I’ve started a new family tradition for Christmas 2025: adult advent calendars for the grown-ups in my household, because who said kids get to have all the fun?
And no, I’m not talking about chocolate advent calendars (I could devour all 24 pieces in a day). I’m focusing on objects of desire, like skincare, candles, tea and gin.
The one adult advent calendar for 2025 I’ve already ordered? Nespresso’s Original Advent Calendar. Making the silly season bearable with a delicious caffeine hit each morning, I’m looking forward to opening old favourites and sampling new, limited-edition coffee capsule flavours.
So, if you want to make Christmas 2025 your most magical one yet, browse my curation of the best adult advent calendars in New Zealand. There’s something for everyone: makeup, jewellery, stationery and wine, alongside activity-based jigsaw puzzles and Lego advent calendars designed for family bonding.
Editor’s note: Are you as advent-obsessed as I am? For more inspiration, check out Womans’ Day for my guide to chocolate-free advent calendars for kids and, drum roll please, the very best beauty advent calendars in New Zealand.
The best adult advent calendars in NZ for Xmas 2025
- The best coffee & tea advent calendars (shop here)
- The best fragrance & candle advent calendars (shop here)
- The best activity-based advent calendars (shop here)
- The best stationery & book advent calendars (shop here)
- The best beauty advent calendars (shop here)
- The best jewellery advent calendars (shop here)
- The best alcohol advent calendars (shop here)
1. The best food, coffee & tea advent calendars in NZ
Cabinet of Curiosity: T2 Advent Calendar
$55 at T2 Tea
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Black, green, fruit & herbal tea bags
Original Advent Calendar
$79 at Nespresso
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: 24 coffee pods and one surprise gift
Hot tip: Select the Original Advent Calendar if you own an Original Nespresso Coffee Machine (which uses Original capsules). If you own a Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Machine (which uses Vertuo capsules), shop the Vertuo Advent Calendar here.
Tea Lovers’ Advent Calendar
$81.65 at Fortnum & Mason
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Fortnum’s classics, Christmas blends, and scented tea bags
Tea Advent Calendar
$338.55 at Fortnum & Mason
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: 23 tea caddies and one silver-plated infuser
Clipper Organic Advent Calendar Tea
$11.29 at New World
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Organic teas and infusions
2. The best fragrance & candle advent calendars in NZ
Shop more fragrance & candle advent calendars here.
24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar
$320 at Glasshouse Fragrances
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Miniatures of candles, Eau de Parfums, hand creams, body lotions, perfume pencils & more
Available at:
- $320 at Glasshouse Fragrances
- $320 at Celebration Box
- $320 at Life Pharmacy (available in-store only)
Palm Beach Candle Advent Calendar
$84.45 (was $120.65) at The Iconic
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: 50g festive-themed scented candles
Holiday in the City Advent Calendar
$297.08 at Anthropologie
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: Scented candles & room sprays
Palm Beach Deluxe Advent Calendar
$126.73 (was $181.06) at The Iconic
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: Candles, fragrance, and skincare
3. The best activity-based advent calendars in NZ
Wasgij Reindeer Rumpus Advent Calendar
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: 54-piece jigsaw puzzles
Available at:
- $56.44 at Amazon
- $49.99 at Mighty Ape (sold out)
Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar
$71.51 at Amazon
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Lego mini builds, buildable figures, and minifigures
Shop Woman’s Day’s edit of the best lego advent calendars for Christmas 2025 here.
4. The best book advent calendars in NZ
Bibliophile Advent Calendar for Booklovers by Jane Mount
$100 at Mighty Ape
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Miniature books featuring book-themed prompts, illustrations, a journal, & more
Books are Magic Advent Calendar by Weldon Owen
Number of days: 25
What’s inside: Literary-themed stickers, greeting cards, wrapping paper & more
Book Lovers Advent Calendar
$39 at Mighty Ape
Number of days: 25
What’s inside: Book-related activities
5. The best beauty advent calendars in NZ
Shop Woman’s Day’s complete list of beauty & makeup advent calendars here.
