December is an exciting month for lots of children, not just because Christmas falls and the (very, very small) chance of snow, but because many get a piece of chocolate every single morning for 25 days straight. The chocolate might be a bit on the stale side and the tiny piece never fully satisfies, but advent calendars are still a fantastic excuse to eat chocolate before 9AM.

Get to your 20s (maybe 30s for some) and all of a sudden, December isn't anywhere near as fun. The only way you're getting an advent calendar is if you buy it yourself but if you're buying it for yourself, you might as well treat yourself to 25 days of something more exciting than chocolate right? Cue, the adult advent calendars.

From beauty or candles to gin or craft beer, here are some of the best adult advent calendars that will make you wonder why you ever settled for just Dairy Milk.

007 James Bond Advent Calendar

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Selfridges

This is one for all the 007 fans out there. The James Bond Advent Calendar has magnetic doors and ribbon closure and it features 12 drawers.

Inside, there are a number of James Bond related treats, including a Casino Royale prop chip, gold bullet prop replica, ‘the agent’ 007 socks, Dr. No silk pocket square and Bond playing cards.

Smith & Sinclair Naughty or Nice Countdown Calendar

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Smith & Sinclair

The Smith & Sinclair Naughty or Nice Countdown Calendar is a little different to the others on this list.

There are plenty of alcohol related calendars, but this one has 24 alcohol gummies rather than different bottles of gin or wine. Each Alcoholic Cocktail Gummy holds a subtle kick at 5 per cent ABV. Eat responsibly now.

Nivea Men Advent Calendar

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Amazon

The Nivea Men Advent Calendar gives you the gift of grooming every day for 24 days in December.

There's shower gels, antiperspirant, lip balms and cremes, as well as an exfoliating scrub and face wash to keep you fresh for the countdown to Crimbo.

MAC Box of Tricks Advent Calendar

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MAC

One for the MAC makeup lovers out there - or partners who love it - this Box of Tricks Advent Calendar is packed full of some of the company's best products, worth over £340.

From various eyeshadows and lipsticks to MAC's Strobe Cream and Cleanse Off Oil, it will make sure you have some new faves to ask for the big versions of for Christmas.

Mankind Advent Calendar

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Mankind

The Mankind Advent Calendar features 25 essential grooming and male-beauty products, with brands including Dr Brandt, Grüum Gösta and Molton Brown.

We won't spoil the surprise completely, but expect to find a Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Body Wash, Dr Brandt MicroDermabrasion Age-Defying Exfoliator and Daimon Barber Texture Clay inside.

The Ritual of Advent 2D 2021 Advent Calendar

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Amazon

The Ritual of Advent 2D 2021 Advent Calendar is designed to resemble a classic canal house in Amsterdam and there are 24 little surprises.

Inside, you'll find four mini candles, a mini diffuser and some of Ritual's most loved products, worth £120.

Beavertown Advent Calendar

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Beavertown

The Beavertown Advent Calendar is cleverly split into five mini boxes for your fridge so you get cold beer, whilst keeping the element of surprise. 

There are 24 beers in total, with 15 different ones, some of which you'll know and some of which are new. There's also a free festive glass.- what more could you want.

Amazon Beauty Advent Calendar

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Amazon

This calendar doesn't involve eating or drinking anything from its special drawers, but it does offer a combination of 24 products and samples from well-known beauty brands including Elemis, Neal's Yard, and Nip&Fab and This Works.

The products span hair care, make-up, nail care and skin care and the contents within the calendar are said to be worth nearly £260.

Liberty Advent Calendar

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Liberty London

Liberty London offers two luxurious advent calenders - one for men worth over £620 and one for women worth over £840.

The men's calendar has 25 products in total, including a Liberty Pocket Square, Liberty Sloe Gin and NEOM Organics Perfect Night's Sleep Travel Candle. There's also a £15 gift voucher and plenty of other mini treats.

Friends Nespresso-Compatible Capsule Advent Calendar

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Amazon

If you're a Friends fan and a coffee fan, the Friends Nespresso-Compatible Capsule Advent Calendar will be right up your street.

