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Although Advent calendars have been used to count down the 24 days until Christmas for the past couple of centuries, they’ve recently become highly coveted gifts themselves. In fact, they can be more expensive and definitely more exclusive than anything you were planning to give (or get) for the holidays.
Over the past few years, as shopping has become almost a religion of its own, more and more companies are creating unique, limited edition Advent calendars filled with everything from food to beauty products to jewelry.
Here are our favorites for 2021. Because you’re supposed to be surprised by what’s behind the door or inside the drawer each day, we can’t tell you everything that’s in them. What we can tell you is that they sell out quickly and are worth the splurge, giving you something to look forward to during the cold days of December.
Just know that some of them are so indulgent, Christmas Day may feel anti-climactic.
Beekman 1802 All Aglow Shadowbox Advent Calendar
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The beloved beauty company introduced its first Advent calendar in 2018 and each year, it just keeps getting better. This one features a handmade shadowbox cover with a scene that actually lights up, but it’s what’s inside that really shines. Twenty-four drawers are filled with Beekman 1802’s bestselling goat milk goodies for face and body. GOAT, for sure.
Sterling Forever 24 Days of Jewelry Advent Calendar
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Who needs silver bells when you can have a treasure trove of sterling silver earrings instead? This beautiful jewelry box contains 24 pairs of hoops, studs, cuffs and crawlers so you have a new sparkly surprise every day. It’s a great value and you can always re-gift the ones you know would look great on your BFF.
DAVIDsTEA 24 Days of Tea
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Whether you’re a tea connoisseur or someone who just likes a good cuppa, this calendar will fit you to, well, a T. Each festive drawer is filled with a mini tin of loose tea, including bestselling blends and exclusive and limited edition flavors. There’s Blueberry Fields Forever, Hazelnut Chocolate, Peppermint Amour and so many more, you may make afternoon tea a new part of your daily routine.
Simply Chocolate Neuhaus Premium Chocolate Advent Calendar
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Feel like you’re visiting the famed Neuhaus Galerie de la Reine flagship boutique in Brussels, home of the finest Belgian chocolates, thanks to this irresistible pop-up calendar. As you bite into each day’s chocolate praline delight, including ganache, hazelnut and caramel, you unfold another 3-D piece of the lovely holiday scene. Plus, a donation is made to Make-A-Wish for every calendar sold.
Olive & Cocoa Chalet Lit Advent Calendar
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This beautiful wooden diorama features a lovely holiday scene with battery-powered mini lights to add a festive touch to your own décor. It sits upon a dresser-like foundation of 24 drawers that you can custom fill as you like, making it personal and reusable. It’s destined to become a cherished holiday tradition.
Anthropologie George & Viv 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
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This Anthro exclusive is a real collector’s item, chock full of goodies in adorable little packaging from big names like Mario Badescu, Caudalie and Butter LONDON. With joyful artwork by Canadian artist, Emily Taylor, it’s beautiful on both the inside and outside.
Diptyque Paris Advent Calendar
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Designed as a Cabinet of Curiosities, this highly-anticipated calendar is, like every Diptyque fragrance, simply scent-sational. Filled with their signature candles, eaux de parfum and some exclusive surprises, it will set a new mood every time you open one of its pretty little drawers.
Paper Source Sugarfina 24 Tastes of Christmas Advent Calendar
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If visions of sugar plums are dancing through your head, this candy collection’s got you covered. Each drawer contains four pieces of Sugarfina’s mouthwatering treats, like Rainbow Bears, Birthday Cake Cookies and Merry Berries, for a daily dose of guilt-free indulgence. Sweet!
Uncommon Goods Holiday Scratch Off Advent Calendar Playlist
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Music lovers will be treated to a traditional holiday song performed by an up-and-coming singer-songwriter each day with just a scratch of this innovative calendar. Each DJ-like scratch on the recycled cardboard record reveals a QR code that can be scanned to listen to and download what may become your new seasonal favorite.
Lush Advent Calendar
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Lush is all about the most fun, eco-friendly and effective skin, bath and beauty products, and their 2021 calendar is a true feast for the senses. Jam-packed with amazing-smelling bath bombs, bubble bars and shower gels, it’s impossible not to get a boost of holiday cheer with each day’s gift.
XO Marshmallow Advent Calendar
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With 25 (bonus!) flavors like Pink Lemonade, Maple Pancake and, um, Pickle, these are marshmallows taken to a whole new level. Many of them are exclusive to this year’s Advent Calendar, so do yourself a favor and order it now. Warning: it will be hard to resist opening more than one of the little doors each day because after tasting these magnificent ‘mallows, you will definitely want s’more.
VAHDAM® India Tea Advent Calendar
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If you’re a tea lover, you will not only appreciate the fact that this well-respected brand is offering 120 tea bags of 24 of their bestselling flavors, but also that they’ve organized them so beautifully in this calendar. Featuring delicious teas from black to green to herbal to chai, all hand-picked in India, this is a warm and comforting way to welcome in winter, one blend at a time.
Funko Harry Potter Advent Calendar
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The calendar equivalent of platform 9¾, this magical box will transport muggles of all ages to Hogwarts via their favorite characters. Each day, a Wizarding World miniature – including Harry, Ron and Hermione – will appear behind the door, joining the highly-coveted collection.
OPI Nail Lacquer Mini 25 PC Advent Calendar
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OPI nails it with this collection featuring 22 of their famous lacquers and a trio of nail care products. The shade names alone – Turn Bright after Sunset, Ring in the Blue Year, I’m Really an Actress – are enough to ensure a happy holiday.
CrateChef Advent Calendar
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Get ready to cook – and eat – your way through the month of December. CrateChef’s calendar features a mix of sweet and savory holiday snacks, gourmet ingredients and kitchen tools with a big finale on Day 24. For foodies, it’s a recipe for celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.
Venchi Fine Italian Chocolates Prestige Advent Calendar
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As any chocoholic will tell you, one really good piece of chocolate is a daily necessity, and this calendar is filled with Venchi Fine Chocolate – with the emphasis on fine. They’ve been making Italian chocolate for more than 140 years and have kind of perfected it. This is a great introduction to their iconic treats. Mangia!
In Good Taste Wine Advent Calendar
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Raise a glass to this calendar that houses 24 mini bottles of premium wines. An eclectic collection of everything from Bordeaux to sauvignon blanc and pinot noir to chardonnay, it even includes a couple of In Good Taste exclusives that are definitely worth toasting.
Bean Box 12 Mornings of Coffee Advent Calendar
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Known for their thoughtfully curated collections of the world’s best artisan coffees, Bean Box has created its first calendar designed to give java junkies a welcome burst of energy this season. Featuring a dozen limited-edition holiday blends from the nation’s top roasters, this calendar is what will get you out of bed every morning.
Spotlight Oral Care 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Calendar
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If you care more about white teeth than a white Christmas, this is the calendar for you. Created by two dentists/sisters, Spotlight Oral Care is free from harmful ingredients, is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, and features some of their bestselling whitening products. It also has a sonic toothbrush, white jade facial roller and hydrogel lip mask. It’s pretty much guaranteed to make you smile.
Paper Source Travel 12 Days of Giving Advent Calendar
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This clever calendar is filled with travel necessities including an eye mask, a luggage tag, an ear bud case and refillable silicone bottles. As you open each day’s treat, you’ll want to start planning your next trip. Sorry, it doesn’t include plane tickets (but maybe next year some entrepreneur will come up with an advent calendar that does).
10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.