Advent calendars have come a long way. There was once a time when they were only filled with random trinkets and collectibles that would likely be forgotten about by day seven. However, some of the latest offerings are so thoughtfully curated, you’ll be tempted to open them all at once, especially the perfume advent calendars.
These fragrance sets are basically your cheat code for unlocking a plethora of new scents (and stocking up on old favorites) with just one purchase. Most of these calendars are built around popular perfumes, like Maison Margiela’s version, which includes viral favorites like Lazy Sunday Morning and Jazz Club, but also come brimming with other scented treasures to discover—like candles or in-shower treats. Moreover, these gifts allow you to discover other scents from each brand you otherwise would’ve missed out on for a fraction of the price. Whether you want a conversation starter no one in your friend circle has or want to join the bandwagon of a globally beloved scent, perfume advent calendars are the easiest way to evoke holiday cheer from Christmas to New Year and beyond.
Our picks for the best perfume advent calendars of 2024
As fragrance buffs ourselves, the ELLE.com team already has its eye on a few favorites, including the much-anticipated Diptyque calendar. However, our discoveries led us to several options too good to gatekeep. We searched the internet to find the seven best perfume advent calendars perfect for fragrance connoisseurs and novices alike.
Best for Body and Home Fragrance
Mind Games 12 Days Before Christmas 2024 Advent Calendar
With these captivating scents, you can transform into whoever you want to be over 12 days. Feeling mysterious and sexy? J’Adoube Extrait de Parfum and Gambit Extrait de Parfum are filled with deep, sensual woody notes that entice anyone who passes by. If you prefer something light and flirty, take Lionora Extrait de Parfum’s fresh, fruity composition for a road test. Perfume aside, the set also includes candles to delight guests even more.
Days: 12
Includes: J’Adoube Extrait de Parfum, Double Attack Extrait de Parfum, Queening Extrait de Parfum, Blockade Extrait de Parfum,
Caïssa Extrait de Parfum, French Defense Extrait de Parfum, Lionora Extrait de Parfum, Gambit Extrait de Parfum, G5 Candle in Jasmine Milk, H5 Candle in Tobacco Tonka Bean, B1 Candle in Cherry Sandalwood, A4 Candle in Cassis Amber
Best Viral Products
Maison Margiela Advent Calendar
Just about everyone you encounter can easily shout out their favorite Maison Margiela scent, and this advent calendar ties the brand’s most popular flavors in a gorgeous white box. Over seven days, this calendar includes bite-sized trinkets to scent your body and home, from a Lazy Sunday Morning candle to the accompanying body lotion and shower gel.
Days: 7
Includes: Replica Beach Walk Eau de Toilette, Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette, Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Mini Shower Gel, Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Mini Body Lotion, Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Mini Scented Candle, Replica Mini Jazz Club Scented Candle, Replica By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette
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Best for the Royals Fanatic
Penhaligon's Penhaligon's Advent Calendar at Nordstrom
We can’t all make it to Buckingham Palace but here’s a fragrance calendar that summons that British royalty. Penhaligon’s iteration ensures you never leave home without smelling delicious—and your home remains a scented haven until you return. Luxurious perfumes, aromatic candles, shower gels, and soaps highlight Penhaligon’s rich heritage in this gift set.
