Perfume Advent Calendars Are All I Want for Christmas
Jo Malone, Diptyque, and Maison Margiela are among my top picks.
'Tis the season for shopping for the best beauty advent calendars. Even though the holiday season is two months away, 25-day countdowns are already hitting the shelves. Charlotte Tilbury's much-anticipated advent calendar offers full-size makeup products, and Revolve's advent calendar is a $539 value—for just $150. There are even a handful of luxury advent calendars to choose from. But perhaps the most exciting launches are perfume advent calendars. The fragrance lover in me couldn't be happier. After all, what could be better than discovering a new fragrance every day?
Whether your giftee is just entering the world of luxury perfumes or is a bona fide fragrance snob, this year's slate of perfume advent calendars has something for everyone. A few standouts come from celeb-approved perfume brands like Jo Malone London and Diptyque, alongside editor favorites like Acqua di Parma and Dr. Vranjes Firenze. It's possible to shop on a budget too; there are several under-$200 picks from our favorite retailers like Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus.
Your new favorite perfume could be hiding behind one of the several doors on these advent calendars. You might even discover luxurious candles, body lotions, or hand creams along the way. Keep scrolling to get the lowdown on the best perfume advent calendars of the season.
Jo Malone perfumes come with the stamp of approval of several A-listers—Sofia Richie-Grainge regularly rotates between English Pear Sweet Pea and English Pear Freesia, while Megan Markle is a noted fan of the brand's Wood Sage Sea Salt fragrance. Now you can try out 25 of the celeb-loved scents in mini perfumes, candles, body lotions, and other body care products at about $20 a pop. You can expect to find a travel-size perfume and crème, which retail for over $80, making this well worth buying.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 25
Standout Products:
To echo the world of felt artist Lucy Sparrow, Diptyque's 2024 advent calendar takes the shape of a playful sewing box to house a trove of special treasures. In the large box, which can be used well beyond the holidays, expect to find several fan-favorite Diptyque perfumes like Orphéon, Tam Dao, and L'Eau Papier. The brand is also releasing three special-edition candles that smell like pine, wintery woods, and freshly baked treats respectively.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 25
Standout Products:
Rather than focus on specific notes, Maison Margiela fragrances transport you to distinct memories, four of which you can experience in this advent calendar. By The Fireplace, a sweet, smoky scent perfect for fall; Jazz Club, a spicy, smokey fragrance; Beach Walk, a summery coconut perfume; and Lazy Sunday, a smell for floral lovers, all made their way into this luxe gift. You'll be happy to know this set comes with a full-size By The Fireplace perfume, and considering you're only paying an additional $35 for six more products, this is a set to snag while it's in stock.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: Seven
Value of Contents: $169
Standout Products:
Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette, $85
Not all perfumes are created equal. This advent calendar is the perfect introduction to some of the most sought-after luxury fragrance brands on the market at a very approachable price point. Every day offers a new cult favorite, so rest assured you're getting the best taste of the featured perfume brands. Some personal favorites include Byredo's Gypsy Water, a woody fragrance for every day, and Diptyque's Eau Rose, a floral scent that's far from my grandma's rose perfumes. With 12 lavish scents to fawn over, you're bound to find a new favorite.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 12
Value of Contents: $275
Standout Products:
For those unfamiliar, Dr. Vranjes Firenze is a luxury home fragrance brand with scents meant to evoke Italian life. So, if living in La Dolce Vita is part of your holiday plans, this advent calendar has everything you need to taste Italian life at home. Inside, you'll find 10 of the brand's best-selling home fragrances in mini spray bottles, five mini candles, and four pretty Christmas tree ornaments. You also get the brand's "Carparfum" and four refills to make your car smell delectable for months.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 24
Standout Products:
Acqua di Parma's 2024 advent calendar is worth its weight in gold in a shimmering handcrafted box created by architect and designer India Mahdavi. Your giftee (or yourself!) will indulge in 25 luxe scents from the Italian fragrance house, including Arancia di Capri and the world-famous Colonia line. The products include a healthy mix of perfumes, bodycare products, haircare products, and candles, so you're sure to be surprised every time you open a little door.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 25
Standout Products:
Whether you're a fragrance snob and have an entire perfume wardrobe or are just starting on your collection, sampling a range of sents can build out your collection. Don't know how you feel about the growing popularity of oud? You can try Bond No. 9's NoMad without committing to a full bottle. Or maybe you're looking for something on the fresher side? In that case, L'Artisan's Un Air de Bretagne may be your new favorite.
Available to Shop: No, pre-order for October 7, 2024
Number of Days: 12
Value of Contents: $375
Standout Products:
Any anglophile in your life will go crazy over Penhaligon's 2024 advent calendar. Housed in three boxes meant to replicate baked treats, the British heritage brand offers a full-size bottle of Luna and travel-friendly versions of Halfeti, Duchess Rose, Highgrove, and more. While most of the calendar is full of fragrance, Penhaligon's made sure to include a select few candles, body washes, and lotions. The cherry on top of this sweet treat is a cute holiday-themed key chain, a.k.a. the perfect seasonal bag charm.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 24
Bath lovers, rejoice! This advent calendar has roughly an equal amount of bath products to perfumes, so you'll be smelling divine every step of the getting-ready process. The "ornaments" are filled with festive bubble baths, so you can hang them up on your tree now and then use them later. Then, you'll have a fair share of body lotions, hand creams, and some haircare and skincare products thrown in the mix. Everything is housed in a shimmery golden case worthy of keeping around after the holidays.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 24
Value of Contents: $405
Standout Products:
Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Bath and Shower Gel, $30
Molton Brown Sunlit Clementine Vetiver Bath and Shower Gel, $30
With jewel-like packaging and indulgent fragrances, every little drawer in this advent calendar feels like a treasure. You'll get to experience the best Glasshouse Fragrances offers with six(!!) of the brand's best-selling candles, including a limited-edition holiday scent in a jar. You'll also try the brand's signature liquidless diffuser with a beautiful metal vase. Behind other drawers, you'll find a number of perfumes, body soaps and lotions, hand creams, a lip balm, and more fun goodies.
Available to Shop: Yes
Number of Days: 24
Standout Products:
Glasshouse Fragrances Kyoto in Bloom Eau de Parfum, $30
Glasshouse Fragrances Night Before Christmas Triple Scented Candle, $55