iHerb 12 Days Of Favourites
$144.10 at iHerb
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: Skincare & wellness products
Sunkissed 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
$78.65 at Mighty Ape
Number of days: 25
What’s inside: 1 full-size bronzer and 24 limited-edition makeup products
Dr Bronner’s 7 Days of Magic Soap Advent Calendar
$45.89 at The Iconic
Number of days: Seven
What’s inside: 7 pure-castile liquid soaps in a range of the brand’s best fragrances
DB Cosmetics 12 Days of Nails Advent Calendar
$26.21 at Mighty Ape
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: Nail polish & grooming accessories
6. The best jewellery advent calendars in NZ
Waterproof Stainless Steel Celestial Advent Calendar
$77.99 at Lovisa
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: Gold-plated stainless steel and stainless steel earrings, bracelets, and necklaces
Estella Bartlett Jewellery Advent Calendar
$465 at Estella Bartlett
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: Your choice of silver or gold-plated jewellery
7. The best alcohol advent calendars in NZ
Gin Advent Calendar
$175 at The Weekender
Number of days: 12
What’s inside: 50ml locally-crafted gin baubles
Wine Advent Calendar
$179.99 at Laithwaites Wine
Pre-order now for delivery from 15 November 2025.
Number of days: 24
What’s inside: Red & white wine bottles
8. Sold-out adult advent calendars
These advent calendars were so good, they sold out. But we’re keeping an eye out and hoping for a restock:
- Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar, $59.99 at Lego
- Drinks by the Dram Premium Gin Advent Calendar, $134.99 at United Cellars
- Twinings Tea Advent Calendar, $61.79 at iHerb
- Bonne Maman Advent Calendar, $94.12 at Selfridges
- Tilz Collection Coffee Advent Calendar, $45.99 at Amazon
- Stationery Advent Calendar, $59.99 at Typo
- Papier 24 Days of Desk Delights Stationery Advent Calendar, $325.65 at Papier
- OPI Holiday 2025 Nail Lacquer Mini Advent, $90.50 at The Iconic
- ASOS Face + Body Advent Calendar, $252 at ASOS
- Mestige Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Advent Calendar, $41.39 (was $83.28) at The Iconic
- Mestige Wellness Advent Calendar, $35.49 (was $61.68) at The Iconic
What’s the purpose of an adult advent calendar?
Not that we need another excuse to create excitement and anticipation in the countdown to Christmas Day, but an advent calendar certainly does the trick.
Traditionally, advent calendars begin on 1 December and end on Christmas Eve. They feature 24 doors or windows that reveal a small gift each day.
Chocolate advent calendars are synonymous with Christmas, and are an especially popular tradition for children. However, there really are no rules when it comes to adult advent calendars. Store-bought versions feature everything from wine and gin to makeup and candles. You can even purchase a reusable fabric advent calendar and fill it with whatever your heart desires.
Are adult advent calendars popular?
Look. Treating yourself is perfectly normal, and adult advent calendars are more common than you think. After all, who doesn’t want a little extra joy during the holidays? According to a November 2024 YouGov survey, 33% of Britons purchase advent calendars for themselves each year, while 22% buy them as gifts.
The YouGov survey also asked participants their reasons for purchasing advent calendars. 47% of respondents said they buy them for a fun daily activity, while 44% considered it a way to celebrate the holidays. Additionally, advent calendars were found to cater to personal indulgences (18%) and the opportunity to sample new products (8%). And if you’re wondering if adult-only advents include R18 material, you’re in luck: check out Woman’s Day’s guide to 2025’s best sex toy advent calendars here.
What’s the best luxury adult advent calendar for 2025?
The answer depends on your definition of luxury. Often, it’s less about the price and more about how it makes you feel. For example, a tea or coffee advent calendar can offer a daily moment of relaxation.
However, if I had to choose the best luxury advent calendar for 2025, the Jo Malone Advent Calendar is a favourite. Retailing at around $820, it’s filled with a heavenly selection of fragrances, candles and creams. The Diptyque advent calendar is also high on my list, and it’s available at Mecca from 14 October 2025.
In the meantime, a luxurious alternative you can shop right now is the Glasshouse Fragrances 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar. Featuring an assortment of candles, fragrances, and lotions, it’s a seriously indulgent way to count down to Christmas Day. And for the complete list of indulgent beauty advent calendars, shop the Woman’s Day edit here.
Related articles:
- 24 Christmas gifts under $50 they’ll actually love
- 17 deliciously stylish gifts for foodies
- Where to buy a real Christmas tree in Auckland
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