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The Harvey Nichols 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar 2025
My love language: giving or receiving gifts, and during the festive season, that’s in the form of the best unusual Advent calendars. Because who doesn’t want to unwrap a small treat every day in the run-up to Christmas?
As children, we were thrilled with a bite-sized serving of chocolate every day. But as adults, we’ve got new options — specifically, alternative Advent calendars, packed with beauty icons, jewellery, LEGO and sweet treats. Yep, what was once a costless European tradition — German Protestants would draw chalk marks on their walls or light candles to keep track — has now become big business, meaning we’ve got more options for unique Advent calendars than ever before.
But to save you from gifting an uninspired, unimaginative bundle this holiday season, GLAMOUR editors have taken it upon themselves to review each and every countdown calendar hitting the shelves, so that they can name the best beauty Advent calendars, jewellery Advent calendars, and sex toy Advent calendars for 2025.
Read on for our thorough reviews, as well as answers to all your FAQs. And, for those wondering what other new releases we might see later this year, we’ve popped our 2024 favourites below too. You’re welcome.
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How we choose the best unusual advent calendars:
… because it’s not as simple as opening and closing every door. The GLAMOUR commerce team, made up of people of all preferences and ages, has been reviewing Advent calendars for the last five years, meaning they know what it takes to make a great beauty bundle or unusual countdown to Christmas.
Our (very willing) volunteers received one unusual Advent calendar each and were asked to score each against the following criteria:
- Ease of use — Were the drawers easy to open, and the calendars simple to store?
- Design — Is the exterior of the calendar cute? Were the beauty products, sweat treats or adult-friendly sex toys useless novelties or things they’d actually want and use?
- Contents — Was there enough variety? And was it worth the initial investment?
Ahead, our edit of the best alternative advent calendars for 2025, approved by GLAMOUR editors:
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The Harvey Nichols 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar 2025
- Number of days: 12.
- Number of products: 20.
- Available from: Pre-order, with the official launch on September 30th 2025.
- GLAMOUR’s highlight: In her debut year, she sold out in 24 hours.
What’s inside? The Harvey Nichols’ Fragrance Calendar is making its second debut, allowing you (read: us) to road-test 20 olfactive heroes in a range of full-size, travel-size and deluxe miniatures. Brand-wise, cue treats from cult-favourites including Creed, Parfums de Marly (a personal fave of our beauty contributor, Denise Primbet) and Kilian, as well as newer names such as Xerjoff, Matière Première, Frederic Malle, D.S & DURGA and Trudon. We should also know that it’s worth more than £700!
Save when you shop for the best non-chocolate advent calendars with these Harvey Nichols discount codes.
Fortnum’s Beauty Advent Calendar 2025
- Number of days: 25.
- Number of products: 26, including 23 full-sized.
- Available from: Pre-order for shipping on September 22nd, 2025.
- GLAMOUR’s highlight: Worth more than £1,149 (!), thanks to the inclusion of beauty and wellness icons from Jo Malone, Sol de Janeiro, and Aromatherapy Associates.
What’s inside? We’re not sure we need to rave about the latest iteration of Fortnum & Mason’s Advent calendar, because it delivers every year. But for those with limited patience (guilty), the beauty and wellness goodies stashed inside include the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil, Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream, Gallivant Buenos Aires Eau De Parfum, and a Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Hand Cream. The ideal gift for your hard-to-shop-for mother-in-law.
Save when you shop the best unusual Advent calendars with these Fortnum & Mason discount codes.
L’Occitane Luxury Advent Calendar
- Number of days: 24.
- Number of products: 24.
- Available from: Shop now!
- GLAMOUR’s highlight: Includes a combination of skincare, fragrance and body-care treats, including the TikTok-viral Almond Shower Oil.
What’s inside? L’Occitane is a beauty brand my mum has been loyal to for years, so I’m not quite sure why it’s only just come onto my radar. The creator of a host of my new bodycare favourites — specifically the Relaxing Pillow Mist, infused with lavender, bergamot and sweet orange essential oils, and the Fleur de Cerisier Shower Gel — its best-selling Advent calendar is back and packed with 24 treasures, both full and travel-sized. Designed to mimic a mas Provençal (a traditional French style farmhouse), it’s a gorgeous pre-Christmas gift for your mother-in-law, in case you’re struggling for inspo.
Save when you shop the best unusual Advent calendars with these L’Occitane discount codes.
Cartwright & Butler Advent Calendar
- Number of days: 24.
- Number of products: 300 pieces of LEGO.
- Available from: Pre-order for shipping on September 1st, 2025.
- GLAMOUR’s highlight: Includes all the key LEGO Minecraft minifigures — Alex, Steve, a Creeper, zombie, and Santa villager — as well as a fold-out playmat that provides the perfect backdrop.
What’s inside? Want to buy your Christmas day hosts a thoughtful gift? Get organised early by sending them an Advent calendar stuffed with treats to enjoy both by themselves and once their guests descend. Edible extras include Chilli & Garlic Seeded Flatbread Crackers, Stem & Ground Ginger Biscuits, Milk Chocolate Chunk Biscuits, Mulled Wine Spice Bags and a Mini Cherry Loaf Cake. Delish!
