First Impressions is a series that introduces and reviews new brands to My Subscription Addiction, drawing from readers' requests for an insider's first look. Interested in seeing more reviews from this brand, or have another box in mind that you'd like to see reviewed? Let us know in the comments.
Hygge Box is a monthly subscription box that embraces the Danish concept of hygge, or a lifestyle of coziness and happiness. It is about preserving happiness everyday by slowing down, being humble, expressing gratitude, feeling safe, and connecting with loved ones. From this box you can expect a selection of handpicked items from around the world that promote this gentle, feel-good sentiment — 4-5 items for Standard box subscribers and 5-6 for Deluxe box subscribers.
This is a review of the Deluxe Hygge Box.
The Cost: $52 per month with annual subscription. Monthly, 3-month, and 6-month subscriptions also available.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Notes on this subscription
A few housekeeping things before we delve in:
On pronunciation: Hygge is a Danish word that's pronounced "hue-gah" or "hoo-gah."
On renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew after your chosen length of time (1, 3, 6, or 12 months) unless you cancel before your last order has shipped. Boxes ship monthly between the 15th-18th of each month. If you'd like a non-renewing subscription, you could consider a gift subscription.
On shipping: For both self subscriptions and gift subscriptions, the shipping cost is already included in the total price for shipping to the 48 contiguous states. For shipments to Alaska and Hawaii, they apply a surcharge of $4 for each Standard Box and $6 for each Deluxe Box to cover the extra distance.
On contents: You can always expect your boxes to contain three consistent elements: light, drink, and snack. The Hygge Box is not able to accommodate food preferences, so please note that they almost always contain wheat, nuts, and dairy.
What's Inside the Hygge Deluxe Box?
The Hygge Box arrived on my porch with warmth and peaceful joy radiating from it! I was so ticked by the soothing color and sweet, cozy symbols printed on the box. When I opened the box, I found information about the subscription printed under the box lid, as well as the month's curation packed carefully under a sticker-punctuated wrapping of tissue paper.
Info Card
Atop the tissue presentation is this cute-as-can-be springtime print with an intro to the month and details about each product listed on the back. I find that for my first time exploring a new subscription, a lot can be learned from the info card. In this case, no prices are listed, which leads me to believe there are box-exclusive items inside, and I also see that the first 5 items are for all subscribers, with an extra addition for Deluxe subscribers.
Fresh Cut Grass Candle by Valkyrie Candle — Estimated Retail Value $9
Oh how delightful! I find it brave when those in the business of scents try to capture nature aromas in a candle or perfume. In the case of this 100% soy candle, it's achieved! With notes of lemongrass, citrus, green leaves, grass, moss, and sage, this scent absolutely gives off the fresh tones of springtime grass trimmings.
This candle comes in a tin, and while it doesn't have a size indication nor a listing on the maker's etsy page — they have an 8 oz glass candle in this scent here. This one is maybe 4 oz, then?
Anyway, a musing on hygge in the context of this candle: I only discovered this concept a few years ago, but I always associated it with wintertime. I think it can be potent permission to move slower and more intentionally as we trudge through cold months. But here in the context of springtime, I see that hygge can apply to inviting joy in the mundane — like the smell of fresh-cut grass, or, further, the act of caring for your yard or garden.
Salted Caramel Cookies by Douglas Sweets, 3 oz — Estimated Retail Value $5
Our first consumable this month is a small box of Scottish shortbread cookies. Yum. I have a relentless sweet tooth, and a small, dense cookie or two in the afternoon is such a reasonable outlet for it. This flavor is flecked with salted caramel, which adds richness to the flavor but doesn't interfere with the texture. The caramel flavor turned out not to be my style, but my five-year-old daughter loves them and has been working her way through this box two at a time after dinner each evening.
While this 3 oz box is not available for sale on the Douglas Sweets website, they do carry a 6 oz resealable bag here. I like the looks of the lemon drop shortbread cookies, the chocolate chip ones, and the lemon-rosemary savory ones. Great to keep in mind for future gift-giving!
