6 Non-chocolate advent calendars
BY READERS DIGEST
11th Nov 2020 Christmas

These delightful advent calendars are far from traditional—and all the more fun for it.
"The Advent Calendar of Dreams" by L'Occitane
The king of all beauty calendars, this year's luxury L'Occitane advent calendar is a delightfully constructed miniature chest of drawers, each filled with an array of miniature versions of the brand's high-end skin, body, and hair care products.
You're bound to fall in love with a new product you'd never tried, and the abundance of moisturising and nourishing products is perfect for the winter months ahead when the skin is more prone to becoming dry or chapped.
The calendar itself is a thing of beauty, and could certainly be reused year after year if filled with your own trifles and gifts for a loved one—or more L'occitane treats for yourself!
"12 Gins of Christmas" by LoneWolf
This advent calendar is so beautiful, you could ignore its shiny doors and instead hang it in your home as a work of art—if only the bottles it contains weren't so tempting!
Distilled in Aberdeen under parent company BrewDog, this calendar presents 12 flavoured gins in 50ml bottles, each decorated in the signature LoneWolf style.
Our favourite inclusion has to be the unusual cactus and lime distillation, inspired by the flavours of Mexico. Stock your fridge full of complimentary mixers, and your gin advent calendar will prove the perfect tonic to any festive stress.
"25 Pair Advent Calendar" from Sock Shop
As a child, it's the present you dread. As an adult, there's no gift better. Of course, we're talking socks, and thanks to SockShop, you can enjoy the delight of unwrapping a fresh pair of feet cosies each day of December.
Available for men or women, each pair of socks is different, featuring a variety of designs from the festive down to classic stripes and funky colours.
And if that doesn't fill you with the festive spirit, the fact that 15% of profits are donated to the Emmaus homelessness charity certainly will.
"24 Days of Rum Advent Calendar" from Masters of Malt
Keep that warmth in your belly going all month long with this fantastic 24 days of rum calendar. Behind each door is a different 20ml bottle of rum, each from a different country. If you've missed travelling in 2020, here's the perfect way to explore other countries, from the comfort of your sofa.
Paired with two tasting glasses and a stylish design, it's great value compared to many competitor products, without compromising on quality. Accompanying tasting notes will have you feeling like a professional. Pick a favourite sampler, bring the full bottle to your next Christmas do, and impress everyone with your in-depth rum knowledge.
"Premium Charity Advent Calendar" by Advent of Change
Yearning for a less materialistic Christmas? Advent of Change is the brand for you. This plastic-free, recyclable calendar doesn't offer its opener gifts or chocolate but donates a pound to a different charity with each opened door.
Not only does this smart calendar tell you the name of the charity you have donated to, but it also explains what your donation will be used for, offering a dose of feel-good each morning in the run-up to the big day. If you want to teach the little ones about the spirit of giving, good news—they also have a version of the calendar designed specifically for children.
"24 Days Of Stationery Advent Calendar" by Martha Brook
This beauty sells out every year, and it's not hard to see why. For stationery lovers, it doesn't get much better than the annual Martha Brook calendar.
Each day in December, open a new, beautifully packaged parcel to discover a delightful item of Martha Brook stationery. With personalisation options meaning several of the gifts are tailored to the opener, this calendar makes a wonderful gift.
Not only is this calendar gorgeous to look at, but it's environmentally friendly too. All the packaging is 100% recyclable and the 24 foil-embossed boxes are partly made from used coffee cups.
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