Weird and Wonderful Novelty Stationery: Six Curious Finds Tested

Introduction

Novelty stationery lives or dies on one question: does the gimmick actually add anything, or is it just a normal pen with a story attached? We tested six of the strangest finds out there, from a ballpoint that diffuses essential oils to a watch made of paper. Some turned out to be genuinely fun, others were charming ideas that fall apart in the hand, and a couple are worth buying purely as gifts.

Lifelines Pen Diffuser

The Lifelines Pen Diffuser is a black ballpoint pen with four vent chambers around the barrel, each labeled calm, energy, focus, and joy. Open a vent and aroma diffuses as you write. The brand blends 100% pure essential oils and sustainably sourced botanicals, and it was co-founded by the founders of Melissa and Doug Toys, which explains the polished presentation, right down to the instruction manual.

The scent is strong and pleasant, minty and fresh rather than overwhelming, though it is easy to overdo it if you sniff the vent directly. The catch: the four blends smell remarkably similar to each other. As a design object it scores well, but as a functioning four-scent system it is less convincing. It is a cute gift for someone stressed or into essential oils, less so a purchase for yourself.

Lifelines Rub and Sniff Scented Pencils

This set of scented colored pencils features ten aromas with names as evocative as the scents: Watching Clouds Drift Across the Sky, Dancing in the Summer Rain, and Damp Earth After a Rainstorm. The scents themselves are the highlight, with genuine rose, lemon and lemongrass, and pine and patchouli notes that are far better than typical scented stationery.

In actual use, however, they are basic colored pencils at a premium price, and the constant essential oil smell can become off-putting over a long session. When several are used together the scents blend into one general aroma. If you love scented products or unique stationery, these are a delightful treat; if you just want coloring performance, standard pencils do the job for less.

Lifelines Scented Lava Pens

The Scented Lava Pens are red and blue gel pens with essential oil blends and a mesmerizing lava-like flow visible in the barrel. The red one smells vaguely of cinnamon apple, the blue is fresher, and both look genuinely striking in a pencil case. These are arguably the coolest-looking pens in the whole lineup.

The writing experience is more average, the gel ink is not especially smooth, and the scent is mild. Style clearly outranks substance here, but as a fun desk toy that also writes, they earn their place. Perfect for the person who shows up to journaling night with the most unusual supplies in the room.

LEGO Gel Pens

A set of gel pens with studded bodies that interlock like actual LEGO bricks, so you can build with them or attach a mini figure. The colors are intense and the ink glides well, which is not always a given with gel pens. The catch is the price: at $28 for the set, they are undeniably expensive for what they are, and the studded bodies are not the most comfortable to hold.

Still, they write nicely, the build-and-fiddle factor is genuinely satisfying, and they are a near-perfect gift for anyone who loves both LEGO and journaling. Fun, gimmicky, and lovable, with a fair score hovering around seven out of ten once the price is factored in.

Suck UK Paper Watch

A fully functioning digital watch made of tear-resistant paper, designed by Suck UK, that you decorate with pens, pencils, crayons, or stickers. On paper, so to speak, it sounds charming. In practice it is a tricky one. Setting the time is confusing, the buttons are awkward, pressing them creases the paper, and the strap barely adjusts, making it a poor fit for larger wrists.

Fineliners and markers bleed on the surface, pencils and crayons work but look rough, and gel pens turn out to be the best decorating tool. At $12.99 it feels overpriced for what it is, though it does not rip easily and could work as a quirky party favor. Approach with low expectations.

Sprout Plantable Pencil

The Sprout pencil is the original sustainable pencil you can plant after use: tuck the stub into soil and within one to four weeks a fresh plant sprouts. The set includes thyme, sage, cilantro, cherry tomato, and basil varieties, which makes the reveal genuinely delightful.

Honest assessment: it is more of a gimmick than a practical purchase, since you can simply buy seeds, and most people will sharpen a pencil down well before planting it. But as a sustainable gift, a stocking stuffer, or branded corporate swag with a twist, it is a lovely idea that sparks real joy.

Which Should You Actually Buy?

For gifting, the Lifelines Rub and Sniff Scented Pencils and the Pen Diffuser are the safest crowd-pleasers, especially for anyone into essential oils or beautiful packaging. For personal fun, the LEGO Gel Pens are the strongest all-rounder since they genuinely write well and entertain. The Lava Pens are a style-first purchase, the Sprout pencil is a charming eco gesture, and the Suck UK Paper Watch is best reserved for a joke gift or party bag.

Conclusion

Novelty stationery works best when the gimmick matches a real habit, whether that is journaling, fiddling, or gift-giving. Most of these finds will not replace your everyday tools, but the best of them, particularly the LEGO gel pens and the scented pencils, add genuine delight to a desk. Buy for the person who will smile at it, not for the specs.