Christmas isn’t complete without a few things. Overfilling on every food imaginable, the inevitable post-board-game family altercations, and, of course, a good advent calendar - and here at Evening Standard, we know just where to find them.
Though they conjure up childhood visions of struggling to rip open a cardboard door to discover the always-too-tight foil covering an averagely tasting chocolate, today’s calendars consist of thoughtfully designed and well stocked options that will get you even more excited for the festive season ahead.
Whether you’re a man who’s into grooming, trying out 25 different whiskies is more your style, or would prefer to restock your fragrance shelf with a selection of scents, the vast choice means there’s a calendar to suit any taste or budget - we’ve even got you covered if a daily chocolate is still on your run-up-to-Christmas wishlist.
And the advent calendar hype is real (maybe not quite rivalling the John Lewis Christmas advert, but it’s getting there…). With luxury stores like Fortnums, Acqua Di Parma, and Diptyque cramming tons of their high end products in the secret drawers at a fraction of the price of the RRP, it’s not hard to see why.
So take a look at our list below to find the perfect advent calendar for that special man in your life… even if that’s yourself.
Best wine advent calendars of 2022 to celebrate the festive season
Best whisky advent calendars of 2022 to enjoy a festive dram
Best chocolate advent calendars for Christmas 2022
Best gin advent calendars of 2022 to ring in the festive season
Best advent calendars for kids 2022: Toys and chocolate treats
Fortnum's Feasting Advent Calendar
Is there anything else to do at Christmas other than eat, drink, and be merry? We think not, especially when you’ve got Fortnum’s veritable feast of an advent calendar to greet you every morning.
From spiced orange & dark chocolate biscuits and salted caramel hot chocolate, to the brand’s famous teas, preserves and festive tipples, there’s a tasty treat behind every door. At a round £200, you get a lot of bang for your buck - and it will brighten up any festive shelf.
Buy now £200.00, Fortnum & Mason
Next 25 Days Of Grooming Advent Calendar
Products worth £265 for a fraction of the price - who can say no to that?This calendar is loaded with all of the grooming heros, from a Clinique moisturiser, to a age defying balm by Percy Nobleman, not to mention favourites from the likes of Kiehl’s, L’Occitane, This Works, and Clarins, to name a few. By the time it’s Christmas Day, you’ll feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and relaxed - even after one too many late nights.
Buy now £85.00, Next
BrewDog Craft Beer Advent Calendar
With an exclusive glass and a different beer behind each door, BrewDog’s advent calendar is a sure fire way to delight all the men out there who have a penchant for the golden ale.
From advent calendar exclusives to the brand’s favourites, the calendar is brimming with beery goodness that will have you, or a lucky someone, sipping through a delicious can every day - maybe one to save for a post-work surprise.
Buy now £59.95, BrewDog
Hotel Chocolat The Advent Calendar For Two
Want to treat the man you wake up next to every morning? Well, here’s the perfect way to spoil him, and yourself, too.
With two identical truffles behind every door, this is the calendar made to share for harmonious festive chocolate-based happiness. With flavours like salted caramel, madagascan vanilla and gingerbread praline, your tastebuds will be satisfied on the daily - and what better time to share than Christmas?
Buy now £27.50, Hotel Chocolat
Acqua di Parma Advent Calendar
Release date: October 1
Brimming with ransack appeal, this is one of the most epic curations of Acqua di Parma products to date.
Housed in a hugely attractive marbled exterior inspired by a traditional hatbox and in joy-giving hues of yellow and gold, it plays host to 25 fragrance favourites from the house.
Expect the likes of the Colonie, Blu Mediterraneo and the Signatures of the Sun fragrances. There is also the new Magia del Camino and Bosco 28gr and 70gr scented candles
Buy now £450.00, Selfridges
Harry’s Advent Calendar
If you want to look sharp, feel relaxed, and smell amazing on Christmas day, then it’s Harry’s grooming advent calendar that should be on your wishlist.
Packed full of skincare, shower essentials, shaving goodies, and scented candles, all worth over £170, you’ll look forward to the daily treat of opening one of the jenga-style boxes to discover what’s inside.
Even better, the final block reveals Harry’s £10,000 Christmas donation to Shout, the UK’s first, and only free confidential 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone struggling to cope as part of the brand’s ongoing mission to help those affected by the mental health crisis.
Buy now £69.00, Harry’s
Single Malts of Scotland Advent Calendar
The story of Scotland’s whisky-making history is rich and colourful, so what better way to delve into it than with this whisky-packed advent, packaged in a bookish box? From light to densely peated, there are 25 x 30ml samples to wet your whistle, but all share one thing: they’re single cask varieties.
