With the most wonderful time of the year sneaking upon us again, it’s time to start bringing festivities home! I like to do this by choosing my yearly advent calendar, with 24 boxes of goodies waiting for me, it always adds an air of excitement and surprise to the Christmas countdown.

As usual, I’ve done my research and found a few of the most interesting looking advent calendars of the season, in a range of products, as well as prices. I know that this year especially not everyone, even myself, will be able to let go of hundreds of pounds for an advent calendar so I have also written you a few alternatives as well.

In this list you’ll see a few that may not have appeared on my mood board due to lack of space, lets call them honourable mentions, as I want to give a variety of choices to suit all tastes, product types, price points, and…

Penhaligon’s Fragrant Countdown

Price point: £375

Available to purchase: From the 1st of September onwards.

Inside the calendar: a myriad of delightful scents in the form of, roll-on fragrances, candles, lip balms, charming key chains, miniature fragrances and body care.

William Penhaligon was a cornish barber who rose to fame, guided by his talent for creating wonderous scents and even finer taste for the exotic and beautiful things in life. On his death in 1903 Queen Alexandra awarded Penhaligon’s with its first Royal Warrant. Once again in 1976 Penhaligon’s was graced with another Royal Warrant from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Now as Mr Penhaligon was the master of scent, so it’s no wonder that the companies offering isn’t only bottle-shaped, but brimming over with delightful fragrances and ever so moisturising body products to match. As it’s designed like a large, and rather festive perfume bottle this uni-sex calendar opens out, much like a Faberge egg.

I myself, have been purchasing from Penhaligon’s for a number of years now, and always found their scents not only lasting but full of depth and layers of meaning. My most beloved fragrance is Luna, named for the Roman goddess of the moon, which I have always thought was rather fitting to be worn by not only a lover of classics but by a female who lives in Aquae Sulis an ancient Roman city, blessed by another goddess, Sulis Minerva. Perhaps it is a way to keep the goddesses on my side, even in a little way.

Products inside include:

• Halfeti fragrance roll-on 10ml​
• Quercus fragrance 5ml​
• Brass Evergreen Charm
• ​Lord George fragrance roll-on 10ml
• Anbar Stone Candle​ 35g
• Elisabethan Rose fragrance 5ml
• Babylon fragrance roll-on 10ml​
• Halfeti Body & Hand Wash 30ml​
• The Favourite roll-on 10ml​
• Halfeti Cedar fragrance 5ml​
• Orange Blossom Lip Balm 15g​
• Comoros Pearl​ Candle 35g
• Endymion Concentré 5ml​
• Luna fragrance roll-on 10ml​
• Juniper Sling 5ml​ 
• Duchess Rose fragrance roll-on 10ml
• Halfeti fragrance 5ml
• Endymion fragrance roll-on 10ml​
• Roanoke Ivy Candle​ 35g
• Blenheim Bouquet parfum 5ml​
• Luna Body & Hand Lotion 30ml
• Empressa parfum roll-on 10ml​
• Brass Christmas Charm
• Maduro Leaf Candle 65g

You can purchase your Penhaligon’s advent calendar here.

Fortnum & Mason’s Advent Calendar

Price point: £225

Available to purchase: Immediately, but dispatching on 24 October 2021

Inside the calendar: A mixture of luxury self-care brands from Espa, Fortnum & Mason own, Elizabeth Arden and 3Lab.

Fortnum & Mason brings us an advent calendar bubbling over with cult-beauty classics, from day creams to night creams, Christmas candles and rejuvenating sleep sprays, it seems like the theme of this calendar is relaxation and 25 evenings of plain pampering. With the year we have all had, these product choices are just right, and perfect to share around with the family. If anyone is particularly wearing you out, offer a spritz of calming lavender sleep spray! If they are anything like my family they’ll be interested to know why these products are needed and where they have come from. Good luck!

Unique from a traditional advent calendar, Fortnum’s gives us an extra day and an extra goodie, that’s Christmas generosity for you! Tucked away inside the 25 drawers are 20 full-sized products, 16 deluxe samples and 1 travel-sized miniature of self-care products and even a few accessories.

