to out-there scents (they famously formulated a fragrance meant to smell like pizza), and this soda-inspired mist may not smell exactly like Diet Coke, but it features notes of cola accord, vanilla, cinnamon, fizzy lime and caramel.

“I would definitely need to smell this first, but I could see how these notes would be really great to wear,” Givens said.

As a maximalist, there are very few things that make me as happy as a little kitschy item, so when shopping for something that seemed a little bit more unique, McCombs simply said, “Etsy. It’s always Etsy.”

This hand-painted glass trinket tray from Etsy, without a doubt, checks all my boxes — dare I say, it’s even a little chic? I like that it’s clearly a nod to my love of Diet Coke, without looking overly branded or too commercial. Measuring four inches in diameter, it can be used as a small catch-all for loose change and jewelry or even a coaster for your sweating can of Diet Coke.

McCombs also suggested this Diet Coke claw clip, which has some of the most realistic design detailing I’ve seen in an acetate hair clip.