You can wake up the Central Perk way for 24 days on the trot, with a range of different flavours from Choco Cherry to Creme Brûlée. 

Tony's Chocolonely Countdown Calendar

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Amazon

It might still be a chocolate calendar but the Tony's Chocolonely Countdown Calendar is a step up from standard Dairy Milk.

There are 10 flavours of Fairtrade Tony's milk, dark and white chocolate, inlcuding milk salted caramel, milk, dark milk pretzel toffee, dark salted almond and raspberry popping candy. Yum.  

Tony's Chocolonely Natural Countdown Calendar 7.94 oz

Amazon

Happy Socks Advent Calendar

Best adult advent calendars 2020: From lipsticks and Lego to gin and Happy Socks photo 1
Amazon

Fancy a new pair of amazing socks for every day in December running up to Christmas Eve? Then the Happy Socks Advent Calendar is for you.

Available in two size options, either 36-40 or 41-46, the Happy Socks advent calendar has 24 different pairs of socks - one in each drawer. If you love a bright, vibrant pair of socks, no other advent calendar will top this one. 

Happy Socks Sock Advent Calendar One Size Pack of 24 Multi

Amazon

Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled Chest of Beauty Treasures Advent Calendar

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John Lewis

One that involves no eating or drinking, but the Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled Chest of Beauty Treasures Advent Calendar offers 12 days of the best-selling make-up products from the brand.

Treats include Charlotte's Magic Cream, Rock 'N' Kohl Eyeliner, Wonderglow Primer and a full size Pillow Talk Original Matte Revolution Lipstick. We'll leave the other eight products a surprise to make sure we don't spoil it for you.

That Boutiquey Gin Company Advent Calendar

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Amazon

That Boutiquey Gin Company and Drinks by the Dram have teamed up to create an advent calendar, which unsurprisingly offers 24 different drams of gin.

Each is 30ml and includes Moon-shot Gin and festive favourite Chocolate Orange Gin. 

John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar

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John Lewis

Amazon isn't the only company to offer a beauty advent calendar - John Lewis has one too and it's said to be worth over £375.

There are 25 full and deluxe size products from some iconic beauty brands including NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Clarins and Bobbi Brown.

Wine Advent Calendar

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Amazon

The Wine Advent Calendar is all about making sure your December doesn't include any boring wines.

It offers 24 bottles of various wines, including white wine, rosé, red wine and sparkling wine from brands including JP Chenet, Brut Dargent and Calvet. 

24 Gins of Christmas Advent Calendar

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Amazon

The 24 Gins of Christmas Advent Calendar has 24 gins (5cl) with a variety of loved and reputable gin brands featuring, including Whitley Neill, J.J. Whitley, Liverpool Organic, Aber Falls, City of London and Marylebone.

This advent calendar also comes with a cocktail handbook, with instructions on how to make at least one cocktail for each gin flavour.

The Coffee Calendar

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Amazon

If wine, gin or beer aren't your thing in the morning but coffee is, you're in luck. The Coffee and Tea Company has created a couple of coffee calendars comprising 24 unique types of coffee from around the world.

The calendar comes in a decaffeinated variant, an espresso variant and a flavoured coffee variant.

Molton Brown Advent Calendar

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Amazon

The Molton Brown Advent Calendar offers 24 days of Molton Brown goodies, from Eau de Toilettes to festive baubles. 

There's various scents of lotions, creams, oils, shower gels and hand washes to get you through to Christmas Eve smelling wonderful.

LEGO 75279 Star Wars Advent Calendar 2020

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Amazon

LEGO and Star Wars fans, this advent calendar might make your year. It has 24 different LEGO Star Wars themed gifts behind its doors, including six mini-figures, 12 mini builds and a code to Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga game content.

Once you've collected all the gifts, unfold the play mat and you can spend your Christmas playing with mini versions of the Millennium Falcon, an A-wing, TIE Fighter, X-wing, or Anakin's Podracer.

LEGO 75279 Star Wars Advent Calendar 2020 Christmas Mini Builds Set with Iconic Starships and Characters

Amazon