There’s nothing worse than pulling a traditional Christmas cracker only to have a handful of wasteful plastic trinkets drop into your lap, followed by a flimsy paper crown and a subpar dad joke.
Thankfully, retailers across Australia have caught on to our desire for something a little more special. These days, you can find Christmas crackers filled with goodies that you actually want – such as beauty products, food, fragrances and more.
While super-luxe Christmas crackers (like those with designer jewellery) may be a bit over-the-top for some, finding something in between super cheap and super luxe may need to take a bit of digging. And lucky for you, digging we did. From bonbons filled with travel minis to limited-edition festive fragrances from Glasshouse, we’ve found the best value Christmas crackers that you’ll actually want to crack open this season.
The best value Christmas crackers to buy in Australia 2025
01
L’Occitane holiday crackers
$49, Adore Beauty
Treat your loved ones with this set of four luxurious crackers from award-winning natural skincare brand L’Occitane. Each recipient will find two miniature treats in their cracker, designed to nourish their body and hands.
Key features:
- Includes four crackers
- Two gifts in each cracker
- Gifts include hand cream, shower gel and oil
- Features shea butter, which is known to nourish the skin
- Contains Glycerin, which is known to help moisturise the skin
- Suitable for all skin types
- Made in France
02
Endota hydration duo bonbon
$35, The Iconic
Stay hydrated with this cute Endota hydration duo bonbon, featuring Endota’s Signature Blend Hand Therapy, a rich, fast-absorbing hand cream, along with the Hydrating Lip Balm, packed with soothing ingredients to keep lips soft and moisturised.
They also have a bonbon for hands and feet. So, you could have a few of each for your guests to pick and choose from on Christmas day.
Key features:
- Endota’s signature blend hand therapy hand cream
- Hydrating lip balm
- Suitable for all skin types
03
Molton Brown 2025 Christmas cracker
$39, Adore Beauty
Set your table with beautifully packaged Molton Brown crackers. Each one contains a citrus fragrance and body wash – bursting with sweet orange, blossoming neroli, and enduring musk.
Key features:
- Includes bath and shower gel and an eau de toilette
- Festive and eye-catching bonbon design
04
Bonbon Fusion Adventure Hunt Spies Christmas crackers
$59.95, Bonbon Fusion
Looking for a truly unique Christmas cracker or bonbon? If you’re hosting Christmas this year and keen to keep the kids (big and small) entertained, these Bonbon Fusion Christmas crackers are for you. For the Adventure Hunt – Spies collection, you’ll get adventure-related notes for an international hunt for a rogue spy.
In Adventure Hunt, you’ll follow a story-driven quest. Each of the six bonbons in a set contains unique parts of the puzzle: a coded note, a strange symbol, or a 3D-printed object that fits with something from another bonbon. When all six bonbons are opened, the whole picture emerges, leading to that final satisfying “aha!” moment when the treasure is recovered.
Key features:
- 6-pack Christmas crackers
- Perfect for group settings
- Adventure-themed quests and clues inside
05
Who Am I Elf Game Christmas crackers set (6-piece)
$39.99, Temple & Webster
The Who Am I Elf Game Christmas cracker set is bound to make your Christmas unique this year. Featuring one gameboard and six novelty crackers, each cracker has a card for you to guess and play the “Who Am I?” game with the entire fam.
Key features:
- Includes 6 Christmas crackers and 1 gameboard
- Crackers include a paper crown, a joke, and a “Who Am I” game card
- Made from recycled materials
06
Glasshouse Fragrances limited-edition Kyoto in Bloom bonbon
$19.95, Adore Beauty
No guest will be able to resist this delightful Glasshouse surprise, filled with miniature eau de parfum and body lotion in the iconic Kyoto in Bloom scent. It’s a multidimensional floral scent with a big undertone of Patchouli; a fragrance that will be loved by everyone.
Key features:
- Contains a 50ml body lotion and 5ml perfume
- Kyoto in Bloom scent
Who invented Christmas crackers?
Christmas crackers were invented by British confectioner Tom Smith in the 1840s, according to the Victoria & Albert Museum. He was inspired by the French bonbon and the idea of wrapping sweets in paper. So, he added two thin strips of paper with silver fulminate painted on one and an abrasive surface on the other to create the distinctive crack sound that happens when they’re pulled apart. Smith’s son Walter, then added novelty gifts and tissue paper crowns, which were made by hand for decades.
What types of gifts can you find inside Christmas crackers?
The most common gifts found in typical crackers include plastic toys, tissue paper party hats and jokes or riddles. These almost always end up in landfill shortly after the Christmas party so, to avoid this from happening, luxury crackers are the right investment. This is because they contain more sustainable gifts that are actually kept and used like skincare, chocolate, jewellery and makeup.
Looking to save money on more Christmas essentials? Check out our coupon codes for Temple & Webster, MyTopia and more.
