Seven sympathy gifts for anyone who just learned the truth about canned pumpkin

We are family, all of my squash sisters and me. (Adam Tiner/)

Sorry to break the news, but that pumpkin pie you've been looking forward to this fall? It's really a squash pie. Take a close look at that canned pumpkin and you'll see that the tasty orange puree consists of one or more types of winter squash, including butternut, Hubbard, and golden delicious. (Libby's by Nestle is an exception: It's made of Cucurbita moschata, a Central American vegetable that looks like a squash but is deemed a pumpkin.) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lets all this slide, citing the lack of a clear scientific divide between squash and pumpkins.

This may be little comfort for pumpkin purists—but thankfully, you can pay homage with our list of eight pumpkin-related gifts for anyone who needs to forget the pain.

Pumpkin-scented home bundle

Mrs. Meyers complete pumpkin set (Courtesy of Grove/)

Channel the powers of the pumpkin to fight bacteria with the ultimate cleaning set, consisting of dish soap, hand soap, multi-surface solution, and a soy candle. If your household smells like pie, you can continue to live in ignorance?

Pumpkin spice toilet paper

Green Meadow Valley pumpkin spice toilet paper (Courtesy of Amazon/)

Use this on-theme toilet paper to wipe away the tears. The cardboard roll (not the absorbent itself) is coated in essential oils that are approved for general skincare products.

Pumpkin eye gel patch

Too Cool for School pumpkin hydra eye gel patch (Courtesy of Ulta/)

Try an eye mask that's formulated with pumpkin-ferment extract to help de-puff the bags from all the sleep you've lost over the squash conspiracy. The two-step treatment starts with a cream and ends with an easy gel-patch application.

Pumpkin-shaped pie plate

Celebrate It covered pumpkin pie plate (Courtesy of Michaels/)

Split the difference by serving your squash pie on a pumpkin-shaped dish. The stoneware is a little under 11 inches across, which measures out to about eight slices for you, yourself, and maybe two other loved ones.

Pumpkin pie Kit Kats

Pumpkin pie Kit Kats (Courtesy of Amazon/)

They only come around once a year, so stock up for your home and the trick-or-treaters. Pumpkin-flavored Kit Kats are the perfect blend between everyone's wafer-y, crunchy chocolate and seasonal flavor.

Pumpkin spice cocktail mix

Casamigos pumpkin spice cocktail mix (Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma/)

Learning the truth about canned pumpkin is a tough pill to swallow, but this alcoholic accessory might help wash it down. The cinnamon, clove, and cardamom mix goes well with tequila or citrus-flavored liquors.

Pumpkin and squash print

Curious Print Pattern pumpkin and squash drawing (Courtesy of Etsy/)

A handmade chart that displays the Cucurbita family's variety is the next best thing to a full-on field guide. Get some help sifting through the varieties at your local farmers' market—or making your own puree at home.

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