Fragrant advent calendars – #lockdown countdown, or daily treats ‘just because’!

Fragrant advent calendars (or at least, advent calendars featuring a number of scented offerings) are the way we’re going this year. Because goodness, it’s been quite a year, hasn’t it?

Although many of the beauty calendars sell out literally within hours, there are still some fabulously fragrant ones around. And whether you’re using the calendars as a countdown to the end (we hope!) of #lockdown2, or simply as a way of treating yourself a little every single day: you and/or someone you love but can’t be with, deserve one… or maybe, well, several!

 

 

Diptyque Limited-edition Advent Calendar £320

Selfridges says: ‘The lead-up to Christmas is always an exciting time, but it becomes even more thrilling with this limited-edition advent calendar from Diptyque. A festive treat in hand-illustrated packaging by none other than Ugo Gattoni, it’s home to this year’s seasonal signatures – the Moonlit Fir candle and yuletide decorations – and a selection of the brand’s most coveted candles, fragrances, body creams and scrubs. Hint: dream for a spritz of Eau Capitale or Do Son and you might just get it.’

We say: Who wouldn’t just adore this bumper offering by Diptyque?! Yes, it’s spendy, but it’s exclusive to Selfridges and you know you’ll love everything. The Eau Capitale was one of our favourite launches of late – the first Chypre for the house, and oh so worth waiting for…

 

Harrods of London Beauty Advent Calendar £250

Harrods says: ‘Delight in the Christmas countdown – all while feeling your very best self – with the Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar for 2020. Bringing together some of the most popular skincare, make-up and fragrance products from our hallowed Beauty Halls, each day will unveil a new surprise, with a mix of full-sized and mini offerings worth over £700 in total.’

We say: Of course our eyes (and noses) went straight to the dinky 6ml of iconic Acqua di Parma Colonia, and the stunning Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat Rouge 540 Mini Candle 35g; but oh goodness what a treasure trove of luxurious treats awaits you!

 

 

Molton Brown 2020 Luxury Advent Calendar £120

Molton Brown says: ‘Celebrate in style this year and count down to the joyful Christmas day with our sensational luxury advent calendar, filled with intriguing new fragrances, bathing classics and much more. Inspired by the liberating glamour of the Roaring Twenties, this elegant calendar shimmers with holographic foil to evoke a 1920s chandelier. With a striking new design, it’s secured by a hidden magnet and opens from the side to reveal your 24 stellar indulgences.’

We say: Wow, what a sophisticated selection of gifts, worth £259. The new Juniper Jazz, Geranium Nefertum and classic Black Pepper fragrances amidst a fragrant flurry of candles, body and bath oils and pampering treats, oh my! A perfect one to ‘share’ (or at least pretend to) with a partner, we feel…

Psst! Are you interested in WINNING this Molton Brown Advent Calendar for yourself? Keep your eyes peeled for our competion on Saturday

 

 

L’OCCITANE Hand Illustrated Reusable Advent Calendar £160 (web exclusive)

L’OCCITANE Says: ‘Created in collaboration with UK illustrator Isla Simpson, this hand illustrated Advent Calendar is made from recycled cotton and reusable for years to come. Inspired by nature and the magic of Provence, each pocket unveils a luxury size product.’

We Say: Worth a whopping £230 we love the saving, but even more the fact you can re-use this and stuff with your own scented treats for years to come. The floral illustrations are simply goregous, and inside you’ll find the herbaceously fresh 5ml Herbae par L’OCCITANE Eau de Parfum.

If you prefer to make your own calendars, why not fill some days with fragrant frivolity by adding minis and samples from our own Perfume Society Discovery Boxes, or the luxurious niche Brand Sets we have in store?

Maybe make one for yourself and one for a best friend who you’re missing – you can compare smelling notes each day of December! Fragrantly counting down the days ’til freedom, or simply scenting each day, was never more needed…

By Suzy Nightingale

 

5 Festively fragrant advent calendars to grab before they go!

We’ve seen at least three people wearing Christmas jumpers already, so there’s no avoiding it, folks! And have you seen how many of the gorgeous beauty and fragrance-related limited edition Advent calendars have sold out already? Clearly we like a bit of luxe and a way to spoil ourselves as things get frantic.
Things have moved on apace from the days we used to get a gaudily printed, flimsy cardboard advent calendar in which each of the windows housed cheap chocolate or perhaps just a picture of Santa or the Three Wise Kings.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourites that haven’t (yet!) completely sold-out. But it’s mittens-off: you’d better grab your favourites before they’re gone…
Molton Brown Cabinet of Scented Luxuries £165
You had us at ‘Molton Brown’ and won our hearts at ‘Scented’, but finding out the contents are worth a whopping £265 really seals the deal. With 2 x 50ml eau de toilettes, hand treatments, body care, candles, shampoo and a festive bauble for your tree to name a few, the classically attired box of goodies is irresistible.
Buy it at moltonbrown.co.uk
L’Occitane Luxury Advent Calendar £89
Packed with £129 worth of products, L’Occitane lavishly showcase their iconic and ultra-nourishing shea butter range, along with 4 mini bottles of perfume, the award-winning Divine Cream for the face and countless other beautifully scented treats to indulge yourself with.
Buy it at loccitane.com

4160 Tuesdays Mini Advent Calendar £75
A bottle of perfume to open and try every day? Yes please! 25 mini bottles are brightly wrapped in their trademark tissue paper and snuggled in a box to delight you or a loved one over the entire Christmas season. We’d be tempted to thread them all with gold wire and hang them on the tree, they’re so pretty…
Buy it at 4160tuesdays.com

Rituals Exclusive Advent Calendar £59.50
Spa-scented goodies to slather yourself in from top to toe are housed within the charming Rituals tree – The Ritual of Dao Bed & Body Mist has our name written all over it (we love wearing a scent to bed, don’t you?) and what with Hammam Hot Scrubs, body gloves and fragranced candles to complete the joy, we’ll be smooth, glowing and goregously scented.
Buy it at rituals.com
Diptyque Advent Calendar £300
We know it’s only for people on the ‘VERY good’ list of people for Father Christmas to check the beaviour of, but really, with 25 treasures including dinky little Diptyque mini (35g) candles and a selection of other cute miniatures – including 10ml Vinaigre de Toilette, deluxe 15ml skin and body care, and a 70g candle, it’s just too darling not to include on your wish list at least!
Buy it in-store at Diptyque or online at selfridges.com
Written by Suzy Nightingale