Driftaway Coffee Sachets, 2 count — Estimated Retail Value $2 each
I love the way folks are innovating the coffee industry. I am especially curious about these innovations as someone who enjoys camping and is always looking for the simplest way to get the best coffee in me after waking up on the ground. I'd never tried brewing hot coffee in a tea bag! (I have made cold brew in a bag, steeping it overnight in the fridge.) Driftaway offers multiple roasts of their single-serve satchets, and this one is the Regenerative Organic Agriculture Dark Roast from Nicaragua. They are sold in 10-pack boxes of single-serve coffee sachets for $20.
I followed the instructions, pouring hot water over the bag, dipping it in and out of the water for about 30 seconds, the letting it steep for 5-7 minutes. I actually let it steep for longer, and while it allowed my coffee to cool down significantly, it seemed it needed more time to release more flavor. In the end, I will say, it was still a bit weak for me. I typically drink black coffee (I prefer a fruity medium roast if I'm being picky, but usually I'm up for whatever), but I wonder if I were a cream-drinker, if the weak flavor would be less obvious. I probably won't be stocking up on coffee in a tea bag, but I was glad to have the chance to try it! Especially because this brand is centered around sustainability, ethical sourcing, and they support small roasters from around the world.
Cacao Cove Detoxifying Vitamin C Mask by Earth Harbor — Retail Value $28
I encounter Earth Harbor somewhat often in various subscription boxes, but I somehow have never received a repeat product. I'm amazed at their broad product line, especially because they seem to do it all so well! This mask is "formulated to deeply detoxify, reduce existing blemishes, and improve the overall appearance of skin while delivering the yummiest of superfood skin nutrition." I'm not someone who takes the time to do masks very regularly, but I always enjoy it when I do.
To apply this mask, you mix some of the powder—which uses fair trade raw cacao powder, Italian green clay, activated coconut fruit charcoal, vitamin C, and more—with water to make a paste. Spread it on, relax for 15 minutes, and rinse it off. Okay, look, the wonderful scent of the cacao powder lifted from the jar as soon as the lid came off, but I didn't anticipate how hard I'd have to work to convince my small children not to eat this stuff. It smells ridiculously good.
Slumber Sip Bedside Carafe by Aynil Co. — Estimated Retail Value $20
I'm starry-eyed over this bedside water carafe. It's made from thin, clear glass, and its lid serves as as the cup you pour water into.
Here's the carafe all filled up on my night stand. I kept it there for about a week and because I rarely finished the glass of water in one big gulp, the two pieces often sat side-by-side. If I were my bedroom's only occupant, I'd go on this way forever; my husband is a light sleeper who's sensitive to noise, and he isn't having the best time with the sound the glass makes if accidentally clinked. I think I might pass this to my mum, who has the luxury of sharing space with a very sound sleeper (my dad)!
Let it Grow Tote by Outer Layer — Retail Value $15
I've always been a tote bag lover, even before it was commonplace to use them for regular grocery runs. They are definitely not all created equally! This one is a step above, with thick canvas sewn with some structure, sturdy seams, and strong straps. The houseplant pattern is so fun!
The straps are a great length to sling over my shoulder and hold a heavy load of groceries securely. But it's also a great size for a pool bag!
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $52 per month with annual subscription. Monthly, 3-month, and 6-month subscriptions also available.
The Hygge Box is curated with goods meant to encourage comfort, contentment, and well-being in one's life. From my first experience with it, we're off to a great start! I love that each box promises a couple things you can consume — because, let's be honest, a ton of clutter month after month is not going to cater to contentment. But the items that are meant to be kept on hand for longer all serve a clear purpose. The candle is so pleasant (and will be used up eventually!), the carafe is a clever way to encourage hydration and likely something people don't already have. The face mask is a scent-filled opportunity for self-care, and the tote bag will be used again and again. All are nice quality.
While I couldn't find retail values for some of the items in the box, I can make some estimates based on the same products in other sizes. Using some retail values and some estimates, I've added everything up to $81. That exceeds the cost of the box and feels like a good value to me.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Kind of. As an individual box it is still available in the shop at the time of publication. As a subscription, if you order by the last day of the month, your first box will be the next box, and your order will ship between the 15th-18th of the following month (unless sold out). Subsequent monthly boxes will also ship between the 15th and 18th.
What do you think of the Hygge Box? Would you subscribe? Click below to write a review!
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