Days: 24
Includes: Christmas Candle, Elisabethan Rose Eau de Parfum, Halfeti Eau de Parfum, Christmas Charm, The Tragedy of Lord George Eau de Parfum, Halfeti Body Lotion, Quercus Eau de Cologne, Roanoke Ivy Candle, Al Ula Eau de Parfum, Duchess Rose Eau de Parfum, Halfeti Body Wash, Endymion Cologne, Empressa Eau de Parfum, Halfeti Hand Cream, Comoros Pearl Candle, The Blazing Mr. Sam Eau de Parfum, Halfeti Leather Eau de Parfum, Eau The Audacity Eau de Parfum, Quercus Mini Soap, Juniper Sling Eau de Toilette, Empressa Body Wash, Maduro Leaf Candle, Highgrove Eau de Parfum, Luna Eau de Toilette
Best for Post-Holidays Unwrapping
Juliette Has a Gun Not an Advent Calendar
Everyone’s favorite off-the-rails fragrance brand’s calendar comes with a disclaimer: This isn’t your traditional calendar of yore. In fact, Juliette Has a Gun’s version of an advent calendar is set for the six days after Christmas leading up to the New Year. As the festive scents of the Christmas holiday dwindle, this set invites the brand’s signature “Not A” scent—a woody, ambery delight—to fill your home, from the eau de parfum to the soap and candle.
Days: 6
Includes: Not a Bar Soap, Not a Candle, Not a Perfume, Not a Body Lotion, Not a Hand Cream, Not a Hair and Body Mist
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Best for the Frequent Traveler
Glasshouse Fragrances 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar
Glasshouse Fragrances does a stellar job of transporting you to whatever part of the world its scent is inspired by. If holiday travels weren’t in the cards this year, Glasshouse Fragrances’s advent calendar makes stops in Amalfi, Taha’a, Kyoto, Milan, Capri, and more.
Days: 24
Includes: Kyoto in Bloom Candle, The Hamptons Candle, Midnight in Milan Scent Stems & Vessel, Kyoto in Bloom Body Lotion, Taha’a Affair Body Bar, Kyoto in Bloom Interior Fragrance, Lost in Amalfi Body Bar, Sunsets in Capri EDP, Lost in Amalfi Hand Cream, Kyoto in Bloom Perfume Pencil, A Taha’a Affair Interior Fragrance, Midnight in Milan EDP, Kyoto in Bloom Hand Cream, One Night in Rio Candle, A Taha’a Affair Devotion Lip Balm, Christmas Ornament, Night Before Christmas Candle
If your dream is to own scents nobody in your friend circle has, this L’Artisan Parfumeur’s advent calendar is the best investment. Over 25 days, you’ll be introduced to the French perfume house’s most addicting scents, including Histoire d’Orangers, which comes in the form of an eau de parfum, body wash, and body lotion.
Days: 25
Includes: Histoire d’Orangers Eau de Parfum, Cuir Grenat, Passage d’ Enfer, Mémoire de Roses, Un Air de Bretagne, Mûre et Musc, Tonka Blanc, Abyssae, Vetiver Ecarlate, Fables D’Orient, Tenebrae, Ode a L’Oudh, Il Etait un Bois, A Fleur de Peche, Histoire d’Orangers Hand & Body Wash, Histoire d’Orangers Body Lotion, Passage d’Enfer Hand & Body Wash, Massage d’Enfer Hand & Body Lotion, Passage d’Enfer Hand Cream, Mémoire de Roses Hand Cream, Passage d’Enfer Hand Soap, Mémoire de Roses Hand Soap Red Leather Pouch, Ceramic Object
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Best for Baccarat 540 Lovers
Maison Francis Kurkdjian The Countdown Calendar Limited edition
If you missed the Baccarat 540 wave, or simply want to expand your horizons beyond the house’s popular scent, this seven-day countdown to Christmas introduces you to MFK’s other hotly coveted scents. An ELLE.com favorite is easily MFK’s 724, which arrives in a mini elixir trio; other standouts include the Grand Soir perfume, a standard-sized Oud Satin Mood body oil, and of course, the Baccarat 540 extrait.
Days: 7
Includes: Baccarat Rouge 540 extrait de parfum, Baccarat Rouge 540 scented body oil, a trio of 724 elixirs, a trio of Es Cap, Au 17, Rue des Groseilliers scented candles, limited-edition Mon beau Sapin scented candle, Grand Soir eau de parfum, OUD satin mood sparkling oil, miniature Aqua Universalis
Nerisha Penrose
Beauty Commerce Editor
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.
