20 fun Advent calendars for adults who can't wait for Christmas
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Anthropologie
- Advent calendars are a great way to get into the holiday spirit, making each day leading up to Christmas that much more exciting.
- From the traditional chocolate-filled calendar to a more adult whiskey tasting, we've found the best Advent calendars to suit any taste.
- If you're looking for Advent calendars to help your little ones count down to Christmas, check out our guide to the best Advent calendars for kids.
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When you think of an Advent calendar, you probably picture a cardboard rectangle with little doors concealing small pieces of mediocre chocolate. And indeed just such products do occupy a large sector of the Advent calendar market, but there are so many other options out there to make the holiday season even more special.
We have rounded up several different Advent calendars to suit a wide range of tastes. You can stick to a nice collection of chocolate or up the ante with a daily boozy surprise or even a collection of scented lotions. All of our picks make wonderful gifts, but we don't blame you if you keep them for yourself.
Here are the best Advent calendars:
Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar, $29.95, available at Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma's peppermint bark has become a perennial favorite around the holidays. Now, you can count down the season with a daily piece of the minty, chocolatey confection shaped like Christmas trees, Santas, toy soldiers, and snowmen.
A calendar for caramel loversAmazon
McCrea's Candies 2020 Caramel Advent Calendar, $38, available at Food52
Caramels are the first candies snatched out of a box of chocolates in my house. If the chewy candy is your first pick too, the McCrea's Caramel Advent Calendar will sweeten up your holiday season. Featuring flavors like Tapped Maple, Cinnamon Clove, and Anisette, these aren't your run of the mill caramels. And the whimsical box featuring woodland creatures at a holiday market will surely put a smile on your face.
A shareable duoHarry & David
Chocolate Advent Calendar Duo, $34.99, available at Harry & David
One of the worst parts of a chocolate Advent calendar is that you only get one piece of candy per day. If you can't stand having to share or just want to spread the love, pick up this two-pack from Harry & David. Each day, you and a recipient of your choice will enjoy unwrapping a milk chocolate and reading a festive message.
A luxurious praline-filled splurgeNeuhaus
Neuhaus 2020 Premium Pop Up Chocolate Advent Calendar, $73.90, available at Neuhaus Chocolate
The Neuhaus Premium Chocolate Advent Calendar is certainly pricey for a box of chocolates, but for a once a year treat, this luscious mix of milk, dark, and white chocolate pralines is one of the best you can buy. Insider Reviews editor Sally Kaplan said it's one of the best Advent calendars she's ever had, and freelancer James Brains said he and his wife buy one every year, and it's too delicious to just eat one a day.
A vegan and nut-free confection collectionAmazon
No Whey Foods Chocolate Advent Calendar, $14.95, available on Amazon
If chocolate is an absolute requirement for your Advent calendar, but the dairy or nuts in a typical box are no-gos, look to No Whey!'s Advent calendar. It's the holiday perfect treat for the vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, or soy-free household. 24 creamy chocolates hide behind traditional windows in a holiday-motif box.
A candy countdown featuring more than just chocolateSugarfina
Sugarfina 24 Tastes of Christmas Advent Calendar, $50, available at Sugarfina
Chocolate is traditional for Advent calendars, but for the gummy lovers out there, Sugarfina's mixing things up. From gummy apple frogs to sugar cookie bites — and, yes, there's still a chocolate treat here and there — you'll find a ton of variety in Sugarfina's Advent Calendar.
A way to make breakfast specialAmazon
Bonne Maman 2020 Limited Edition Advent Calendar, $34.99, available on Amazon
If your breakfast ritual includes a slice of toast, make your mornings a bit more special with the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar. Each day, you'll open a door and be met with a new flavor of jam, preserves, or honey.
A daily cozy cuppaUncommon Goods
24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar, $32, available at Uncommon Goods
There's nothing quite like watching the snowfall with a warm cup of tea. Uncommon Goods keeps that cozy ritual fresh with a new sachet of tea each day, with flavors ranging from Chinese black tea to a cranberry and elderflower blend.
A more caffeinated countdownEtsy
Yawn 2020 Coffee Advent Calendar, from $59.54, available at Etsy
The 24 sachets of coffee contained in the Yawn Coffee Advent Calendar box will expose even the most experienced coffee drinker to something new. You can choose to have them delivered in the form of whole beans you can freshly grind yourself or pre-ground for espresso or French press.
