From the zestiness of Orange Bitters to the room-filling scent of Pomegranate Noir to the freshness of Wood Sage & Sea Salt, for me, the true Christmas feeling comes with the fragrance of Jo Malone.
This is because, ever since I was in my late teens, my mum has counted down to the big day with the luxury fragrance house’s beauty advent calendar. And for the entire holiday period, our home would be an olfactory ode to the intriguing and addictive aromas that are now synonymous with the brand, from English Pear & Freesia to Lime Basil & Mandarin.
- Best for: Recognisable aromas and mini candles
- Worth: Over £500
- Release date: Available now
- Number of products: 25
- Number of days: 25
- What’s inside? (Highlights): Orange Bitters Travel Candle, Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body & Hand Wash and Pomegranate Noir Mini Candle
The Vogue verdict:
Jo Malone London’s English Pear & Freesia, Myrrh & Tonka and Pomegranate Noir have long dominated the scent wardrobe of discerning fragrance enthusiasts – and these are just a handful of the addictive aromas hidden behind its gilded dartboard-inspired advent calendar. The 25-strong selection extends to seasonal exclusive scents, Orange Bitters included, with mini, travel and a couple of full-sized favourites that go beyond the classic colognes to include body and hand lotions, lip care and body creams.
What the team say:
“I was immediately drawn to the Jo Malone Advent Calendar,” explains Vogue’s Group Creative Director, Dom Kelly. “You would keep it forever. I can use it for bauble storage. I also didn’t expect the bottles to be so big. Even though they are mini, they are a good size for travel.” We also admired that each product was individually wrapped in black tissue paper, adding to the thrill of unwrapping each day.
- Sumptuous scents
- Seasonal exclusives
- One brand
- Mostly minis
- Price
At the time, I would pay close attention to the contents, but this was taken to the next level when I started my career as a beauty journalist. For the last eight years, I have been reporting on advent calendars. By the time it gets to early December, more than 50 iterations of the seasonal staple will have crossed my desk for me to tear open, analyse and review. In 2025 there are few brands not involved in some way or another in the advent calendar game, which gives us the power to be very selective with our investment. And I can say with certainty, you can’t go wrong with Jo Malone’s 2025 perfume advent calendar.
Designed to replicate a dartboard, you don’t need to be Luke Littler to hit the bullseye this season. Each day opens to reveal mini colognes, candles or bath and body products from the London-based perfumers’ sumptuous collection. There are 25 treats within, including a suitably festive scent only available around this time of year.
Pre-sale opens on 12 September for a 19 September online launch.
How we tested the Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2025
It was not a challenge to get the Vogue office involved in reviewing the Jo Malone advent calendar. The discerning editorial team gravitated towards this box among a sea of 15 to 20 other calendars that were displayed. Even when disguising the distinctive cream and black, the sheer size of the round calendar and the striking green, blue and red dartboard design attracted lots of attention. Each day is embossed with chic gold numbers, with the draws opening to reveal the black tissue paper-wrapped treat, only adding more anticipation to the unboxing experience.
Vogue Verdict
For Jo Malone’s loyal fan base, there is no better way to start the day than with one of the fragrance house’s signature scents. And the selection is varied in terms of the aromas and in product type, with a good mix of bath and body on top of the colognes and candles. My calculations brought the worth of the contents to around £652, which is a saving of nearly 45 per cent if you were to purchase the products individually.
However, I do feel that the calendar could use more full-size products (30ml or 100ml), even though I am a huge fan of the mini 9ml aromas for my bag. Stand-out products include the English Pear & Freesia Body & Hand Wash, Poppy & Barley Body & Hand Lotion and Velvet Rose & Oud Body Crème, which all have re-gift potential.
This was not the feeling of the team, though. “I was immediately drawn to the Jo Malone Advent Calendar”, explains Vogue’s Group Creative Director, Dom Kelly. “You would keep it forever. I can use it for bauble storage. I also didn't expect the bottles to be so big. Even though they are mini, they are a good size for travel.”
What’s inside the Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2025
If you are looking to be surprised by the contents of Jo Malone’s Advent Calendar, stop reading here. Consider this your spoiler warning.
The limited-edition Orange Bitters scent, which is only available in winter, kicks off the countdown in candle form, but it also appears as a cologne on December 25. It’s a zesty and fruity combination that layers sweet orange with fresh mandarin, but to give it depth, throws sandalwood into the equation. There is also a good mix of cult classics (English Pear & Freesia, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir) with newer additions like the Hinoki & Cedarwood as well as seasonally apt combinations, including Pine & Eucalyptus.
Jo Malone
English Pear & Freesia Cologne
- Fragrance Family: Fruity, Floral Woody
- Key Notes: King William Pear, Freesia Flower, Patchouli
- Why this is a Vogue top pick: There’s nothing quite like coming home to a Jo Malone gift box on your birthday, anniversary, or Christmas Day. Packaged with care, this bottle is a bestseller in its body mist, room spray and cologne forms, because it does what many other fragrances don’t: it keeps things simple. An uncomplicated formula of just three notes, its juicy pear, fresh freesias and long-lasting patchouli make it an easy choice for everyday wear. Add to cart for a crowd-pleasing spritz that’s hard to go wrong with.
The full Jo Malone Advent Calendar line-up:
- Orange Bitters Travel Candle
- SOTS Cologne 9ml
- Peony & Blush Suede Body Crème 50ml – £28
- Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense 9ml – £24
- Vitamin E Lip Conditioner 15ml – £30
- Blackberry & Bay Cologne 9ml – £18
- Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body & Hand Wash 100ml – £20
- Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense 9ml – £24
- English Pear & Freesia Body & Hand Lotion 50ml – £30
- Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense 9ml – £24
- Pine & Eucalyptus Mini Candle
- English Pear & Freesia Cologne 9ml – £18
- Poppy & Barley Body & Hand Lotion 50ml – £30
- English Pear & Sweet Pea Cologne 9ml – £18
- Wild Bluebell Body Mist 30ml – £40
- Oud & Bergamot Cologne Intense 9ml – £24
- Velvet Rose & Oud Body Crème 50ml – £32
- Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne 9ml – £18
- Blackberry & Bay Hand Cream 30ml – £30
- English Oak & Hazelnut Cologne 9ml – £18
- Pomegranate Noir Mini Candle – £28
- Scarlet Poppy Cologne 9ml – £24
- English Pear & Freesia Body & Hand Wash 100ml – £20
- Lime Basil & Mandarin 9ml – £18
- Orange Bitters Cologne 30ml – £56
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