All boxed up we review the best subscription services
From fresh flowers to exciting new lipsticks, ally Oliver reviews the best subscription boxes
Nothing beats the thrill of a mystery parcel arriving at the front door. No wonder, then, that the subscription box market is booming, partly because so many of us these days are time-poor – and partly because, well, who doesn’t like a treat from time to time? Here’s a round-up of our favourites…
1 For Bookworms
For lovers of literature, this is a real treat (and would make a lovely gift). each month, a vintage paperback arrives, wrapped in Bookishly’s distinctive paper, as well as a little packet of tea or freshly ground coffee, whichever you prefer. We ordered the tea option, and received some lemon ginger loose tea along with a copy of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, a little notebook and a beautiful bookmark. With a list of “classics-I-must-read” as long as my arm ( Orlando being one of them), Bookishly gave me the perfect excuse to hunker down with a good book (and a good cup of something on the side). How mucH? £10 a month with three-, six- or 12-month subscription options; bookishly.com
2 For the Beauty Addict
a box of high-end – and often innovative – skincare and make-up goodies each month is a tough treat to miss, but it’s a little tricky to get your head around the Beauty Pie concept. By removing the middleman and selling products direct from the factory, Beauty Pie can charge just £4.75 for an “unbranded” foundation while a luxury label may charge £30 for the same product. each of the products is panel-tested by make-up artists, product developers and a sourcing team to bring the best in cosmetics and skincare. essentially, you pay £10 each month – but you don’t need to spend that amount each month; instead you can roll it over. For my £10 subscription box I tried Beauty Pie’s Fantasticolour eye Crayon, £3.37 (the rich colour went on beautifully and stayed on all day). I also tried a Super eye energy Peptide Infusion Cream, £6.38, which was light and non-greasy. How mucH? Pay £10 a month and select your products before ordering; beautypie.com
3 For Fans of Florals
This is the perfect way to brighten up the house – the award-winning letterbox service from Bloom & Wild carefully packages up a different bouquet each month, designed by their in-house florists, and according to whatever is in season. The stems are wrapped individually in a specially designed box that will fit through your letterbox. We tried the Cora; described as “unashamedly feminine”, it included blueberry roses, spray veronica and seasonal foliage. Inside the box was a beautifully designed crib sheet explaining how to arrange the flowers, plus two sachets of plant food. a week later, the flowers still looked great.
How mucH? From £20 a month; bloomandwild.com
4 For On-The-Go Gourmands
The Hello Fresh home delivery service is a great way to break out of your regular meals rut. It provides a choice, which changes each week, of delicious meals made with fresh ingredients direct from carefully selected suppliers. There are three different options: Classic, Family and Rapid boxes. You choose your recipes a few days before; they’re then delivered direct in chilled cardboard boxes. all the ingredients are measured out in little pots and the meat, in particular, is fantastic quality. We tried balsamic steak with red cabbage and potato wedges, tray bake chicken and orso risotto – all delicious and easy to make. How Much?
Three recipes for two people a week is £34.99; or for a family of four, £53.99; hellofresh.co.uk
5 For Lovers of Interiors
TV presenter anthea Turner started this company in 2016 and it’s beautifully done. Top marks for a gorgeous presentation box (we’d ( keep it for storage) that t every month contains a selection of goodies, mostly m homeware from up-and-coming u brands such as a the Derwent Slate Plate Company C or a stylish basket from Chickidee. You might even find a luxe beauty product too, such as skin serum (as we did), or an unexpected surprise like a small bottle of artisan vodka. a stroke of genius is their Golden Feather – this is when a limited number of subscribers “win” an extra-special gift in their box.
How much? From £23 a month for an annual subscription; theathomeboxcompany.com
6 For the Cocktail Aficionado
The Tipple Box contains a selection of spirits, mixers, specialist cocktail ingredients and snacks to make eight cocktails every month. You can choose from four different subscription boxes, including gin-based as well as a British craft cocktails option. Our cocktails were called Lakes Tea (vodka, raspberry liquor and grenadine) and malted mule, a whisky-based drink. This service even has its own magazine, Muddle, with foodie interviews and more cocktail recipes in each issue.
How Much? From £22 per box, for a 12-month subscription; tipplebox.com
7 For Coffee Lovers
Keep your coffee cup percolating away each day with a delicious roast, delivered straight from the makers. ethically sourced beans come from around the world to be roasted by this Devon-based company. You can also select (and stick with) your favourite blend, ground for you by Dorothy, the company’s vintage roasting machine. a stylish package arrived with details about the two bags we’d been sent. Both were delicious. The ethiopian Guji Shakiso, in particular, had an incredible sweetness to it and won our taste test. How Much? From £23.10 for 250g of coffee a month; thecoffeefactory.co.uk
8 For the Good Life
From matcha to mulberries, this box delivers the best vegan, gluten-free and veggie snacks, perfect for anyone aiming to live life as healthily as they can. There are three different boxes to choose from but all of them give access to new and emerging brands in this market. Our box contained the most delicious Coconut Cloud biscuits by the Vegan Bakery – loved by all the family. There was also a little bag of Quibbles Sour Cream Cashew nuts that, again, vanished in moments. In total, our box had five different snacks and a drink. For those who love trying out innovative health snacks, this is a great delivery. How Much? From £8.50 a month; thegoodnessproject.co.uk
9 For Crafters
Love crafting, or fancy trying something new? You can pore over a makerly box and create something quirky and personal each month. The package includes a magazine filled with ideas for small projects using the materials from the month’s box. Our box had easy instructions to make mosaic coasters including all the tools. The teen in the house sat down with me in a rare moment of crafty-sharing, relaxation and fun. You can’t ask for much more than that! How Much? From £6 a month; makerlycrafts.com
10 For a Sweet Tooth
We firmly endorse this kind of monthly indulgence! Darren Litton, owner of Cocoba, promises only the finest chocolate surprises and innovations with his monthly box. What’s great about this box is the huge array of excellent-quality chocolates you receive (including some gorgeous truffles that we’re holding off eating for a special night in), plus the price point is much better than many premium chocolate brands.
How Much? £20 a month for a selection of chocolate bars, truffles, pralines and drinking chocolate; cocobachocolate.com w&h