Please note: This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more about my product selection process here.
Advent calendars are a dime a dozen these days. A far cry from the handmade versions German Protestants used to use to count down the days until the birth of Christ, they’re about as common as Fire Sticks on Amazon, with a theme for everyone from your kid’s wino-loving third-grade teacher to the homebody with an unhealthy appreciation for socks. (Hi, mom.) They’ve got ‘em for beer guzzlers. They’ve got ‘em for Swifties. There’s even an official Gilmore Girls Advent calendar, for … erm, Pete’s sake. My point? The options are kind of endless, and wading through all the junky offerings online (because there are a lot of junky offerings) to find cool Advent calendars that will not only make your recipient smile, but won’t wind up in the trash bin on December 25, can be tricky.
I found eight ultra-unique options you (probably) haven’t seen before, but will be worth the squeeze even if they do arrive after Christmas, since your recipient will actually use the items inside. Some of them might even still arrive by the big day if you’re lucky, making for 12 to 25 presents in one shot. (Who really waits to open them one at a time, anyway? Not me!) Honestly? Given the value of some of them, it might even be worth picking up an option or two for yourself. *Shrugs*
Check out my faves below.
Cool Advent Calendars to Buy in 2024
- Best Overall: Tirtir Beauty Advent Calendar
- Best Value: Straightaway Cocktail Advent Calendar
- Most Luxe: Abbott Lyon Jewelry Advent Calendar
- Most Practical: Victoria’s Secret Panty Advent Calendar
- Most Tasty: Christopher Elbow Chocolate Advent Calendar
- Best Display: Onxy Coffee Advent Calendar
- Best Experience: Vinebox Wine Advent Calendar
- Most Creative: Booktalk Book Advent Calendar
@nicolejean232 The #Tirtir holiday #adventcalendar is a glorious site to behold. 😍 @TIRTIR Inc. ♬ Warm and happy festive atmosphere Christmas Music – KWmusic
1. Tirtir Advent Calendar
Best Overall Advent Calendar
- Value: $289
- Number of days: 16
- Status: In stock
- Expedited shipping options: Prime delivery
I’ve opened quite a few Advent calendars in my day, but this is the first one I’ve ever gotten legitimately giddy about. The oversized, house-shaped packaging was already promising (something this big and heavy is bound to hold some mega-goodies!), but as soon as I pulled a collagen lifting eye cream ($25) out from behind door no. 5, I couldn’t wait to see what else was in store. (If you’re scoffing, just wait ‘til you’re nearly 40!) All of the products (there are 12) are full-size, and you also get a charming little gift set that you can choose to keep or stuff in someone else’s stocking. Three of the doors are hiding ornaments, which did feel like a little bit of a cheat, but they were still cute enough for me to hang them on my tree, so I can’t complain too much. All in all, I think it’s one of the better beauty Advent options and super reasonably priced for everything you get.
@nicolejean232 This #adventcalendar from @straightawaycocktails is worth every penny — and still in stock!! #craftcocktails #holidaydrinks #uniquedrinks ♬ The Nutcracker – Chicago Symphony Orchestra
2. Straightaway Advent Calendar
Best Value
- Value: $72
- Number of days: 12
- Status: In stock
- Expedited shipping options: N/A
By now, everyone has seen a wine or a beer Advent calendar, but this is a bit different. For 12 days (or nights!), you or your giftee will get a perfectly crafted cocktail sourced with high-quality, hand-crafted and locally-sourced ingredients from this Oregon-based mixology company.
The drinks are small — 100 milliliters each — but they’re the perfect size for tasting. There’s also an adorable little virtual cocktail book to follow along with that gives you the history of each drink, ingredient features and serving instructions. Though it should be noted that I got one drink twice, I can’t complain, ’cause it was a margarita. At less than $60, this one’s also super budget-friendly. It’s still up for grabs, but it’s not available in a few states (namely Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, or Utah), so double check your giftee’s addy before you go all in.
