With less than 100 sleeps until December 25, I’m well and truly getting into the festive spirit, having started my Christmas shopping, booked on a wreath making workshop and of course restocked my candle collection with some cosy winter scents. And speaking of scents, I’ve got my hands on the Arran Sense of Scotland self-care advent calendar for 2023, and it’s packed full of bath, body and home products in your new favourite fragrances.
Beauty advent calendars have skyrocketed in popularity over the last five years, and there are so many to choose from. Not only do they provide the opportunity to stock up on some of the must have makeup and skincare essentials, they also allow you to discover new products across a range of exciting brands. The contents are usually worth at least double the price you pay, meaning you can save money on your stash, or split the products between friends and family over the festive season as stocking fillers as a way to spread the cost further.
And while Christmas may seem a way off yet, advent isn’t, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on unboxing a little slice of luxury each day in December because you forgot to order one, right? Over the next few weeks, I’ll be unboxing some of the best beauty Christmas countdowns for 2023 to help you decide which one to snap up ready for December 1.
This year, the Arran Sense of Scotland Winter’s Night calendar is as cosy and comforting as it sounds. Think Scottish Highlands with rain tapping windows, log fires crackling, tartan woollen blankets and the velvetiest hot chocolate. That’s what this advent calendar feels like.
Housed in a navy blue box with an illustration of a stag among the stars, the magnetic calendar opens up to reveal 25 perforated windows, behind which are a carefully curated selection of best-selling scents and new limited edition seasonal fragrances to be discovered.
Priced at £70, it features a range of bath and shower gels, body lotions, candles, hair care, soap and fragrance worth over £150, rivalling the likes of The White Company, Jo Malone and Molten Brown’s much more expensive offerings.
Inspired by the Isle of Arran, every fragrance in this calendar has been designed to help you reconnect with nature and transport your mind to the unspoiled island, promoting a message of self-care and mindfulness through earthy, Scottish-made scents. Some of the popular fragrances include After the Rain, Glenashdale, Seaweed & Sage, Lochranza and the new-for-2023 Kildonan, as well as two limited edition seasonal offerings, Forest Frost and Rowanberry Embers.
My favourite fragrance from Arran Sense of Scotland after discovering it in last year’s calendar is by far After the Rain, which blends sandalwood, rose and lime to recreate the experience of stepping into the garden after a downpour. I’m so thrilled to see seven products from this collection inside the calendar, including luxurious hand soaps, buttery lotions, and sensationally scented shampoo and conditioners, alongside a candle, shower gel and the star on top of the tree – a 15ml perfume.
For me, it’s these little spritzes that are the real highlight of this self-care calendar, with the Glen Rosa spray starring fig and ylang-ylang, offering up a deep yet sweet scent, mixing fruity freshness with crisp florals.
Equally delightful are the 8cl candles tucked inside, prime for curating a sense of calm and tranquillity while making any room feel warm and inviting. This year, the After The Rain candle returns, but there are also two newbies in the form of Forest Frost and Rowanberry Embers, which are equally as seasonal and really pack a punch when it comes to filling a room with fragrance.
As for the hair, bath and body products, I had no idea how handy these would come in last year. Jake and I love a little staycation, and these have remained steadfast companions in my wash bag over the last 12 months. What’s more is that the fragrances are all unisex, so a 50ml shower gel or shampoo is perfect for a weekend away for the both of us. I’ve even gifted a few to my friend in the past, who has said how useful they are when she goes camping in her van.
I really like how Arran Sense of Scotland have really made the most of this calendar with 25 gifts inside, whereas many only have 24. If you’re interested to know the full contents, I’ll share the list below in no particular order:
- After the Rain Soap 40g
- Glenashdale Bath & Shower Gel 50ml
- Glenashdale Body Lotion 30ml
- Forest Frost 8cl Candle
- After the Rain Shampoo 50ml
- After the Rain Conditioner 30ml
- Glenashdale Soap 40g
- Seaweed & Sage Bath & Shower Gel 50ml
- Seaweed & Sage Body Lotion 30ml
- Rowanberry Embers 8cl Candle
- Glen Rosa 15ml EDT
- Lochranza 25g Soap
- Kildonan Bath & Shower Gel 30ml
- After the Rain Body Lotion 30ml
- Machrie Bath & Shower Gel 30ml
- Seaweed & Sage Shampoo 50ml
- Kildonan Shampoo 30ml
- Machrie 25g Soap
- After the Rain 8cl Candle
- Lochranza Bath & Shower Gel 30ml
- Seaweed & Sage Soap 40g
- Glenashdale Shampoo 50ml
- Kildonan Body Lotion 30ml
- After the Rain Bath & Shower 50ml
- After the Rain 15ml EDP
Each year the Arran Sense of Scotland advent calendar is a recurring bestseller and regularly sells out, so it’s best not to sleep on it if you’ve got your eye on it. What’s more is that the packaging and contents are recyclable and the brand is offering free delivery as an added bonus.
So if you fancy snuggling up to the Sense of Scotland self-care advent calendar for 2023, you can shop it here for £70.
