I’ve recently had the task of having a mini pantry to organise for the first time and I have really been enjoying trying to make it more efficient on a granular level. After all, if each section isn’t properly taken care of, my pantry won’t be as usuable as a whole.

As I wrote about in my piece on my vision for organising my new pantry, my spice selection was one area particularly ripe for fixing. So when I was offered a chance to try out Spice Dept’s build-your-own kit (available via Spice Dept or Selfridges) for sorting this problem area, I was sold.

I’ve recently installed the 9-piece set in my pantry and I’ve been super impressed by how instantly it transformed my small space, which was previously crammed with probably out of date spices. Here’s why I like this system.

The first thing that I loved when I unboxed this set was the explosion of colour. My pantry is hidden behind a set of doors in my kitchen but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in how it looks which is where this box of spices has really livened things up.

The 9-piece essentials set comes in a small, neat box and each spice is clearly identifiable from the large labels. In the 9-piece set you’ll receive commonly used spices so that you can start using this system straight away. Those spices are whole black peppercorns, cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, ground turmeric, green cardamom, fennel seeds, whole cloves, whole nutmeg and Kanthari chilli.

As well as being labelled on the sides, the jars are also labelled on the top which means you can employ whichever spice rack idea you like – whether that’s on display or tucked into a drawer.

The ease of identification is also improved by the fact that each of these has a use by date stamped onto the bottom of the tin. That means that you won’t be guessing whether a spice is still good or not as you pull it out to use in your cooking. Spice Dept’s commitment to freshness is a core pillar of their brand, which should also make a big difference to the taste of your food, too.

After a quick change around, I’ve found this part of my pantry now looks much less visually cluttered than it did before. These tins stack so neatly on top of eachother and as there’s no decanting required it’s an ultra-quick process.

Each tin is 5.4cm square, which is such a pleasing size to display and stack and still allows me plenty of other space within my chosen organiser for less neat spices to be stored alongside these ones.

There are 12 different spices you can choose from in total as you create your sets. As well as being an efficient way to organise your spice collection (or begin one!), these smart stackable sets would make a wonderful gift for the foodie in your life too.

How does your current spice storage system stack up compared to this one?

A couple of Christmases ago, Marks & Spencer first introduced its supersized velvet bow decorations at the height of the Christmas bow trend – unsurprisingly, they went viral and sold out within days. And this has happened every year since – as soon as the M&S velvet hanging bows go live on the brand’s site, they fly off the virtual shelves. M&S just brought them back, along with new colours, patterns and finishes, and they’re bound to be gone by October.

I know I probably sound like a broken record when it comes to the bow Christmas decor trend – but Christmas bows are not going anywhere anytime soon; they’re here to stay for at least another festive season. And just like previous years, the bigger the bow, the better.

But while previous festive periods really championed the solid-coloured velvet bows, this year, I’m seeing a lot more patterned bows – especially gingham and checks. And it’s in fact the newcoming £20 M&S gingham bow, which I spotted at the retailer’s press preview earlier this month, that I predict is going to sell out first. It looks so good that I want one.

But M&S is not the only retailer where you can get a big gingham or checked Christmas bow – John Lewis is selling a red gingham bow for £15, while Anthropologie gave its XXL bow tree topper (which enjoyed much popularity last year) a plaid makeover among others.

But if the more traditional and equally as beautiful velvet bows are more your thing then there’s plenty for you to choose from. For starters, there are two different sizes.

There are 65-centimetre long velvet bows (which are the same size as the gingham bow) available in three colourways, all selling for £20 each – there’s the classic deep red, as well as dark green and (my personal favourite) chocolate brown.

But things – or bows, rather – get even bigger from here. M&S is also selling velvet Christmas bows that are 95-centimetre long, each retailing for £30. And this size is available either in the timeless dark red or in a new finish which is black velvet embellished with white pearl beads.

Which M&S XL Christmas bow is your favourite? I might have to get one of those gingham numbers before they’re gone.

Even though autumn is only just starting, this is the time of year when all the Christmas-related buys launch and become available to shop. And while you can get away with waiting with some, there are others that you have to snap up as soon as they’re released or regret it later – and the John Lewis scented candle advent calendar falls into the latter category. It just dropped – so run, don’t walk!

This 12-day design is one of the best advent calendars for home fragrance I’ve come across – and it’s certainly the best one for value for money. Selling for £99, the calendar is filled with 12 mini candles from eight of the best scented candle brands, from The White Company to Osmology, among others – all of which are stocked at John Lewis, of course.

John Lewis first introduced this advent calendar two years ago – and it sold out within two weeks. Understanding how sought-after an advent calendar like this can be, the John Lewis team had learnt their lesson and last year, the retailer had much more stock to go around than the Christmas before. The calendar was still hugely popular, it remained one of the retailer’s bestsellers and it once again sold out, although it took a little longer than two weeks.

This is the third consecutive year that John Lewis is offering the scented candle advent calendar – and it’s already flying off the virtual shelves on the website, becoming one of the bestselling products, despite only launching earlier this week.

This year, I managed to get my hands on the calendar early before its launch and I was really impressed with its look featuring a new outer space-inspired design, the premium, weighty feel and the contents – especially considering the £99 price tag.

Within the little numbered drawers, it includes some of my favourite scented candles like Osmology’s Happy Space – a soothing scent blending amber, geranium and rose – and SKANDINAVISK’s Hygge candle, celebrating the Danish ‘hygge’ concept of cosiness with notes of tea leaves, mint, cinnamon and dried apples.

Alternative advent calendars to invest in

An advent calendar like this one makes for the perfect gift or a treat for yourself to make the cold and busy month of December a little more enjoyable. But if you like the look and sound of it, I really recommend to act fast.