The Best Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars 2024 (And They’re All Available To Buy Right Now)

There's something for everyone...

best alternative advent calendars

by Gemma Lavers |
Updated

We love a good chocolate advent calendar, don’t get us wrong, but since there are so many floating about in the countdown to Christmas, sometimes we find ourselves looking for something a little different - alternative, or non-chocolate, advent calendars, you might call them. With an influx of new and exciting options on the market, you can have your choice of the best for the festive season. Leaving chocolate behind, you'll be seriously impressed with these choices.

We've all heard of beauty advent calendars. But did you know you can also get, erm, dog biscuit advent calendars? And jewellery advent calendars? The most popular brands have really pulled through to allow everyone to get what they really want during the holidays. 'Tis the indulgent season, after all.

Grazia's best non-chocolate advent calendars, at a glance:

Most popular non-chocolate advent calendar: Lookfantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2024, £100 on Lookfantastic

Best coffee advent calendar: Grind Advent Calendar 2024, £32 on Anthropologie

Best jewellery advent calendar: Missoma Gold Jewellery Advent Calendar, £395 on Missoma

Best non-chocolate advent calendar for adults: Bonne Maman Limited Edition Spreads Advent Calendar, £29.75 on Amazon

How we put the best non-chocolate advent calendars to the test:

We’ve done a deep dive and curated our top alternative advent calendars of 2024 to make the build-up to Christmas Day a little bit more special. Whether you're looking for a smaller 12-day choice or want to go all out with a 24-day advent calendar, there's something for everyone. Now all you have to do is to decide which one works for you.

Shop: The best non-chocolate advent calendars 2024

Most popular non-chocolate advent calendar

Lookfantastic, Beauty Advent Calendar 2024Lookfantastic

The Lookfantastic 2024 Beauty Advent Calendar could be its best one yet. Ranked at number two by the Grazia team as one of the best beauty advent's on the market every year this calendar sells out - and for good reason. With a whopping 13 full-size goodies and a further selection of mini surprises, the countdown to Christmas has never looked so good. Some of the best products I've spotted inside the advent calendar include the much-loved ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (30ml) and the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mist - and while I would somewhat be tempted to keep these for myself, they would make great small gifts or stocking fillers.

Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £100 (for £565 worth of products)
Number of days: 25

Best coffee advent calendar

Grind, Advent Calendar 2024Anthropologie

Born in East London, Grind has carved out a niche by combining artisanal coffee with a commitment to sustainability. The brand's aesthetic - think minimalist design with a touch of industrial chic if you haven't seen it already - perfectly mirrors its ethos; sophisticated yet unpretentious. This year its 2024 advent calendar boasts 25 days of home-compostable Nespresso compatible pods, each with a unique blend of Grind's speciality-grade coffee (that's also sourced from small farms). The calendar even includes a special 'Christmas' blend, which sounds delicious and is described as having notes of orange, pecan, treacle and dark chocolate.

Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £32 (a bargain considering you also get a bonus pod for the 25th)
Number of days: 25

Best jewellery advent calendar

Missoma, Gold Jewellery Advent CalendarMissoma

Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers says: 'I like to think of myself as a savvy shopper, so when I saw that the Gold Jewellery Advent Calendar contains jewellery worth over £800, for £395 - I thought to myself - I can girl math my way out of this. Not only is it great value for money (whether you choose to keep all the gems yourself or gift some to others), but it also has an array of chic, everyday pieces. I particularly love the Mini Star Ridge Pendant Necklace and of course, the Lucy Williams Mini Orb Ear Cuff. Missoma also did a good job at curating a collection of jewellery for its 2024 advent calendar that feels cohesive yet diverse - inside there's a mixture of earrings, necklaces and bracelets, and they can all be worn at once, or just one at a time.'
Read the full review of the Missoma Jewellery Advent Calendar here.

Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £395 (for £827 worth of products)
Number of days: 12

Best non-chocolate advent calendar for adults

Bonne Maman, Limited Edition Spreads Advent CalendarAmazon
Price: £29.75

Spread the Christmas cheer (pardon the pun) this December with this adorable Bonne Maman Jam Advent Calendar, filled with delicious jams and spreads to enjoy. Included is 23 mini jars of fruity jam or sweet spread, featuring festive flavour combinations, like purple fig with cinnamon, pear and cocoa conserve and coffee caramel and chestnut honey conserve. What I think is also the best part about this calendar is that with each day - and each new conserve or spread - means another topping for your toast in the morning. By the end of the 25 days you'll find you've tried a whole host of spreads you never thought you would have.

Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £29.75
Number of days: 24

Best non-chocolate advent calendar for kids

LEGO, City Advent Calendar 2024Amazon
Price: £16.99 (was £19.99)

The LEGO City advent calendar is the perfect way to keep festive excitement building (quite literally) in the lead up to the big day. I'm sure this advent calendar would be a dream come true to little ones - and nostalgic adults alike - as each day reveals a mini build, character or accessory. Inside is 24 surprises, including a Christmas tree and snowman, as well as the leading lady and man themselves, Mr and Mrs Claus. Another great thing about this LEGO calendar is that the box folds out to create a snowy winter village scene, which makes for the perfect backdrop for numerous stories and adventures. Plus, the advent is a great excuse to add to your LEGO collection with some festive flair.

Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £16.99
Number of days: 24

Best matcha advent calendar

Bird And Blend Tea, Matcha Tea Advent Calendar 2024Bird And Blend Tea

Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'Matcha is a relatively new thing to me - as probably to most too - and I'm unashamedly really getting into it. For any matcha-lovers you might have in your life, this advent calendar is the perfect present for them (or for yourself). Inside is what the brand says are '24 magical matcha flavours' (mysterious) which is enough to make 48 cups of matcha. I won't spoil all the flavours for you, but to give you a taste of what you've got in store, the calendar contains very interesting matcha flavours like spiced pumpkin pie and mint choc chip, as well as of course, the original pure Japanese Matcha Green Tea.'

Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £52 (contains 48 cups of matcha)
Number of days: 24

Best savoury alternative advent calendar

Say hello to Ilchester's swanky new Cheese Advent Calendar. That's right, the premium advent calendar is offering this huge box of twenty-four delicious cheeses for each day of the Christmas season.

Best luxury alternative advent calendar

The White Company Beauty Advent CalendarThe White Company

Worth over £273, The White Company's highly covetable Advent Calendar will make Christmas feel extra luxurious. A daily indulgence, discover 25 pull-out drawers filled with everything from bath and body miniatures to votives in bestselling scents in full-size.

Best luxury alternative advent calendar

Fortnum's Feasting Advent CalendarFortnum and mason

Treat yourself to a delicious surprise every day from royal favourite, Fortnum & Mason with their Feasting Advent Calendar. Comprising everything you need for the most luxurious start to the festive season, this calendar contains treats such as classic teas, biscuits, chocolate and confectionery to mouth-watering preserves, condiments and festive tipples.

Best haircare alternative advent calendar

Invisibobble Xmas Collection Time to Shine - Advent Calendarsalon trusted

Always losing your hair ties or know someone who is? This unique Xmas Collection Time to Shine advent calendar from Invisibobble will really make them smile. With a selection of hair-loving accessories (plus, some VERY cute festive options), it'll be useful for years to come.

Best perfume alternative advent calendar

The Fragrance Shop Advent Calendar 2023The Fragrance Shop
Price: £85 (£68 member price)

www.thefragranceshop.co.uk

The Fragrance Shop Advent Calendar is one for those who really love their perfumes out there. This advent calendar is jam-packed with indulgent fragrances as well as beauty staples. Includes top-sellers like Prada, Marc Jacobs and YSL. It keeps selling out so make sure you snap it up quickly.

Best sweets alternative advent calendar

Candy Kittens Advent Calendar 2023ocado

Those with a sweet tooth can sink into this advent calendar from the sweet company owned by MIC's Jamie Laing. That's right, Candy Kittens' Advent Calendar is back for 2023, with 24 days of Advent to enjoy.

Best whiskey alternative advent calendar

Whisky Advent Calendar (2023 Edition)master of malt
Price: £129.95 (was £149.95)

www.masterofmalt.com

If you know a whisky fan who deserves a treat this Christmas, then it doesn't get much better than the Whisky Advent Calendar by Master of Malt. It includes an expertly curated collection of 24 hand-waxed 30ml drams of whisky from a range of incredible producers, including distillers, blenders, and bottlers.

Best pet alternative advent calendar

Personalised Dog Advent Calendarnotonthehighstreet

Do they know it's Christmas? Dogs, that is. Well, probably not. But, if all the humans are getting treats all month, then it feels a bit cruel to leave them out. So, why not treat them (or your favourite canine-loving human) to this Personalised Dog Advent Calendar wreath? 24 biscuit treats, one for each day of December. Just make sure it's hung up nice and high!

Best nail polish alternative advent calendar

Is 'paint, shape and decorate' your mantra? Well, look no further than the Ciaté Mini Mani Month Advent Calendar, worth £125, full of multi-coloured nail polishes. There's no excuse not to get experimental this party season, with 23 minis to choose from, as well as a full-size bottle.

Best men's alternative advent calendar

Man'Stuff Grooming Advent Calendarmenkind

For the man in your life, we present the perfect pre-Christmas gift: Man'Stuff Grooming Advent Calendar. Not only will he smell gorgeous, but he'll feel like a million bucks.

Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia. Gemma specialises in all things clothing and enjoys outfit planning (especially for holidays), scrolling social media for the next trend and shopping (probably for a new coat).

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