Looking for the best non-chocolate advent calendars to make this year's festive countdown extra special? We've done all the hard work so you can glide towards the Christmas season with some fun and unique alternatives to traditional chocolate treats.
While we’ve found plenty of brilliant chocolate advent calendars, we know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. If you fancy switching things up this year, we’ve uncovered a variety of non-chocolate advent calendars that are sure to brighten your December. From luxurious beauty and fragrance calendars to gourmet food and drink options, there’s something for everyone. And for the kids, toy advent calendars are guaranteed to be a big hit.
Sam, a busy mum of three, tells us why her nonchocolate advent calendar is her yearly indulgence: “In our family, presents are usually just for the children, so I treat myself to a beauty advent calendar each year. The Look Fantastic one is always my go-to, but I’ve got my eye on the new Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar this year!”
Although popular choices like Charlotte Tilbury’s often sell out quickly, we’ve rounded up the best non-chocolate advent calendars for 2024. Whether you’re after beauty, fragrance, food, or fun options for the kids, there’s something for everyone this Christmas.
12 best non chocolate advent calendars for 2024
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Best beauty & fragrance advent calendars 2024
Unwrap the magic of Christmas with the luxurious John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar, featuring 32 full and deluxe-size beauty products from Charlotte Tilbury, Sol De Janeiro, Parfums de Marly, and more. Inside, customers will discover a complete skincare routine, versatile makeup essentials, moments of relaxation, must-have hair products, and three iconic fragrances – all packed into this treasure trove of beauty delights.
Start the countdown to Christmas with this exquisite fragrance advent calendar, filled with luxurious perfumes and aftershaves. MyTFS members can enjoy an exclusive 20% discount. Back and better than ever, this calendar gives customers the chance to discover 25 days of premium fragrances for both him and her, with a total value exceeding £300. Pre-order now to avoid missing out – availability is limited!
A 26-piece collection with 16 full-sized products, worth over £219/€285, featuring top brands such as Q+A, Wild, Dr Organic, and Weleda. The perfect gift for those who love a bit of pampering, this advent calendar showcases beloved brands like Faith in Nature, Wild, Dr Organic, and Weleda. Unwrap 25 days of beauty delights, including 16 full-size treats and a selection of mini favourites.
It's back for another year! The 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar is brimming with must-have beauty products, making the countdown to Christmas even more exciting. In addition, ICONIC London has teamed up with the brand to offer a chance to win £213 worth of goodies hidden inside ten lucky calendars.*
Bring the magic of the season to life with 12 days of scent-sational treats. The countdown to Christmas has never smelled so sweet! The Home Fragrance 12-day Advent Calendar delivers delightful surprises with a new fragrance favourite behind every door. Whether it's a thoughtful gift for a loved one or a little treat for yourself (we won’t tell!), this is the perfect alternative to traditional advent calendars. Scents include Festive Spice, Winter White, and Vanilla & Tonka Bean.
This 12-day Advent Calendar celebrates the magic of the festive season with three carefully curated beauty routines for face care, body care, and make-up. It showcases the best of Clarins’ expertise to enhance the skin and provide top-notch self-care. Ready for a cosmic celebration? Embark on a fabulous journey to the world of Clarins.
Best booze & food advent calendars 2023
With a total value exceeding £1080, this highly coveted Beauty Advent Calendar features 27 indulgent treats for skincare, haircare, fragrance, bath, body, and wellness, including 23 full-sized products. Inside, you’ll find pampering goodies from luxury brands such as Sol de Janeiro, Aromatherapy Associates, Cult51, Bamford, Shleep, Baobab, and Charlotte Posner. This Beauty Advent Calendar offers a truly unique experience.
Without a doubt, the standout moment that Bird & Blend fans around the world eagerly anticipate is this year's Tea Advent Calendar! Since creating the very first tea advent calendar in 2016, it has become a cult favourite and a must-have for every tea lover’s festive countdown. It’s the original and the best.
Each door of the calendar reveals one of 23 mini jars of conserves, specially crafted for the festive season and not typically available in the UK. Discover delights such as Purple Fig with Cinnamon Conserve, Cherries with Chestnut Honey Conserve, and Apricot with Orange Blossom. For the first time this year, the calendar also includes mini jars of Hazelnut Chocolate Spread and Chocolate Orange Spread, along with two indulgent caramels in Vanilla and Coffee.
Best kid-friendly advent calendars 2023
The countdown to Christmas just got a whole lot sweeter! Add a little extra flair to the hair, decorate some nifty nails or sparkle up a smile with sweet-smelling surprises from our Bath & Beauty Advent Calendar! Open up a designated December day each day to reveal a beauty-licious treat for super fun pampering. Soak in a bubble-filled bath one day and glam it up with lip gloss, nail polish and so much more the next! Comes with 25 goodies and accessories.
Celebrate the festive season with the Pokémon Holiday Calendar. This 24-day calendar includes 16 2-inch Battle Figures and eight accessories, each with a pearlescent finish exclusive to this calendar. Discover a holiday-themed Pokémon toy or accessory behind each door, and enjoy a new figure or accessory every day. By the end of the season, you can display the entire set. This is an officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares, suitable for ages 4 and up.
Each day leading up to Christmas reveals a new magical, buildable Hogwarts™ adventure with the LEGO® Harry Potter™ 2024 Advent Calendar (76438), a fantasy toy playset for children. Young fans will uncover LEGO Harry Potter mini build toys themed around the four Hogwarts houses, including a gargoyle and a table adorned with festive items for Gryffindor™, Slytherin™, Hufflepuff™, and Ravenclaw™.
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