• Sol de Janeiro Hair Mask Cream, 75ml
• Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream, 25ml
• 3Lab WW Face Cream, 15ml
• Cult51 Night Cream, 20ml
• Cult51 Day Cream, 20ml
• Instant Effects Instant Eye Lift Serum, 8ml
• Escentric Molecules Escentric 05 Eau de Toilette, 30ml
• Fortnum & Mason 1707 Lilas Eau de Parfum, 10ml
• Dr Vranjes Ginger & Lime Room Spray, 25ml
• Dr Vranjes Rosso Nobile Room Spray, 25ml
• Fortnum & Mason Votive Christmas Candle, 75g
• Bramley Sleep Spray, 100ml
• Bramley Mini Calm Balm, 15g
• Olverum Nourishing Body Oil, 30ml
• Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel, 150ml
• Aromatherapy Associates Support Breath Bath & Shower Oil, 55ml
• Fortnum & Mason Pomegranate Rose Hand Sanitiser, 30ml
• Kure Bazaar Organic Cuticle Oil, 10ml
• Elizabeth Scarlett Black Bee Velvet Makeup Bag
• Gallinée Prebiotic Face Vinegar, 200ml
• Gallinée Soothing Cleansing Cream, 200ml
• ESPA Positivity Bath & Shower Gel, 50ml & ESPA Soothing Pulse Point Oil, 9ml
• ESPA Refining Skin Polish, 55ml
• MZ Skin Anti-Pollution Illuminating Eye Mask & MZ Skin Hydra-Bright Golden Eye Treatment Mask
• Wildsmith Active Repair Copper Peptide Cream, 15ml

You can purchase your Fortnum & Mason’s advent calendar here.

Elemis’s No.25 Beauty Advent Calendar

Price point: £175

Available to buy: Immediately

Inside the calendar: A generous mix of all Elemis ranges, from Pro-Collagen face creams to AHA cleansing butter, to Frangipani bath oils.

The British company holds a whole host of products, from the body to face care, oils to creams and AHA’s to Collagens. So as someone who has seen great results from Elemis products, I was waiting impatiently for this calendar to drop.

For a newbie who hasn’t yet tried the delights, Elemis has to offer, I do recommend this calendar in the form of an introductory gift.

• Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 50ml Full Size
• Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 20g
• Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil 5ml
• Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix 15ml
• Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser 30ml
• Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal 5ml
• Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask 4ml
• Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter 20ml
• Superfood Facial Wash 30m
• Superfood Day Cream 20ml
• Superfood Night Cream 20ml
• Superfood CICA Calm Hydration Juice 20ml
• Peptide4 Plumping Pillow Facial 15ml
• Dynamic Resurfacing Gel Mask 15ml
• Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence 28ml
• Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash 30ml
• Dynamic Resurfacing Pads 14 pads
• Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml
• Herbal Lavender Repair Mask 15ml
• Balancing Lavender Toner 50ml
• Frangipani Monoi Body Cream 50ml
• Skin Nourishing Shower Cream 100ml
• Sea Lavender & Samphire Body Cream 50ml
• Sea Lavender & Samphire Bath & Shower Milk 100ml

You can purchase your Elemis advent calendar here.

L’ Occitane Reusable Advent Calendar

Price point: £160

Available to buy: Immediately online, in boutique later in the month of October.

Inside the calendar: A mixture of product lines, from luxurious bath oils, most moisturising body care and even fabulous skincare.

• 75ml Almond Shower Oil
• 5ml Herbae par L’OCCITANE Eau de Parfum
• 50ml Shea Intensive Hand Balm Travel Size
• 70ml Verbena Shower Gel
• 30ml Shea Butter Hand Cream
• 15ml Almond Supple Skin Oil
• 75ml Intensive Repair Conditioner
• 15g Almond Crunchy Muesli Scrub
• 2.8g Sunday Pinknic Intense Fruity Lipstick
• 100ml Lavender Foaming Bath
• 15ml Relaxing Pillow Mist
• 50ml Almond Milk Concentrate
• 12ml Shea Ultra Rich Lip Balm Certified Organic
• 8ml Divine face Cream
• 10ml Verbena Eau de Toilette
• 7.5ml Néroli & Orchidée Eau de Toilette
• 75ml Intensive Repair Shampoo
• 30ml Oil-To-Milk Facial Make-up Remover
• 30ml Almond Delicious Hands
• 30ml Immortelle Essential Water
• 8ml Precious Cream
• 30ml Shea Butter Foot Cream
• 5ml Overnight Reset Serum
• The Petit Remedy.

