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 ideas.
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 give everyone to get what they really want during the holidays. 'Tis the season to be indulgent, 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
Best non-chocolate advent calendar for kids: LEGO City Advent Calendar 2024, £16.99 on Amazon
How we put the best non-chocolate advent calendars to the test:
If you're anything like me, the countdown to Christmas is half (or the majority) of the fun. And, this year we've taken it upon ourselves to find the best non-chocolate advent calendars of the year. Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, has tested advents from all categories - jewellery, beauty, alcohol and even protein, to find the best. From 12-day selections that keep it simple but sweet, to full-blown 25-day extravaganzas packed with luxury treats, we've curated our top 25 non-chocolate advent calendar ideas to make the run up to Christmas feel extra special. Whether you're after a little daily indulgence or want to splurge on a full advent experience, these are the ones to invest in.
So how did we actually put them to the test? To start with we didn't just look at what's inside (although let's be honest, that's extremely important). We considered a myriad of factors, everything from value for money to number of days and build quality. Our aim was to find calendars that deliver pure joy, whether you're thinking about buying one for yourself or as a gift to someone - no chocolate required. Shop below.
Shop: The Best Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars 2024
Most popular non-chocolate advent calendar
www.lookfantastic.com
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'The Lookfantastic 2024 Beauty Advent Calendar could be its best one yet, and that's coming from someone who's bought it three years running. 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. 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
www.anthropologie.com
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
www.missoma.com
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
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 to pick up in a shop.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £29.75
Number of days: 24
Best non-chocolate advent calendar for kids
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 for children 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 beauty advent calendar
www.yslbeauty.co.uk
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'If you're looking to really spoil yourself, or a loved one this Christmas, then this is the beauty advent calendar you need to invest in. Filled with numerous Eau de Parfum samples, the popular Loveshine lipstick and Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils, the YSL advent (as you can probably expect) offers a large saving on some of its staple products. The calendar is £280 but contains over £514 worth of products - which makes sense to girl math my way out of this one too. One thing to note is that there are a lot of lipsticks, luckily I'm a lipstick/lip gloss lover so I didn't mind it, but it's just something to consider. Other than that I think this calendar is great and will feel like a super luxurious treat opening it each morning. This advent calendar gets me so excited for December 1st.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £280 (for £514 worth of products)
Number of days: 24
Best perfume advent calendar
www.thefragranceshop.co.uk
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'I've never had a fragrance advent calendar before, so I was super excited to see what was behind each of the doors. I'm someone who tends to have just one scent that I've stuck to, well, for what feels like forever, but I think I could be persuaded to change it up with some of these glorious scents. From the minute I opened the calendar I could already smell it. A particular highlight for me (and of course, scent is subjective) were the Carolina Herrera Good Girl and the Moschino Toy 2 Pearl Eau de Parfum. The best part about this calendar is that I was able to also share it with the men in my life as there are numerous masculine scents in here too.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £120 (for £300 worth of products)
Number of days: 25
Best dog advent calendar
www.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Commercial content editor, Natalie Corner, says: 'Lily's Kitchen is a great brand for interesting dog food flavours, every year they come up with a Christmas Dinner in a can! It's advent calendar this year went down a treat with my dog Dash. Although it's not quite December, for testing purposes only we allowed him a couple of the treats from the cardboard windows. The grain free treats are chunky and crunchy which my dog loves, and the three different flavours - turkey, chicken and chicken with beef - add a little bit of a variety for each day. And because the advent calendar is all cardboard it's an extra treat for my dog to play with as he loves to shred it to pieces.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £11.99
Number of days: 24
Best nail polish advent calendar
You're going to want the perfect manicure in time for the big day, and this advent gives you four limited-edition shades to practice with before the 25th. Also inside the calendar is two nail art markers in a festive silver and gold, and an orange cuticle oil. Trust me when I say this cuticle oil is worth investing in the entire calendar for - it smells heavenly and works wonders on my extremely cracked fingers (thanks, winter). The Mylee calendar is not your traditional open-the-door advent, instead the 12 boxes snugly sit inside a pink and red swirled keepsake tin - perfect for storing your polishes, cuticle oils and nail files afterwards.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £55
Number of days: 12
Best fitness advent calendar
www.myprotein.com
