The trend for adult advent calendars seems to be here to stay and this year there’s a huge range of options available. We used to call these ‘alternative advent calendars’ and although they are an alternative to the traditional religious style, they’ve become much more mainstream over the years. The skeptic in us might say it’s just another marketing gimmick and a way to make extra money at Christmas…
To be honest, we’re still somewhat on the fence over some of these over-the-top and expensive calendars. Although we’re tempted by some of them, and they’re designed and packaged beautifully, the cost and contents involved seem more like an entire Christmas gift than something you simply mark the days of advent with. And when you’re busy buying Christmas gifts for other people, the cost of some of these calendars seems crazy.
But as people are still clicking through to our previous, older advent calendar posts (2015 and 2017), they’re obviously of interest to some of you out there. So we’ve picked out a selection of advent calendars in a range of categories and are keen to hear what you think. Will you be indulging in an adult advent calendar this year? And which one are you choosing?
Alcoholic Advent Calendars
Drink your way to Christmas with these alcoholic advent calendars!
Edinburgh Gin
The Edinburgh Gin advent calendar is shaped a bit like a house and contains 25 mini 5cl bottles of gin, one behind each door. There are a variety of gin styles included to suit all tastes, as well as introduce you to some new flavours. You’ll find gins with hints of juniper, pine, floral, lavender, soft spice and citrus.
Whisky Advent Calendar
If whisky is your favourite tipple, then the whisky advent calendar could be the one for you. Each of the 24 doors opens to reveal a 3cl miniature bottle of whisky. There are lots of different types of whisky included, from well known brands, to new companies and unusual finds, so it could take you on a journey of new whisky discoveries.
Beer Advent Calendar
This beer advent calendar is exclusive to John Lewis and Partners and contains a tasty selection of beers brewed by Adnams in Southwold. There’s a good selection of lager, stout and pale ale, including some unusual flavours.
Beer Hawk Advent Calendar
Behind each of the 24 doors on the Beer Hawk advent calendar you’ll discover a delicious can of beer. They’ve been carefully selected from breweries around the world, so there are plenty of new tastes and flavours to try.
Non-alcoholic Beverage Advent Calendars
A good cuppa tea, coffee or hot chocolate more your style? Don’t worry, there are advent calendars for you too!
English Tea Shop Advent Calendar
The English Tea shop calendar is affordably priced and contains 25 organic tea bags, so you can drink your way with tea to Christmas. There are some special Christmas themes flavours, such as Gingerbread Man, White Winter, Candy Cane and Christmas Night, as well as other popular flavours.
Whittard Advent Calendar
This colourful tea advent calendar opens up to reveal 24 little drawers to open up throughout December. Whittard have managed to pack a bumper amount of tea in this calendar – there are 94 individually wrapped tea bags, so you’re getting value for money and will be well kept in tea for a while. Plus, there’s an extra gift too. The drawer style of this one would be great to refill and use another year.
Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar
Debenhams are selling a hot chocolate advent calendar this year. Each of the 24 boxes opens up to reveal a delicious 20g sachet of hot chocolate. There are lots of gorgeous flavours to enjoy, including Hazelnut, Mint, Caramel, Dark Chocolate and Coconut.
Coffee Advent Calendar
A delicious selection of different speciality flavoured coffees await you in this coffee advent calendar. Each sachet contains the right amount for a four cup (500ml) cafetiere, so you can share your brew if you wish. There are 24 boxes to open and lots of flavours to try.
Stationery Advent Calendars
Can’t get enough of pretty stationery and notepads? There’s a range of advent calendars designed with you in mind!
Stationery Lover’s Advent Calendar
The Stationery Lover’s advent calendar is from Swedish label Kikki K and contains a countdown of cute stationery products. There are 25 doors in total to open and you’ll find gifts such as pens and candles, notepads, quotes and stickers.
24 Days of Stationery
The 24 Days of Stationery advent calendar is by Martha Brook and is a little bit special as it’s personalised. Open the midnight blue gold foil embossed box and you reveal 24 slimline boxes packed inside, stacked together like a row of books on a bookcase. The boxes contain 24 stationery items, including a personalised notebook, thank you notelets, washi tape, a brass bookmark, bulldog clips, paperclips and motivational postcards. Pre-order now with a specified name, for delivery in November.
Next Stationery Advent Calendar
If some of the other stationery advent calendars are a bit beyond your price budget, the Next advent calendar may be far more suited. The calendar has 25 doors to open and they contain a good range of mini stationery items, such as cloud shaped post it notes, a memo pad, a gold ballpoint pen, rose gold tape, inspiration stickers and a star shape rose gold magnet.
