Rituals

What's in the box: A typical calendar holds a mix of full size and travel size Rituals body care, skincare and home fragrance products behind daily doors.

Rituals is a Dutch home and body care brand based in Amsterdam. It is best known for scented shower foams, body creams and home fragrances inspired by Asian traditions. It is not a monthly subscription service. It sells seasonal gift sets, and its advent calendars have become a familiar holiday purchase across Europe. Each calendar is a one time purchase that you open day by day through December. The doors usually hide a mix of full size and travel size products from the brand's main collections. Rituals runs local stores for a long list of countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Nordic and Baltic states, the United States and Hong Kong. Most of these stores come in the local language, so ordering from outside the Netherlands is easy. Prices and delivery terms vary by country, so check your local store before you buy. The main appeal is consistency. If you already like Rituals scents, the calendar is a pleasant way to try more of the range and pick up a few gifts. The downsides are just as clear. Everything comes from one brand, so you will not find anything beyond Rituals itself, and how much you enjoy it depends a lot on whether you like the scents. Calendars are seasonal, so you need to plan for one in autumn. It will not arrive on a recurring schedule.