Now is the time to get your hands on an advent calendar. With the shops closed, and delays with the postal system, you'll want to place your orders now to ensure your advent calendars arrive in time for the Christmas countdown. We've scoured the web to pull together some of the best advent calendars out there – including tempting treats, beauty calendars, and even sock calendars. Our personal favourite? The advent of change calendar for the ultimate feel-good vibes. We'll be ordering one for each of the family, thanks.
Best candle advent calendar
We love Yvonne Ellen's design for this scented candle advent calendar, which includes 25 scented candles from Wax Lyrical in four different fragrances; Exotic Fig, Vintage Palm, Wild Jasmine and Arctic Breeze. It also comes with a festive starry tea light holder.
Scented candle advent calendar, £35, waxlyrical.com
Best feel-good advent calendar
For the ultimate, ultimate feel good advent calendar, you'll want to order the Advent of Change Premium Calendar which reveals a new charity recipient every day: each of the 24 doors represents a £1 donation and will tell you how your contribution could be used – from providing food and medicine for those in need, to protecting our oceans and endangered animals.
What's more, it's plastic-free, recyclable and eco-friendly. Great as a gift to yourself for a daily dose of pat-on-the-back smugness, and great as a gift too.
Charity advent calendar, £32.95, adventofchange.com
Best advent calendar for kids
We love the playfulness of notonthehighstreet.com's advent calendars, and this 3D treehouse advent calendar is bound to be a hit with the kids.
Pop out and slot together the treehouse and then set about finding the festive part of the day, match the number and construct and decorate the treehouse every day until Christmas.
Daily surprises include stars, baubles, moon, bunting, snowman, treehouse ladder, visiting animals and of course, lots of presents.
It can be personalised with a lovely note or secret message, and it can be easily dismantled and stored for future use.
Treehouse advent calendar, £20, notonthehighstreet.com, or opt for the charming dollshouse alternative for £22.
Best advent calendar for men
Behind each door of the Happy Socks calendar is – you guessed it – a new pair of socks. What could be a better start to each morning than 24 fresh pairs of cotton-rich socks to look forward to? You'll have to give in-laws and family members the memo not to gift him socks at Christmas this year – for gift inspiration, see our gift guide for him.
Happy Socks advent calendar, £149.95, johnlewis.com
Best advent calendar from a small business
It's tempting to fall for the online trap of only shopping at the big brands you know, so it's good to remember that there are thousands of small business out there with gorgeously designed – and often handmade – products.
We love this country house inspired illustration on Dog & Dome's advent calendar.
It's inexpensive, can be hung on the wall, and each door opens to reveal a lovely illustrated scene.
Advent calendar, £10, doganddome.com.
Best beauty advent calendar
There are really countless beauty advent calendars out there to choose from, but we feel that the Clinique 24 Days of Clinique Advent Calendar offers pretty good value for £90.
With Clinique's skincare items including clarifying lotion, 7-day scrub, dramatically different moisturising lotion, moisture surge hydrator and separate concentrate, repair serum, overnight mask, eye creams and more, alongside beauty products including chubby sticks, blush, blush brush, mascara and eyeliner, this ready-to-gift set comes at great value – and would make a great #selfcare pamper treat to look forward to.
Beauty advent calendar, £90, johnlewis.com
Best chocolate filled advent calendar
Naturally we can't put together a roundup of advent calendars without mentioning a single chocolate advent calendar, and this luxury one from meltchocolates.com looks a treat.
Hand made in their chocolate boutiques in Holland Park and Notting Hill, the advent calendar features 24 chocolate surprises each wrapped up in a mini 'house' based on real homes in the area.
Chocolate advent calendar, £69, meltchocolates.com
Best vegan friendly advent calendar
Treat yourself – or a loved one – to the UK’s first completely plastic-free, cruelty-free and vegan advent calendar, packed full of luxury eco treats.
The Eco Wonderland advent calendar (£149) is designed to take conscious consumers on a voyage through the UK’s best cruelty-free, vegan and eco-friendly beauty and lifestyle brands.
Containing products worth £325, it offers amazing value at £149. Behind 21 doors is a specially-curated selection of pampering eco beauty and lifestyle treats, as well as a selection of delicious plant-based snacks. The other three good deed doors are committed to causes, with donations going to charities including different food banks across the UK, Animal Free Research and Hopefield Animal Sanctuary.
Vegan advent caledar, £149, freedmstreet.co.uk.
Psst! For a vegan chocolate advent calendar, we've heard good things about this vegan chocolate truffle calendar which includes salted caramel, chocolate orange, coffee chocolate and dark chocolate flavours among others. Not bad for just £6.
Best healthy advent calendars
Lockdown been bad for the waist line? Join the club. There are plenty of healthy alternatives to chocolate filled advent calendars, to help give you a fit and healthy countdown to Christmas.
We love the look of this Waterdrop advent calendar. Designed by Atelier Karasinski, the inside hides 57 microdrinks, 12 accessories and a limited edition bottle. What is a microdrink? Waterdrop is a small cube packed with real fruit and plant extracts and enriched with vitamins that dissolve into water to make a tasty, sugar-free beverage, anytime, anywhere. Thus making it easier than ever to stay hydrated, and to remember to drink water!
Waterdrop calendar, £109.99, waterdrop.com
We all know vitamins are particularly important during the winter months. Nourished have found a fun way to keep customers happy and healthy in the run up to Christmas; with the UK’s first gummy vitamin advent calendar.
The calendar features a selection of 'Life Stacks' to be taken each day in the lead up to Christmas, to help support your health during the holidays.
Nourished is a tech start-up who have developed the world’s first truly personalised vitamin using patented 3D printing technology and a unique vegan encapsulation formula. Customers can complete a short lifestyle questionnaire, then Nourished will tailor-make the best balance of vitamins for them.
Nourished advent calendar, £59.99, nourished.com
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