A whiskey lover's dreamFlaviar
Flaviar Whiskeys of the World Advent Calendar, $225, available at Flaviar
The Flaviar Whiskeys of the World Advent Calendar lets your favorite whiskey aficionado sample drams of their favorite spirit from around the globe. Each day, you'll be met with a unique 1.7-ounce dram of whiskey, along with an informative card detailing the liquor's origin and tasting notes.
A 12-night wine tastingVinebox
Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine Advent Calendar, $129, available at Vinebox
Vinebox is one of our favorite wine subscriptions at Insider Reviews, and its Advent calendar lets you countdown the 12 days of Christmas with a daily glass. Vinebox has curated this mix with the holidays in mind and included bold reds and rich whites that pair perfectly with the season.
The 12 beers of ChristmasCity Brew Tours
12 Beers of Christmas Craft Beer Box, $85, available at City Brew Tours
If beer is your drink of choice, the 12 Beers of Christmas from City Brewery Tour will surely keep you warm this holiday season. In addition to a daily craft beer from breweries around the country, you'll also be treated to some small stocking stuffers like bottle openers and other treats. And you can join the folks from City Brewery Tour nightly to discuss the beer of the day.
A way to spice up the seasonAmazon
The 25 Sauces of Christmas Advent Calendar, $79.99, available on Amazon
If you can't think of a better way to warm up on a cold winter night than with a tongue-scorching hot sauce, this is your Advent calendar. Each day you'll find a new miniature two-ounce bottle of hot sauce with a Christmas-themed label, ranging in spice level from jalapeno all the way to Carolina reaper. A full-size bottle of Santa's Secret Sauce awaits you on Christmas Day if you have any taste buds left by then.
A collection of collectiblesAmazon
Funko Advent Calendars, from $39.96, available on Amazon
Funko is known for its vinyl collectible pop culture figurines, and its Advent calendars lets you add 24 minis to decorate your shelves year-round. You'll find a ton of fandoms represented in Funko's Advent calendars including Marvel, Harry Potter, Fortnite, and more.
A holiday treat for your feline friendPetsmart
Fancy Feast Advent Calendar, $19.49, available at Petsmart
Why should our feline friends miss out on the holiday fun? With the Fancy Feast Advent Calendar, you'll be able to treat your cat to a new food flavor every day of the holiday season.
A pampering box of creams and lotionsAmazon
L'Occitane Signature Holiday Advent Calendar, $74, available on Amazon
The L'Occitane Advent Calendar is a perfect gift for the holiday season — you'll treat yourself to a daily lotion, cream, or soap, and you'll combat winter dryness in the process.
A new manicure for each dayAmazon
OPI Holiday 2020 Shine Bright Collection, $49.95, available on Amazon
25 miniature bottles of nail polish encapsulate this unique Advent calendar from OPI. Refresh your look every day of the holiday season or collect them all to stock up for 2021. Each mini bottle is good for roughly four to five manicures, so you'll be able to enjoy them all year.
A high-end beauty and skincare treasure troveNet-A-Porter
Net-A-Porter 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, $300, available at Net-A-Porter
Net-A-Porter has put together a truly luxurious Advent calendar chock full of some of our favorite beauty and skincare brands like Dr. Dennis Gross, Charlotte Tillbury, REN, and more. It's pricey at $300, but you'll get 25 products, each packaged in a daily drawer.
A more affordable beauty and skincare calendarAnthropologie
George & Viv 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, $72, available at Anthropologie
Mario Badescu, Sunday Riley, Lanolips, and other wonderful skincare and beauty brands stud this advent calendar from Anthropologie. It's much more affordable than Net-A-Porter's offering, yet feels just as jam-packed.
An indulgent collection from one of our favorite candle brandsBloomingdale's
Diptyque 25-Piece Advent Calendar, $425, available at Diptyque Paris
Diptyque makes some of the best candles you can buy, and we on the Insider Reviews team consistently rave about them — but they are quite the expensive treat. And this Advent calendar, coming in at $425, is no exception. But you'll get 25 votives, perfumes, creams, and scrubs in the brand's signature scents. If you've got the cash to spare, and want to really treat yourself, this might just be the pinnacle of Advent calendars.