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'There's no point in reserving January 1st as the date to start heading to the gym and upping your wellness, you might as well start before Christmas, with the Myprotein Fitness Advent Calendar. On the inside of this limited-edition advent is 25 of the brand's best-selling products, including the Impact Whey Protein, Layered Protein Bar and - drumroll please - a plastic shaker that's perfect for mixing everything together. This one would also make for such a great gift to any gym-goer in your life.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £59.99
Number of days: 25
Best home advent calendar
www.thewhitecompany.com
Worth over £307, 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 a full size signature candle to a mini home spray in best-selling scents. The best part about this calendar is that there's 25 days of glorious gifts - rather than 24 - which is great. On the outside there's an exclusive illustration of its flagship store that has been decorated for Christmas, and on the inside sits individual drawers that house these extremely chic products. Plus, this year The White Company promise there's four full-size products, which is more than last year.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £195 (for £307 worth of products)
Number of days: 25
Best beer advent calendar
hawkstone.com
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'I can't even begin to tell you how large this advent calendar is, so if you're going to get this for yourself, or a loved one, make sure they've got enough room in their house! Size aside, this advent is truly great and excellent value for money. Hawkstone have never released an advent calendar before, but this one is packed with all sorts of premium and session lagers, ciders and IPA - and by the end of the Christmas countdown you'll have amassed (or tried) 24 different beverages. I imagine the Hawkstone calendar's won't be around long so I suggest buying it ahead of December 1st to avoid it selling out.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £85 (but worth way more due to the variety of alcohol inside)
Number of days: 24
Best wine advent calendar
www.nakedwines.co.uk
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'First and foremost, I think conceptually, this advent calendar is great, and the slim design is so chic too. During the 24-day advent calendar you'll be taken on, as the name suggests, a (perhaps slightly drunken) adventure through an entire world of wines, each from independent winemakers. There's a great selection of white wines, reds and roses from across the globe (including Australia, South Africa, France and more). And, everyday you'll open a 100ml serving of said wines. I think this one would make for a great gift to either a wine lover, or someone who is keen on discovering new wines.'
Drop date: It's available to pre-order now!
Value: £99.99
Number of days: 24
Best stationary advent calendar
Great quality stationary advent calendars can be hard to come by, but this one from BIC contains all the practical stationary you could wish for. Inside is a collection of pens, pencils and metallic markers, as well as 20 stickers and 24 festive cards to colour - everything your little ones (or you if you're partial to a sticker) need to countdown the days to Christmas. If that wasn't enough, BIC have even thrown in a rubber and a tube of glue for all the arts and crafts you can imagine. Although, this advent calendar doesn't have to be reserved for the younger ones in your life, it's for anyone who loves to draw and colour.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £29.99 (with an assortment of pens, 20 stickers, 24 colouring cards, a rubber and glue)
Number of days: 24
Best sex toy advent calendar
www.lovehoney.co.uk
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'A sex toy advent calendar is certainly, well, a novelty gift for someone, but unfortunately for them, I'm keeping this one for myself. For me, this calendar works out to be excellent value for money when you break it down. It has a cumulative value of £232, meaning that you can save over £133 by buying all of the toys as an advent, rather than individually. Spoilers incoming - when I saw the Indulge Clitoral Stimulator was also included - I was sold, as that product retails for just under £70 alone, which is more than half of the cost of the £99 calendar. Without entirely ruining the surprise for you, another standout is the Bullet Vibrator, which the Grazia team ranks as the best sex toy for beginners. I'm calling this one of the most unique non-chocolate advent calendars available.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £99 (for £232 worth of products)
Number of days: 12 (24-day is available too)
Best wellness advent calendar
www.hollandandbarrett.com
This advent calendar is the one to invest in if you want to feel pampered. With a massive 16 full-sized products, this calendar works out to be excellent value for money as for just £45 you're getting lots of full-size products featuring brands like Wild and Weleda - that are worth over £219. Some of the highlights of the 25-day advent include; a scalp massager brush, Faith In Nature shampoo and conditioner, and of course, the Weleda Skin Food Cleansing Balm. The aim of this calendar is to have you feeling completely relaxed come December 25th and diminish the Christmas stress by opening a little pocket of calmness each day.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £45 (for £219 worth of products)
Number of days: 25
Best spirit advent calendar
www.johnlewis.com
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'I'm all for an alcoholic advent calendar, as you've probably guessed by now, but an alcoholic advent calendar that comes with a Fever-Tree pairing? I'm all ears. Fever-Tree, the brand famous for its tonics, have created an advent that's unlike any others, as inside the drawers sits a premium spirit and its matching mixer - obsessed. My favourite pairing has to go to VIVIR Tequlia and Fever-Tree Mexican Lime Soda, which creates a 'Tequila Mexican Lime Spritz' that I can't wait to remake and woo my friends with during party season.'