3. Abbott Lyon Advent Calendar
Most Luxe Advent Calendar
- Value: More than $555+
- Number of days: 12
- Status: In stock
- Expedited shipping options: Express
Jewelry Advent calendars sound great in theory — who wouldn’t want to receive a gorgeous bauble every day? But in my experience, they’re also some of the most expensive, and often, disappointing. Astrid & Miyu’s is $515, for instance, and the brand can’t even be bothered to give you two earrings in each box, offering single barbells, ear hoops and cuffs in three of them, which, as someone who doesn’t have any single holes, is a total waste. Awe Inspired is slightly better at $396, but throws in some non-jewelry items to offset its cost, like a silk scarf, a travel jewelry case and a roller mist. The best ones I’ve seen thus far are from Abbott Lyon. With the $325 Stacey Solomon box, you get a charm bracelet with four charms of your choice, plus two more, a necklace, another bracelet with a custom birthstone, a matching ring and earrings with custom birthstones and an initial pendant. Better yet, you can customize the box with your recipient’s name. The company claims it will arrive by Christmas if you order by midnight PST on Dec. 18, but having ordered from Abbott Lyon myself, I’m skeptical it will arrive on time — it ships from overseas and can take quite a while. That said, once the pieces arrive, they’re super high-quality.
4. Victoria’s Secret Advent Calendar
Most Practical Advent Calendar
- Value: $126+
- Number of days: 12
- Status: In stock
- Expedited shipping: Three-, two- or next-day business delivery or pickup
I don’t care who you are: You can always use more panties. And this genius Advent calendar will give your giftee a fresh pair for nearly two weeks. There are options for bikini (low-rise with moderate cheek coverage) or thong (sizes L to XL only), if you’re familiar enough to know which style they prefer, and they’re made of cotton, so they’ll be nice and breathable. As my trusted panty brand of choice, I can confirm that they’ll hold up for a good long while, too, so they’ll get more than one wear out of even that oh-so-cute Christmas tree print pair.
5. Christopher Elbow Advent Calendar
@nicolejean232 This #christopherelbow #adventcalendar is sold out for 2024, but there are plenty of holiday #giftsets that will arrive on time with two-day shipping! #chocolategift #chocolatelovers🍫 ♬ Christmas song "Let's decorate" – 3KTrack
Most Tasty Advent Calendar
- Number of days: 23
- Status: Out of stock
Sadly, Christopher Elbow’s 2024 gourmet chocolates Advent calendar sold out before I got a chance to show off how insanely cool it was (check out the video above for proof), but luckily, the company has plenty of comparable holiday gifts that are still up for grabs. This 24-piece bon-bon set will give you the same amount of goodies and the same kind of uniquely out of this world flavors that you’ll find in the calendar: There’s champagne, fleur de sel caramel, cookies and milk and pear cinnamon, to give you an idea. And spoiler alert? They’re all f-ing scrumptious.
7. Onxy Coffee Advent Calendar
- Number of days: 24
- Status: In stock
- Expedited shipping options: Two-day and one-day
How beautiful is this accordion-designed display box? While your favorite coffee connoisseur is more likely to delight in the 24 different kinds of whole beans they’ll find inside each pouch, I’d leave this beauty on my counter all year long just to revel in its aesthetically-pleasing design. I didn’t get one to test, but I’ve received a regular Bean Box shipment before, and can confirm that it’s a legit, lovely company that works to bring independent coffee roasters to the masses. (Onyx Coffee Lab out of Arkansas is behind this masterpiece.) You can also use code HOLIDAY25 to save 25%.
7. Booktalk Advent Calendars
Most Creative Advent Calendar
- Number of days: 12 to 24
- Status: Out of stock
Full disclosure: Both of this company’s book Advents are sold out for 2024. I’m including them solely on the off chance that a) they’ll get more in stock, or b) if they don’t, they’ll be on your radar for next year. Basically, this is the Advent calendar of every book lover’s dreams: It comes with three to six new romance or fantasy books (there’s also a mixed option), plus three to six surprises (think home décor, merch, bags etc.). It’s a simple but highly effective gift, since it’s based around the one thing book nerds can’t live without: their prose.
8. Vinebox Nights of Wine Advent Calendar
Best Advent Calendar Experience
- Number of days: 12 to 24
- Status: In stock
- Expedited shipping options: Two-day and next-day
Most wine Advents come with mini bottles of wine that kind of feel like you’re gifting someone half a case. I was far more impressed by the presentation of this clever company, which packages its 100 milliliter wines in fancy little glass vials that truly made drinking them feel like an experience. You can choose from a 12-vial coastal (three whites, two rosés and seven reds) or European collection (two whites, two rosés and eight reds), or go all out and get all 24. What’s more, each vial comes with a little QR code your giftee can scan to get access to a virtual sommelier, who will take you through each wine in your box. (Psst: Code 20Holiday will get you 20% off.)
What’s the coolest Advent calendar you’ve come across? Let me know in the comments below!
Xo, Nicole
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