You can purchase your reusable L’ Occitane advent calendar here.

SpaceNK Advent Calendar

Price point: £199

Inside the calendar: A myriad of different brands from Jo Loves, NARS, Dermalogica, Kate Somerville and the Ordinary.

Available to purchase: Immediately to pre-order, but out for delivery October 15th 2021.

• Sunday Riley – C.E.O Glow Oil (15ml)
• Sunday Riley – A+ High-dose Retinoid Serum (5ml)
• Charlotte Tilbury – Push Up Lashes Travel Mascara (4ml)
• Olaplex – No.3 Hair Perfector (full size – 100ml)
• Dr. Barbara Sturm – Hyaluronic Serum (10ml)
• Dr. Dennis Gross – Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (5 App)
• Hourglass – Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow in Reflect (3.5g)
• Sol De Janeiro – Bom Dia Bright Cream (75ml)
• The Ordinary – Caffeine Solution 5% + Egcg (full size – 30ml)
• Drunk Elephant – O-bloos Rosi Drops & Lala Retro Whipped Cream (5ml + 5ml)
• Boy Smells – Ash Candle (85g)
• Anastasia Beverly Hills – Loose Setting Powder- Translucent (6g)
• Fresh – Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy (2.2g)
• Caudalie – Beauty Elixir (30ml)
• Kate Somerville – Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream (full size – 50ml)
• Dermalogica – Special Cleansing Gel (50ml)
• Dermalogica – Precleanse (Sachet)
• Dermalogica – Daily Microfoliant (Sachet)
• Rose Inc – Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek Color – Azalea (full size – 4.5g)
• La Mer – Crème De La Mer Moisturizing Cream (7ml)
• Medik8 – R-retinoate Day & Night Eye Serum (full size – 15ml)
• Medik8 – Hydr8 B5 Intense (8ml)
• Jo Loves – A Pomelo Bath & Shower Gel (75ml)
• Laura Mercier – Pure Canvas Primer in Blurring (25ml)
• Sisley – Black Rose Cream Mask (10ml)
• Sisley – Ecological Compound (10ml)
• Augustinus Bader – The Rich Cream (15ml)
• Augustinus Bader – The Face Oil (2.2ml)
• Nars – Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita (full size – 3.5g)
• Summer Fridays – Jet Lag Mask (full size – 64g)

You can purchase your SpaceNK advent calendar here.

Macmillan 24 Beauty Treasures Advent Calendar-Boots

Price point: £42.50, discounted from £85

Inside the calendar: A amalgamation of some of the most popular lines in beauty from Boots, including Liz Earl, Soap and Glory, No7 and Boots own brand.

Available to purchase: Immediately!

• Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum 30ml 
• Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser 30ml
• Botanics Peaceful Night Pillow Mist Lavender & Sweet Marjoram 100ml 
• Champneys Moisturising Face Mask 37ml 
• Joules Bath Fizzer 70g, discover joyous bergamot, clementine and fresh floral notes
• Liz Earle Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic 50ml
• Liz Earle™ Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser 30ml
• Liz Earle™ Pure Cotton Cloth
• Liz Earle™ Eyebright™ Soothing Eye Lotion 50ml
• MASQD Face Tools The Blending Sponge
• MASQD Eye & Brow Tools The Eyelash Curler
• My Mood Nail Polish Legit 10ml
• No7 Protect & Perfect Lip Care 10ml 
• No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Eye Cream 15ml 
• No7 Extreme Length Black Mascara 7ml 
• No7 Precision Lips Lip Pencil Nude 0.31g
• SOAP & GLORY Clean On Me Shower Gel 75ml, scented with our classic Original Pink fragrance 
• SOAP & GLORY Hand Food Hand Cream 50ml, scented with our fan favourite Original Pink rose & bergamot fragrance
• SOAP & GLORY Bright and Beautiful Sheet Mask 29g
• Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette Level Up 12g 
• Sleek MakeUP Lifeproof Eyeliner Blackmail 1.2g
• Sleek MakeUP Matte Me Liquid Lipstick Metallized Rose 6ml 
• Ted Baker Violet & Bergamot Body Lotion 50ml
• YourGoodSkin ProVitamin Overnight Cream 50ml 

You can purchase your Boots for Macmillan advent calendar here.