A Poster a Day
If you love posters and artwork, then you’re in for a treat with this advent calender from Junique. A Poster a Day does exactly what it says and provides an unusual calendar containing 24 different posters. There’s a real mix of designs and styles, so something for everyone. When this one is fully opened, you’ll be well equipped with a stash of art to brighten up your walls all year long.
Candle Advent Calendars
If you love home fragrance, there are some nice calendars featuring fragranced candles.
Christmas Advent Tealight Calendar
Produced by John Lewis and Partners, this Christmas Advent Tealight Calendar contains 24 seasonally scented tealight candles, which you can light and enjoy throughout the month leading up to Christmas. It comes with a tealight holder too, so you can burn the tealights safely.
Night Before Christmas
The Night Before Christmas advent calendar is by Wax Lyrical and there are 25 doors to open. The first door contains a tealight holder to use to burn your tealights in, whilst the rest of the doors feature one of three festive Christmas candles.
Gold Wreath Advent Calendar
Yankee Candle have a history of producing a selection of advent calendars and this year is no different. The gold wreath design advent calendar has 24 doors to open and contains 24 tea lights in eight different fragrances, including New Ivy Spruce Blue, New Glittering Star, All is Bright, Winter Glow and Snowflake Cookie. Each tealight will burn for up to eight hours.
Edible Advent Calendars
If you enjoy eating your way through advent, then here’s a selection of calendars containing edible goodies.
Gourmet Marshmallow Advent Calendar
Behind each door of the Gourmet Marshmallow advent calendar by the Naked Marshmallow Co you’ll find – you’ve guessed it – a delicious piece of handmade marshmallow. There are six different flavours of marshmallow – salted caramel, candy floss, gingerbread, strawberry, mint choc chip and s’mores – and on Christmas Day there’s a special Belgian hot chocolate spoon and vanilla bean marshmallow, yummy.
Popcorn Advent Calendar
Popcorn brand Joe & Seph’s have a popcorn advent calendar filled with delicious popcorn treats. In each of the 24 doors, you’ll find a 5g bag of popcorn. There are 12 different flavours to try, including Toffee Apple and Cinammon, Raspberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Orange and Classic Caramel.
Beauty Advent Calendars
If you fancy some new beauty products to pep up your bathroom, then there are plenty of different options available. Here are some of our top picks.
The White Company Advent Calendar
This beautifully illustrated beauty advent calendar features a house and street design. Inside the 24 doors you’ll discover some of the best-selling products by The White Company, including mini home sprays, candles, skincare products and hand creams. Plus, one door has a £10 gift voucher inside to spend in their store or online.
Molton Brown Opulent Infusions
The Opulent Infusions advent calendar by Molton Brown is designed to be like a ‘tasting cabinet’ of luxury products. There are 24 doors to open and the gifts include items such as hand cream, scented candles, hand wash, eau de toilette and body lotion.
The Ritual of Advent Deluxe Calendar
The deluxe Ritual of Advent calendar, by Rituals, is nicely produced in the shape of a 3D Christmas tree. Each item is packed in an individual numbered package, in the shape of a cracker, box or bauble, and there are special places in the tree where each of them sit. It does take a bit of time to put it all together in the first place, but the end result is good and it looks like an attractive decoration to have on display. It even comes with a set of lights for a truly festive finish. The calendar contains a range of Rituals products to enjoy and is a good way of trying their range of items. Each Sunday during advent is marked with a candle gift (a bit of a nod to the tradition of lighting a candle each Sunday in advent). If you open each box carefully, it could be re-filled and used again next year.
Other Notable Calendars
There are so many advent calendars out this year that it’s hard to feature them all, but here are a links to a few more notable ones worth having a look at.
The Advent of Change Charity Calendar – inspiring a joyful feeling of giving, rather than receiving.
The Liberty London beauty advent calendar
The huge Revolution Christmas tree calendar (reduced already)
The Body Shop advent calendars – there are three options (standard, deluxe and ultimate) and three price tags.
Happy Socks advent calendar, for happy feet.
L’occitane, who have two calendars available
Bailey’s advent calendar – which contains truffles and three mini bottles of yummy Bailey’s.
John Lewis & Partners Beauty Advent Calendar, with products and treats to enjoy in-store.
Look Fantastic advent calendar
Harrods beauty advent calendar
The Grand Advent Calendar from Hotel Chocolat
oooh I’m loving the look of the whisky one! Great post.`
Ha, this is awesome! I hadn’t heard of adult advent calendars, but now I am going to get one (or two!)
Oh my gosh I LOVE these!!! What cute and original ideas – thanks for rounding them up!! Definitely checking out the gin and stationery ones.
Who knew all these existed? I’m loving the tea candle, beauty and tea calendars.
Wow thank you for making this list – I am bored of just chocolates! I love the beer one the best!