Earlier in the season i had several requests to post about the various beauty advent calenders that launched this year and I was going to, I swear.. but then I didn't. I looked over everything I could find and my past experience led me to the conclusion that I only really wanted the ones that cost the earth and if you're going to spend mega bucks then you may as well just buy what you like rather than roll the dice on what could be a very expensive let down. I'm not saying I'll never have a beauty calender again but this year I was more interested in the non-beauty (but still non-chocolate) and the front runner was from Yankee Candle.

I've seen variations of this in the past and always been interested so I practically bit their hand off when they offered to send it for review this year.. but is it all I hoped for and more? I don't know yet. I toyed with leaving it entirely as a surprise (for me) but realised that I had one burning (pun intended) question that I felt you would also want answering before parting with your cash. Do the tea lights actually do anything? I popped open a couple of doors at random and have burned the candles within over the past day or two and honestly? I'm just not sure. 1. I have no idea what the scents are because there are no markings. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong here and if I'm just not seeing it but aside from an educated guess I have nothing. 2. They burn for around 3 or 4 hours which isn't too bad if like me you light candles in the evening BUT 3. there was virtually no scent unless I stood over them and really tried to smell them. I'm not sure if it's just the fragrances I've had so far that are perhaps not the best example of the tea lights or if they're just a bit rubbish unless you have 10 burning at once but they were quite a disappointment. I loved the idea of a taster pack of Yankee Candles and a new scent every day in December but whereas I've had nothing bad to say about any jar (medium or larger) candle I've tried the smaller sizes just don't seem to be capable of packging that same punch.

Available online here for £27.99

I'd love to hear from those of you who use theseor have had the Yankee advent before, I'd be interested to know if you're experience was any different. It's such a nice idea in theory and I believe there are some votives scattered behind the doors but even so.. I think the little versions are just a bit meh unfortunately.

Miss BB

*PR Sample