Nowadays, we can say so much through the choices we make and the purchases behind them. Every shopping holiday gives us that opportunity, and Valentine’s Day is certainly no exception. While we can shop anywhere for the people we love, choosing a gift with purpose adds something deeper to the moment.
For 2026, consider supporting entrepreneurs who took the leap to build businesses that serve our communities and inspire us through their drive and creativity. It is a great way to add meaning to your shopping and still gift classic romantic gems like flowers, chocolates, and perfumes.
These gifts endure for a reason. They communicate care in a way that feels instantly romantic, personal, and universally understood. By shopping at Latino-owned small businesses that ship nationwide, you can celebrate love while uplifting founders whose culture show up in every bouquet, bite, and bottle.
Behind every small business is a story worth knowing, shaped by the person who started it all and a sense of community that makes it feel truly one of a kind.
From beautiful bouquets and roses by Cuban American founder Melanie Fernandez of House of Lilac, to exquisite, joy-inducing chocolate from Venezuelan Chef Michael of Chuao Chocolatier, to modern, clean fragrance co-founded by Mexican entrepreneur Tanya Gonzalez of Eauso Vert, to delicate fine jewelry from Puerto Rican designer Jennifer Zeuner, these brands prove romance does not have to come from big-box retailers.
House of Lilac - Flowers
Melanie Fernandez did not set out to become a florist. She began her professional life as a lawyer, but eventually followed a creative drive that led her in a different direction. House of Lilac began as a passion project, a gift shop that has grown into a go-to destination for fresh, artful blooms and small-batch curated gifts.
© CourtesyIf you are shopping for Valentine’s Day flowers and want something more elevated than the standard last-minute roses, House of Lilac is the one to bookmark. The arrangements feel romantic and artful, with an organic, slightly whimsical sensibility that looks styled yet intimate, like the floral version of a love note.
© CourtesyHouse of Lilac also has great options for long-distance gifting. They offer dried flower bundles and bouquets that ship nationwide, with cute and thoughtful extras like Valentine’s Day cards, and add-ons that help create the perfect gesture that feels beautifully designed and genuinely intentional.
Chuao - Chocolates
Chef Michael Antonorsi’s relationship with chocolate began early on. His ancestors owned Aguasanta, a small Venezuelan farm known for fine cacao, and that heritage shaped his thinking about chocolate. His childhood memories include spending hours in the kitchen with his mother, a place that laid the foundation of his obsession with flavor, texture, and the kind of sweetness that feels personal.
© CourtesyEven after leaving home at 16 to attend UC San Diego to study biomedical engineering, the art of cooking kept calling him. In his mid-30s, he took the leap and moved his family to Paris to train seriously, studying at Ferrandi and later at École LeNôtre, where he focused on pastry and chocolatier work. His talent for blending Venezuelan cacao with his classical French techniques is part of what makes Chuao feel special. It is not just “good chocolate,” it is craft, story, and joy in one box.
© CourtesyWhen he returned to California, the goal was clear: make chocolate that feels joyful and giftable, with quality you can taste. So, in 2002, he and his brother Richard founded Chuao Chocolatier, named after the iconic cacao-growing region as a nod to their roots. Their bestsellers, including Firecracker and Potato Chip, have that signature Chuao balance: a little unexpected, a little playful, and still completely Valentine’s Day worthy. They also offer stunning packaged Valentine's gifts of mouthwatering heart-shaped bonbons, perfect for the occasion.
Jennifer Zeuner - Jewelry
Jennifer Zeuner’s jewelry has always felt like personal style made tangible. It is simple, slightly spiritual, and designed to be layered depending on your mood. That sensibility traces back to her upbringing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she saw the fashion world up close through her father’s clothing factory and developed an appreciation for design early on.
© CourtesyIn 2005, after stepping away from her PR career to raise her kids, Zeuner started making jewelry at home, more as a creative outlet than a business plan. She began designing and making her signature JZ rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, finally satisfying that artistic urge without any plans of turning it into a brand. Then, as orders started coming in, the momentum grew. Her pieces quickly caught the attention of style insiders and celebrities alike, with names like Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, and Jennifer Lopez among those spotted in her designs.
© CourtesyIt is the kind of jewelry that slips into someone’s life, whether it is worn alone as a subtle statement or stacked into a more layered look. It feels lasting, not just for one occasion, which makes it an especially memorable Valentine’s gift. You can shop directly on her site or at retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman.
Eauso Vert- Luxury Fragrance
Perfume might be the most personal Valentine’s gift because it becomes part of someone’s day, lingering close and turning into a memory. Eauso Vert, co-founded by Latina entrepreneur Tanya Gonzalez and Faye Harris, brings a fresh voice in luxury fragrance. The brand describes itself as “perfumery from perspectives unheard,” developed through the lens of the wearer and designed as part of a conscious approach to scent that feels intentional and modern.
© IG: Tanya GonzalezThe two founders met while working for Estée Lauder, and when they decided to build something of their own, the response came quickly. They launched a Kickstarter, which reached its goal in just ten days, an early sign that there was room and demand for a new kind of luxury perfume story, one that feels inclusive, modern, and emotionally resonant.
© CourtesyEauso Vert has become known for clean, vegan, cruelty-free formulas housed in design-forward, sustainable packaging that prove thoughtful luxury doesn’t have to compromise values. Many of the brand’s popular fragrances are available on their online boutique and in select retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman. Their best-selling scents like Purple Noon, Vanilla Embers, Fruto Oscuro, and Dos Mil Años work beautifully for Valentine’s Day gifts because they feel personal and distinctive, a splurge-worthy gift that doesn't feel generic.