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £45 (includes 12 days and 6 pairings)
Number of days: 12
Best sweet advent calendar
Candy Kittens are back, for another year, with its vegan sweetie advent calendar. If you're someone who doesn't like chocolate, or gets bored of eating the same chocolate for the 24 days leading up until Christmas - you're going to want to get your hands on this advent calendar. Inside every door is a different flavour of Candy Kitten, including; wild strawberry, sour watermelon and very cherry. Plus, co-founder Jamie Laing has put a second surprise behind each door - a riddle that needs solving. If you share your answers on Instagram stories throughout the month, on Christmas Eve a winner will be chosen to receive a bundle of goodies for home worth over £2,000. This one really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £12
Number of days: 24
Best gin advent calendar
club.craftginclub.co.uk
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'When I first heard there was such thing as a gin advent calendar (I probably should've guessed earlier due to the sheer amount of speciality calendars that are available at the moment), I knew I had to see it for myself. Craft Gin Club's countdown to Christmas features 25 50ml gins, which I think is rather generous for the price (also I'm a sucker for a 25-day calendar rather than a 12), and each has been meticulously selected by the behind-the-scenes gin experts. I love the range of gins available in this one, and I'm particularly looking forward to trying a new addition - the Christmas Cake flavoured gin from Tarquin's.'
Drop date: It's available to pre-order now and will be shipped anytime beyond 11th October
Value: £89.99 (for 25 50ml craft gins)
Number of days: 25
Best advent calendar for men
www.libertylondon.com
For the man in your life; boyfriend, dad, grandad, son, Liberty have brought back its successful men's advent calendar for 2024. Yes, it might take some convincing to get them to use some of the products, but once they start, they'll be hooked. Inside houses 25 products, with over half of them in full-size quantities. To give you a taster of what's actually in the orange-adorned drawers, there's a full-size LBTY Fragrance lanthe Oud Eau de Parfum, Korres shower gel and Maria Nila clay wax - checking the all-important boxes of body, scent and hair.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £245 (for £701 worth of products)
Number of days: 25
Best matcha advent calendar
www.birdandblendtea.com
Fashion commerce writer, Gemma Lavers, says: 'Matcha is a relatively new thing to me - and probably to most others 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 cheese advent calendar
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Instead of the standard chocolate advent calendar, why not invest in something different - a cheese advent calendar. This one from The Chuckling Cheese Company means that each one of the 24 days you can open six flavours of cheese in 12 mini truckles, including; Christmas cranberry cheddar and a Sunday roast cheddar. On top of that you also get six mini chutney jars and six mini biscuit packs to go with your new cheeses. The only downside is as it's cheese, it needs storing in the fridge and the box is rather large - so if you're going to buy this advent you have to be prepared to dedicate an entire shelf of your fridge to it.
