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As someone who has unboxed dozens of beauty advent calendars and spent three years analysing festive countdowns and deals, one thing I’ve noticed is that in 2025, there’s been a real growing appetite for fragrance-focused calendars. And I’ve found one that will get perfume fans over £400 worth of scents for less than £100 . Sentier’s ‘12 days of fragrant journey’ calendar is worth £419, but costs £99 . And we’ve been given a discount code to get it even cheaper. Customers who use the code STORIES at the checkout will be able to get the calendar for £89.10. That works out at less than £7.50 per item. READ MORE: Inside the Sentier calendar, shoppers will find eight 10ml perfumes, four of which are alcohol-free, plus four scented candles. The collection allows fragrance enthusiasts to discover some of Sentier’s bestselling scents, without committing to a full sized bottle, which would cost £112 for a single 100ml perfume. Sentier’s fragrances are all inspired by a memory or a moment, with Parisian Embrace reminiscent of a ‘stroll through a weekend market on the banks of the Seine’ with notes of peach, nectarine and pear, teamed with bitter almond, vanilla and brown sugar. Meanwhile, Path of Lemons is said to ‘transport you to the Amalfi Coast with one spritz’, with zesty citrus notes paired with lavender. The scents are only 10ml, so some might be disappointed at the travel-friendly sizes. That said, it's worth noting that a 10ml bottle of perfume contains approximately 250 sprays, so if five sprays are used per day, it could last about a month, but if fewer are used, it can last up to three months, meaning this calendar effectively contains up to a year’s worth of perfume . Our perfume expert, who unboxed Sentier’s 2024 advent calendar , Jada Jones, added: "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." Meanwhile, their candles are perfect for creating a cosy atmosphere in the home throughout the winter months, with scents like Land of Dreams being perfect for the bedroom, while Alpine Chalet will bring a festive feel to hallways as guests arrive. One thing I did notice, though, is that one of the brand’s most popular scents, Noor Riviera, doesn’t feature in the calendar at all this year. With notes of apple flower and jasmine, it’s a popular fragrance and a shame for it not to be spotlighted in the set. It's also only a 12-day calendar as opposed to the traditional 24, so it may feel a touch short for those expecting a full advent experience. As Sentier is quite a niche perfume brand, some fragrance fans may seek some more well-known names in their countdown. Harvey Nichols 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar 2025 is more expensive at £175, but is worth over £700. Despite only being 12 days, it contains 20 fragrances from the likes of Creed, to Ex Nihilo and Fugazzi. Alternatively, Jo Malone’s 2025 offering comes in at £360, and is jam-packed with colognes, candles and bath and body luxuries in miniature alongside a 30ml fragrance and Travel Candle. While seriously impressive, the savings aren’t quite as lucrative as other offerings, though, with Jo’s countdown valued at £539. A downside to perfume calendars, though, is that, should shoppers decide against opening it and wish to return it, there are strict regulations about sending perfume via post, so it could prove a bit of a faff. The Sentier calendar is quite new to the market, but is already racking up positive reviews from shoppers, with one commenting: “The perfumes are lovely, real luxury feel. I was surprised by how big the fragrances are.” Another added: “Love this, It's one of the most beautiful things I ever received. The fragrances are incredible, and the packaging is so beautiful.” “Luxury experience! Great perfumes, I liked all of them,” said a third. “Candles are a good plus. My order arrived the very next day. Even the packaging is great quality. Over all, good value for money.”