Ageing ranges from seven years to 31, from some of Scotland’s most prestigious distilleries.
Buy now £250.00, The Whisky Exchange
Diptyque Limited Edition Advent Calendar
Release date: October 12
The Diptyque advent calendar takes inspiration from the magic of stars with a phosphorescent Milky Way design that you’ll want to reuse year after year.
Each day spotlights a new constellation with the French perfume house’s signature typography and revealing fragrance within. This takes on many different forms, from the candles to the eau de parfums. For the first year ever, there are even three limited-edition seasonal scents; a small Pine Tree (Sapin) candle and miniature Snow (Neige) and Spark (Étincelles) candles.
Buy now £370.00, Diptyque
The Little Boys Room Gin Filled Giant Advent Cracker
Taking an XXL approach to the traditional Christmas cracker, this version contains far more than a novelty crown and a silly joke.
It comes filled with 24 x 5cl bottles of flavoured gin and gin liqueurs, giving you plenty to get excited about as we count down to Christmas.
Each day, you will be treated to a mini offering from distilleries across the globe including the likes of Edinburgh Gin, Warners, and many more.
Buy now £144.95, NOTHS
Tony’s Chocolonely Countdown Calendar
Available from: September 12
Tony’s Chocolonely’s calendar is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit with its top-notch, melt-in-the-mouth chocolate. Each day discover another irresistible flavour such as pretzel toffee, crispy wafer, or sea salt in milk and dark varieties and countdown to Christmas with 24 individually wrapped tiny Tonys, each made from 100 per cent Fairtrade cocoa.
Buy now £13.00, Ocado
Johnnie Walker 12 Days of Discovery limited edition calendar
Put a spring in their step this Christmas with Johnnie Walker’s limited edition whisky advent calendar. The handsome yellow and white box opens to reveal a dozen branded miniatures to enjoy in the 12 days before Christmas. Whether they’re new to the world of whisky or just want a journey through Johnnie Walker’s core range, it’s the perfect boozy gift for a fan.
Available now.
Buy now £49.00, Amazon
Pierre Marcolini ‘Enchanted Forest’ Chocolate Advent Calendar
Available from: October
Get lost in Pierre Marcolini’s enchanted winter forest and reveal a delicious chocolate creation every day. Handmade in Belgium using the finest cocoa, sample some of the chocolatier’s favourite pralines, caramels and hazelnut flavours, surrounded by the beautiful setting in a 100 per cent eco-friendly box.
Buy now £54.00, Pierre Marcolini
The White Company Beauty Advent Calendar
Release date: Available now
Perhaps the chicest addition to any festive shelf, The White Company’s all white calendar is for those partial to a pared back Christmas aesthetic.
Whether you’re last minute shopping or suffering from a work-Christmas-party-hangover, this calendar is packed full of deliciously scented candles, body washes, and lotions that will let you soak away the stress in the tub. On Christmas day you’ll be wafting notes of sea salt, lime and bay, and cedarwood for the whole family to enjoy.
Buy now £175.00, The White Company
John Lewis Wine Advent Calendar, 24x 187ml
The pretty winter woodland scene that covers the front of this hefty box is almost mesmerising enough to distract you from the contents - but not quite. Hidden behind the festive facade sits 24 x 187ml bottles of red and white wine, ready to enjoy at leisure every evening until Christmas Day. Think of it as your own personal Christmas wine cellar.
Buy now £85.00, John Lewis
SUSANNE KAUFMANN 2022 Advent Calendar
Release date: Available (and other retailers from September 19)
Expect nothing short of luxury from skincare label SUSANNE KAUFMANN. The brand has paid the closest attention to detail for every part of its beauty advent calendar in line with the brand’s MO: “ natural and effective skincare without compromise”. For that reason, the exterior is crafted from recycled and recyclable card, free from plastics and glue and each of the formulas can be found in a recyclable glass bottle. Products are all sourced locally in Austria and Germany.
Within the calendar, you will find four full-sized versions of the Eye Rescue Serum (RRP £85), Nutrient Serum (RRP £110), Lip Balm (RRP £15) and Rejuvenating Eye Cream (RRP £55) as well as minis of hero products like the Bath for the Senses. The full-sized total £265 if you were to buy them seperately and with 20 more minis, this seems good value.
The calendar is a truly pampering treat and a conscious self-gift idea.
Buy now £380.00, SUSANNE KAUFMANN
