Is There a Male Equivalent to Flowers? The TikTok Trend Explained

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Is banana bread the equivalent to flowers?

Co-authored by LeTisha Underwood and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: September 2, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is the male equivalent to flowers?

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The Banana Bread Theory

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Choosing a Gift

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If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you may have seen videos debating what the male equivalent to flowers is. In general, men don’t seem to want to receive flowers from the person they’re dating, but what gifts do they like instead? In this article, we’ll provide a list of some of the best gift ideas for men, with tips from dating and relationship experts. We’ll also explain the viral banana bread theory to determine whether banana bread is the male equivalent of flowers.

Gifts to Give Men Instead of Flowers

According to a viral TikTok trend, the male equivalent of flowers is banana bread! But any personalized gift is a great way to help a guy feel special, like concert tickets or a night out at his favorite restaurant. Other gifts that many guys love receiving include:

Beer or whiskey, beer accessories, or beer brewing kits
Meat gift baskets, retro candy gift sets, or baked goods gift sets
Legos (for adults), video games, gadgets, or DIY sets

Section 1 of 3:

What is the male equivalent to flowers?

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According to polled men, the male equivalent to flowers may be...beer. Let's get one thing straight, lots of guys do love flowers (and many women could do without). But recently, TikTok and Reddit users have been wondering what kind of gifts men like to receive in place of flowers, and while there isn't any one specific "equivalent" to flowers, Brewquets tallied up the results to reveal that many men would appreciate beer in lieu of a bouquet.^{[1]
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Research source} If your guy is a beer-lover, consider these gift ideas next time you're celebrating him:
Meet the wikiHow Experts

LeTisha Underwood is a certified professional matchmaker who specializes in helping marriage-minded people find their life partners.

Maya Diamond, MA, is a dating and relationship coach with 15 years of experience helping singles create healthy, loving, and lasting partnerships.

Sarah Schewitz, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience helping couples change their patterns in love and relationships.
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But many guys appreciate a personalized gift. While the poll concluded that lots of guys would just love a six-pack instead of a dozen roses, there are loads of other gifts to offer the guy who doesn't drink or who's just not a big beer-guy. Need some inspo? Here are some gift ideas your man might like to receive in place of flowers:
- Whiskey
- Meat gift baskets
- Retro candy gift sets
- Baked goods gift sets
- Legos (for adults)
- Video games
- Novelty gifts
- Coffee gifts
- Multitools
- Gadgets
- DIY sets
- Gift cards
- Wood or solar watches
- Tickets to a show or sporting event
- Lest we forget, many men actually do enjoy flowers! But if roses feel too ostentatious, consider sleek and minimalist blooms, like orchids, lilies, or anthuriums. You also can't go wrong with a fresh and earthy-looking succulent!
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You may not even need to spend a dime to make him feel loved. Flowers and beer and gift cards can get pricy pretty fast. But luckily, there are tons of ways to help the guy in your life feel special without shelling out too much money (or any money at all); relationship coach Maya Diamond, MA, suggests "planning a really fun date or creating an experience for him that can be a surprise.”^{[2]
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Expert Source

Maya Diamond, MA
Relationship Coach

Expert Interview} Here are some of our fave free gift ideas:
- Treat him to a home-cooked meal.
- Plan a picnic for the two of you.
- Give yourself as a present (wrapping yourself in a bow is optional).
- Give him a heartfelt compliment.
- Surprise him with private time together.

Section 2 of 3:

The Banana Bread Theory

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One theory claims that banana bread is the male equivalent to flowers. The banana bread theory states that baking a loaf of homemade banana bread will get the guy you’re dating to fall madly in love with you and commit himself to the relationship. What followed were loads of videos on TikTok and Reddit of users baking banana bread for their boyfriends and dates. However, there is no direct evidence supporting the idea that banana bread can make a guy love you more or make your relationship better.
- Some male users agreed that having their S.O. bake them homemade banana bread is what they’d love the most, while others disagreed, saying that they’d rather have alcohol or other gifts.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Choose a Gift for a Man

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Personalize your gift based on his hobbies and interests. You’re more likely to find the kind of gift he likes if you pay attention to the activities, hobbies, and interests he enjoys. For example, if he’s a sports fan, look for tickets to a game so he can watch his favorite team play. If he loves hot sauce and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, get him a DIY hot sauce-making kit he can play around with. If you know what he’s passionate about, he’ll love anything you get that speaks to who he is.
- Take our What Gift Should I Get My Boyfriend quiz if you need some help, or check out our forum on what gifts to get your boyfriend that he’ll love!
- Sometimes, your man may not even want a gift in the traditional sense. If he doesn’t want you to buy something, plan to spend some quality time with him and be sure to give him plenty of compliments to show him how much you love him!
EXPERT TIP

Sarah Schewitz, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
Sarah Schewitz, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist by the California Board of Psychology with over 10 years of experience. She received her Psy.D. from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2011. She is the founder of Couples Learn, an online psychology practice helping couples and individuals improve and change their patterns in love and relationships.

Sarah Schewitz, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist

A compliment is one of the best gifts you can give. Men, more than anything, want to be appreciated for what they do, and they want to be respected. They respond to compliments—tell him what you do like when he does it.