Sentier’s £89 advent calendar includes perfumes and candles worth £516

Beauty advent calendars have soared in popularity, with makeup and skincare enthusiasts seeking a luxurious way to countdown to Christmas. However, this year, fragrance calendars appear to be the most sought-after – and we’ve discovered one that offers shoppers over £500 worth of fragrance and candles for less than £90.

The chic, gender-neutral perfume brand Sentier has revealed its ’12 Days, 12 Stories’ calendar for 2025. Valued at £516, it’s priced at £99 and includes six alcohol-free perfumes and six candles, all beautifully presented in an eco-friendly box. And, for a limited time, shoppers who enter the code ADVENT at checkout can receive an additional 10% off, bringing the price down to £89.10. This equates to just £7.43 per item – quite impressive considering the perfumes usually retail for £32.

Each scent in the box is designed to ‘tell a unique tale’, and has been crafted to ‘ignite confidence’. While Sentier may be a niche brand, some shoppers might recognise it after one of its fragrances was featured in last year’s Glossybox calendar, while another previously appeared in a 2024 OK! Beauty Box, reports Yorkshire Live.

Our perfume expert Jada Jones reviewed the Sentier calendar in 2024, and while the box design has been updated for the new season, the contents remain the same. This is excellent news for anyone new to the brand, but those who purchased the calendar last year might have wished for a change.

Perfect for fragrance enthusiasts, those looking to expand their perfume collection or discover a new signature scent, this set includes six 10ml travel-sized bottles of perfume.

Jada discussed the sizes, stating: “The perfumes are a generous 10ml size – which is my favourite size for a new scent. I always think it’s the best to really suss out how you feel about something, it’s big enough that you don’t feel guilty for spritzing it but small enough to throw in your bag and top up as you please.”

Noor Riviera is one of the most coveted in the range, described as Sentier’s top seller, evoking ‘a lavish coastal cottage’ at golden hour. Meanwhile, Lost Summer is said to transport you back to ‘carefree summer days spent laughing with friends’.

Jada’s favourite from the six fragrances was Méribel, commenting: “Méribel is described as ‘a tribute to the enchanting snow-capped mountain villages nestled in Switzerland’ and promises each spritz is a ‘soft winter’s kiss’. It has notes of white flowers, patchouli, amber, sandalwood and vanilla but I was really surprised with the actual scent. It’s very sweet and powdery, I got compliments as soon as I put it on.”

Since fragrance is very subjective, it’s likely that not every single scent will appeal. “With advent calendars I think there’s always a bit of a gamble as there’s normally quite a bit of variety,” Jada explained.

“This one is no exception, with six different perfumes I expected to like some and dislike others. I wasn’t crazy about Chronicles of Self as a perfume as the aniseed made me think of liquorice.”

Meanwhile, LookFantastic has launched their inaugural fragrance advent calendar this year, marking a decade since the brand’s first beauty countdown. Priced at £130, it features iconic scents from YSL, Marc Jacobs, and Givenchy, with the contents valued at over £485.

Harrods’ fragrance calendar sold out within 24 hours this year, highlighting the massive appetite for scent-focused offerings. As a result, The Perfume Shop has launched their waiting list for this year’s countdown, which is expected to include 24 miniature perfumes from brands such as Mugler, Boss and Rabanne.

Nevertheless, barely any of the other fragrance calendars on offer provide as many candles as Sentier’s, which features an equal balance between home fragrances and sprays.

Speaking about the candles, Jada said: “When it came to the candles they were all lovely and I liked that they come with twist on lids making them easy to store. My favourite was The Florist’s Garden which was a surprise to me as I’m much more a fan of gourmands than floral scents.”

Here’s everything inside the Sentier advent calendar:

6 Alcohol-Free Scents – 10ml

• Noor Riviera.
• Fernway.
• Lost Summers.
• Méribel.
• Chronicles of Self.
• Notes of Rêverie.

6 Scented Candles – 60mg

• Golden River.
• Botanical Sanctuary.
• The Florist’s Garden.
• Alpine Chalet.
• Whispering Spell.
• Land of Dreams.

Early reactions to the calendar have been overwhelmingly positive, with one purchaser commenting: “The perfumes are long-lasting and elegant. Each scent is distinct but wearable. I ended up ordering full sizes of two.”

Another was delighted by how the package felt ‘beautifully packaged and sustainable’, stating: “The box looks stunning, and the whole experience felt luxurious from start to finish.”

Nevertheless, not every fragrance garnered universal praise, with one buyer remarking: “Some scents weren’t my personal taste, but overall I found 8 out of 12 that I really enjoyed. Still well worth it.”

“Really enjoyed discovering both perfumes and candles,” expressed a fourth shopper. “The balance between the two was perfect. Loved the Notes of Rêverie candle.”

For those who missed last year’s release, Sentier’s calendar provides an excellent gateway to the brand. Shoppers can snap it up for £99 on the Sentier website, and use the code ADVENT to secure 10% off.