You're asked to close your eyes. 

It's a surprise, your mother tells you and you can't cheat and look. 

You cover your eyes with your hands to confirm that you aren't cheating. 

You hear  rustling paper and the plastic sounds of a box opening. 

There is a vague sweet smell. A mix of butter and perhaps something stronger, mint chocolate maybe.

Repeat the same event with as many variations as you please. 

It could be your sister instead of your mother. It could be a metallic sound and the smell of fresh stationery or coffee beans.

This is extremely silly to a lot of people. A large number of people I know despise surprises of all kinds. They would like whatever it is, straight up. Good or bad, fun or serious, they like it with no frills or drama. 

The funny thing is - when my eyes are shut and someone is unfolding something in front of me, in the end it doesn't matter what it is. It could be a book or a computer, it won't be the most important thing.  The best part of a surprise is hardly ever the thing at the end, it's almost always the build up.