We won't start our "official" series of holiday gift posts until Black Friday, but for early birds here is a collection of advent calendars. I've mostly included calendars with at least one fragrance-related item, be it perfume, scented body products or home fragrance, but I've thrown in one tea calendar and two chocolate calendars for good measure. (Please note that some of these calendars are not available in the US, and a few have already sold out — I will start earlier next year! — and are included here in case you'd like to plan ahead for 2015).
Warning: if you're thinking of buying one for yourself, there are spoilers below.
From Liberty of London, the Liberty Print Beauty Advent calendar — do note that Diptyque candle! £149.
From Lush, 12 Days of Christmas: "This book is full of Christmas joy! 12 Days of Christmas is a LUSH fairytale of signature scents and some of our most beloved festive treats. 12 separate compartments house classics like our Golden Wonder and Cinders Bath Bombs, the shimmering Star Light Star Bright Luxury Bath Melt and includes new favorites like the cinnamon-scented Hot Toddy shower gel, so there’s something fun to discover each day. It’s sure to leave you happily ever after, but just in case, better get two." $99.
From The Body Shop: "This extra-special treat features a beauty surprise behind every door, from best-selling body and face care to iconic fragrance, plus our latest additions: Glazed Apple, Wild Argan Oil and Colour Crush Nail Colors." $50. Sold out online, but you can find a list of stores that still have it in stock on the Body Shop USA website.
From Dr. Hauschka, an Advent calendar with facial and body care products, including items from the Lemon Lemongrass, Rose, Quince, Lavender Sandalwood, Almond and Sage ranges. £49 (I'm not sure if this one is sold in the US or not).
From Jo Malone, the 2014 advent calendar, with 23 miniature products (including several colognes) plus a full-sized Pomegranate Noir Body Creme. £250, possibly still available in person at Harrods or possibly sold out.
From 4160Tuesdays, the 2014 Advent calendar: "Wrapped in tissue, numbered, and packed into two kraft card boxes, with smelling strips for you to try before you decide whether or not to commit to wearing one for the day. We've decided only to make ten of these because they are such a huge bother, all that bottling, wrapping and labelling but we all decided we'd like one ourselves - and as this got the most votes in the "what would you like to get as a present" email - here it is." £99.
From Yankee Candle, a tealight calendar: "Count down to Christmas with this collectable advent calendar from the world's favourite candle company! Every day reveals a tealight candle in one of six seasonal scents, including an extra treat in the 24th! Light a new Candle each day and celebrate the festive season with your favourite Yankee fragrances. Fragrances included are: Icicles, Angel's Wings, Snowflake Cookie, Cranberry Ice, Christmas Cookie and Christmas Garland." £22. Another Advent calendar from Yankee Candle with larger sized votives appears to be sold out.
From QVC, the Beauty Christmas Advent calendar: "A gift is a thing of beauty. Countdown to Christmas with QVC's most popular beauty products, discovering a new skin, hair, or fragrance favorite each day from brands like philosophy, Josie Maran, Murad, Kate Somerville, L'Occitane, tarte, and more." $80.
Definitely sold out, the Selfridges Enchanted Spells calendar, £85.
From Tea Forte, the Teas the Season Advent calendar: "Behind each window a blissful countdown to Christmas. A sophisticated, shimmering tone-on-tone Advent Calendar wrapped in silver foil paper. Warm up the holidays with 24 festive steeping tea cups of good cheer. Includes 24 blends total: Orange Pomegranate, Flora, Peach Jubilee, Winter Spice plus 20 Organic blends: Sencha, Ginger Lemongrass,Harvest Apple Spice,Lemon Sorbetti,Moroccan Mint,Peach Brûlée,Rum Raisin Biscotti,Belgian Mint, Blood Orange,Caramel Nougat, Chamomile Citron,Cherry Cosmo,Cherry Marzipan,Chocolate Rose, Spiced Ginger Plum,Sunrise Breakfast,Sweet Orange Spice,White Cinnamon Sage, Wild Apple Ginger,Winter Chai." $44.
From Vosges, the Haut-Chocolat Calendar of Advent: "Countdown the days of December with a daily dose of rich chocolate in the finest advent box you've surely ever seen. This sturdy 13-inch table box is a work of art on its own. The doors swing open to reveal 24 drawers and the holiday poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Each day, slide out a drawer and indulge in a morsel of haut-chocolat. Flip the drawer before returning it to its place and slowly, a holiday greeting will be revealed. Save the keepsake box and order replacement chocolates in future years!" $135.
From Prestat, the Fire Place Advent calendar: "12 different delicious truffles, not once but twice. Orange & Frankincense, Earl Grey, Coconut Snowball, Milk Nectar, Tropical Cinnamon, Gianduja, Pistachio, Hazelnut Praline, Red Velvet, Sea Salt Caramel, Coconut and the warm Golden Heather Honey. All chocolate couvertures sources from sustainable African Estates." $75 at Dean & Deluca.
Oooh, I waaaaaaant that Jo Malone calendar. Stupid budget. : /
It’s darned cute. They arguably did the best job on packaging or at least on photography…have a feeling the Liberty one is better looking in person.
The Jo Malone one does look great as does the Lush, since I’ve never tried anything from the brand yet. I wonder if it has any Rose Jam goodies in it as I’m very curious about that line of products.
I just got an email that L’Occitane is putting out one, too, though I don’t know if it’s already sold out. These are so tempting; I very nearly bought the one from Parfums Micallef a couple years back.
Hard to tell…can’t see what the other shower gel is (one is Hot Toddy).
L’Occitane did two, although one was only in France, and both are sold out.
Squirrely,
I am with you. I would love, love, love to have this! I don’t know about you, but I have been good this year. Maybe Santa will leave it under our trees!
Santa better have shopped early
He’s slacking this year, lol.
(he’s slacking cause I know I didn’t get one of these sold out ones, lol.)
These are great though. Love them all. Love Advent calendars.
I’m surprised more brands don’t do them…
Wondering if anyone has tried the Wild Argan oil from the Bodyshop? I like their range of dry oils for my body but they tend to be too heavy for my hair…
Sorry, I haven’t. I just add plain argan oil to other products…
Got some pure oil but not sure what I would add it to for hair. Nuxe and Caudalie work well but I was curious about cheaper alternatives!
I add to conditioner, and sometimes in teensy amounts to a smoothing product by EO…also add to my body lotions & face creams. I also keep avocado oil (love that in winter) and a few others. I do lots of mixing
I just use a couple drops of pure argan oil in my damp hair. Works wonders.
The Liberty one looks awesome and I have a £30 discount for orders over £150. Urgh. Must. Stay. Strong.
Oh dear. Best of luck.
That purple and gold Vosges calendar looks wonderful!
And love that it’s refillable! Downside, they don’t show the price of the refill set on their site; you have to call them on the phone.
It is very nice! My sister got one for me last year or the year before. The chocolate is good, and the box is quality. I still have it, actually it was my perfume sample storage for awhile.
I vote for the Jo Malone. On a lark, I went to the Jo Malone website…no, there were no miracles but instead of telling me that the Advent Calendar is out of stock, it presented me with 56 other limited edition holiday gifts — this is what I call enabling marketing!
Yes — went through that when I was writing this up!
Well, this may be very “un-perfumista” like, but I’ll take the CHOCOLATE!! Yum!