Drop date: It's live now but won't be dispatched until 15th November
Value: £39.99
Number of days: 24
Best cat advent calendar
www.petsathome.com
Celebrate the festive season alongside your feline friend with the Pets At Home Cat Advent Calendar. Inside you'll find a variety of treats in individual bags, with flavours like duck, salmon and chicken. It doesn't stop at just edible treats, though. In fact, there are toys included too, like fluffy balls, a scrunchy turtle dove, and even a festive collar and bowtie. A further addition to this jam-packed advent calendar is a £10 cat furniture voucher, which could also come in super handy (albeit to your cats disappointment when they realise the first day isn't edible).
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £25 (for edible treats, numerous toys and a £10 off cat furniture voucher)
Number of days: 24
Best food advent calendar
www.fortnumandmason.com
You know the run up to Christmas is set to be uber luxurious when you introduce Fortnum & Mason into the mix. If you're a foodie, or know a foodie, this is the perfect 25-day advent calendar to ensure you're opening a little treat each morning. The advent is jam-packed with a veritable feast of culinary delights, including; Merrilossus biscuits, raspberry preserve, fig chutney and orange-infused olive oil. Of course we won't spoil the rest for you, but all you need to know is, you're in for a delight. It's not just the inside that's great, too, the outside features that traditional-style Fortnum & Mason packaging, and could always be reused again next year.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £200 (including sample and full-size products)
Number of days: 25
Best tea advent calendar
www.birdandblendtea.com
Created first in 2016 and due to its success has been revamped each year, the Bird And Blend Tea Advent Calendar is a popular one - and it's easy to see why. The advent calendar is vibrant, 100% plastic free, and the inside is full of unique infusions. We're talking gingerbread chai, butter toffee popcorn and the classic breakfast cuppa. One blend that caught my eye in particular, the 'moondrop dreams' which contains a combination of apple pieces, rosehip, lavender, lemon peel and orange peel. For just £38 you get 24 hand-blended tea flavours, with two bags a day so you can share a cup with your loved one. Plus, the calendar is available in caffeine-free if that's something you tend to steer clear of.
Drop date: It's live now!
Value: £38 (for 48 tea bags)
Number of days: 24
Non-chocolate advent calendars: FAQs
What treats are hidden inside of advent calendars instead of chocolate?
The idea of a chocolate advent calendar has been completely revolutionised by brands offering more than just chocolate behind each door. For the beauty-obsessed, there are calendars packed with luxe skincare, makeup and fragrances. Or, if you're into more sparkles than skincare, jewellery advent calendars offer dazzling daily pieces, from earrings to necklaces. Foodies are also in for a treat with gourmet delights like artisan cheeses, tea and even matcha. For individuals who enjoy a festive tipple pre-big day, alcohol advent calendars have become a thing too, in the form of beer, gin, wine, spirits, whiskey, the list goes on. Ultimately what I'm trying to say here is there really is an advent calendar for everyone that's far from your average chocolate fix.
Is there a biscuit advent calendar?
Yes, there is such thing as a biscuit advent calendar, and it's as decadent as you'd imagine. There are advent calendars specifically just for biscuits, like the one from Biscuiteers as an example. However, why settle for just biscuits? Fortnum & Mason, AKA the master of all things indulgent, have created an advent calendar that's not only filled with its iconic buttery biscuits, but also an assortment of jams, chutneys and other treats.
What advent calendars are worth it?
The final verdict is yes, non-chocolate advent calendars are worth it, if, you can find one that suits your lifestyle or interests. I think that beauty advent calendars are always a win, especially if they include something you've had your eye on for a while, or a full-size version of a product you've been meaning to replace. Sometimes you'll find that even one or two products are worth double the calendar's price tag.
Same goes for food and drink versions - whether it's Fortnum & Mason's epic selection or a gin and tonic pairing , usually they're well worth the money.
Also sex toy calendars are another great one, like Lovehoney's, where one of the items usually retails for £70, and the entire advent calendar is £99.
All of these non-chocolate calendars don't just give you a simple daily treat - they give you moments of indulgence, that, trust me, feel way more exciting than a chocolate fix. Yes, chocolate can be exciting, but as exciting as a new moisturiser to try out or beer to enjoy? Probably not. Just make sure you pick one that's packed of goodies you'll actually use beyond 25th December.
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).