L'Occitane’s Luxury Advent calendar is back for another year, and as a long-time fan of the French brand's products, I was excited to delve into it, albeit a couple of months early.  

First, the numbers: this calendar costs £149, and according to L’Occitane, the total value of the products inside is £276.50. That's a 46% saving compared to purchasing them individually.

Looks-wise, it’s had a whimsical, festive update on last year's travel-themed vintage vanity case design. For 2025, I'd say it has a more traditional Christmas aesthetic, inspired by the architecture of Provençal houses with added festive decorations, all in white and gold hues. So far, so pretty. 

Like competitors, it promises a selection of full-size and travel-size goodies inside. But is the haul worth the investment? I opened it up to find out. 

When testing the L'Occitane calendar, I considered the overall bang for your buck, totting up the cost versus the value of the items included and percentage saving, looking at how it matched up to competitors. I did a deep dive on the products inside – taking into account size, versatility and variety – and tried some of them out too. I also judged its looks and display-worthiness, plus the quality of the packaging and its sustainability credentials. 

The 3D calendar looks like a French townhouse, decked out in classic L’Occitane colours: white and deep yellow with pretty golden accents. Each little window is decorated with Christmassy touches like baubles, stars, and hanging pine cones.

It’s a really charming design, and honestly, one of the nicest calendars I’ve seen in a while. It’s made from cardboard, and the big surprise is up top: a rooftop window that flips up to reveal day 24 — the biggest door. I had high hopes for what was behind it (spoiler: I wasn’t disappointed).

The rest of the doors are scattered across the house, not in order, so you get the fun of hunting down the right number each day. Each door pops open like the chocolate ones we all grew up with, which adds a nostalgic touch. The only downside is that because it’s made from cardboard, it’s not really reusable. I wish they’d made it from a more durable material, because it would make such a lovely decoration to bring out year after year.

Still, the excitement of opening each little door and discovering what’s inside gives it a bit of magic that you don’t quite get with the drawer-style calendars.

Inside, there’s a nice balance: four full-size and 20 smaller products. However, compared to competitors, including Look Fantastic's 2025 Advent calendar, which comes with 17 full-size treats and Boots' No.7's offering that contains an impressive 25, the L'Occitane calendar feels a bit sparse on the larger products.

It kicks off on a strong note. Day one gives you a full-size (75ml) tube of the brand's best-selling Shea Butter Hand Cream. I found that a little goes a long way, and the subtle sweet scent is such a classic.

Day 6 was a personal highlight. I opened it to find a 50ml bottle of the Almond Supple Skin Oil. It’s another one of its best-sellers, and I was really excited to try it. L’Occitane sells a larger version on its site, but even at 50ml, it’s a decent size to test out (or give as a gift). It comes in a lovely glass bottle, too, which looks great on a bathroom shelf.

On Day 20, there was another gem from the almond range. This time, it's a 75ml Almond Shower Oil. This one’s been a hit with customers for 20 years, and it’s easy to see why. I’ve been using it all summer, and I swear it leaves my skin feeling softer and smoother after every use. Plus, the subtly sweet almond scent lingers in the best way.

There’s a great mix of products inside, from shower gels and body lotions to shampoo, conditioner, and a hair mask. But I was most excited about the skincare bits, especially the anti-ageing Immortelle range, which I’ve seen hyped all over the place online. 

However, most of the Immortelle products are on the smaller side. For example, the Immortelle Precious Eye Balm is just 4ml, and the Divine Cream (which I was really looking forward to) is an 8ml pot. I get that these are some of the pricier items in the L’Occitane line-up, but personally, I’d have swapped out a couple of body products for more of the facial skincare. 

That said, the big finale on Day 24 makes up for it. Hidden in a secret window at the top of the calendar (you pull it up to reveal another level to the house). Behind the double doors is a 30ml bottle of the Immortelle Overnight Reset Serum. The product only comes in 30ml and 50ml sizes on their website, and because you only need a little bit each night, it’ll definitely last a while.

It promises to soften fine lines after seven nights and claims your skin will look more "youthful and renewed" after 28. I’ve only been using it for around a week, so I can’t fully vouch for all the long-term claims, but I can say that my skin has looked brighter, softer, and just more refreshed in the mornings. Out of everything in the calendar, this is the one product I’d absolutely go out and buy again.

If you're already a fan of L'Occitane (or want to gift a skincare lover), then this Advent calendar is the one for you. The range of items is super-varied. It's not just limited to bath products, which means you can also test out some of L'Occitane's skincare and hair care options.

Yes, it's expensive at £149, but for someone like me who knows and loves the brand, the 46% saving makes it well worth it. That said, competitors do offer bigger percentage savings – Look Fantastic's claims to be around an 84% discount and No.7's comes in at about 52% less than if you forked out for the items separately. 

I was particularly happy to see a full-sized Overnight Reset Serum from the anti-ageing Immoretelle range (which retails for £62 if bought on its own). It was also a nice opportunity to try the Immortelle Divine Cream and Immortelle Precious Cleansing Oil, though I wish these products had been bigger.

The main downside for me is that there were only four full-sized products. This is far fewer than other competitors, and while the calendar looks great and will make a lovely festive decoration in the lead up to Christmas, it's a shame that it can't be reused.

For anyone tempted by L'Occitaine but not sure about an £150 outlay, there is also an £82 minis calendar, available on Look Fantastic, Cult Beauty, Sephora, and Amazon. I think these would make lovely stocking fillers. 

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