Merkaela is a seasonal subscription box focused on promoting your spiritual wellness and connection to nature.
Every December, March, June, and September, Merkaela sends its subscribers a package of 7-10 natural body and home items centered around a seasonal theme. According to the Merkaela site, the company uses Alchemy to "activate" their products, meaning you might get additional, unseen benefits from these pretty potions!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Merkaela
The Subscription Box: Merkaela
The Cost: $61.00 per quarterly box
LIMITED TIME DEALS: Use code ALIVE15 to save 15% off your first quarterly box! Or, use code ALIVE20 to save 20% off your annual subscription!
The Products: 7-10 natural, handcrafted, cruelty-free self-care products for home and body. Each box also gives you access to a monthly playlist and content around the seasonal theme.
Ships to: U.S. and Canada. Shipping is free within the continental U.S.
Merkaela Winter "Wisdom" Box December 2017 Review
This season's theme is "Wisdom". This card speaks to the restorative, restful vibes that come with winter, and calls upon the reader to ground, reflect, and be loving to themselves.
As with every Merkaela box, there's also a small affirmation t fit the season's theme. I like that this card is about the size of a business card, so it's easy to tuck it into a purse or wallet pocket. The mantra this time around is all about listening and trusting intuition. At first, I thought this was an awfully confident way to go greet the world—I'm always second-guessing myself, so thinking of my decisions as automatically correct is difficult. For me, I'm using this mantra as a reminder to make sure I'm being honest and level-headed about every decision I make so that I can be sure it's the right one for me. Basically, if I know I'm approaching decisions from a place of groundedness (rather than worry or fear of judgment), I know I'll have an easier time moving forward with certainty and not regret.
Here's our product list for this box. Isn't their simple design nice?
They also included a meditation card to help guide my personal growth.
Nepali Rope Meditation Incense - Estimated Value $5.00
I couldn't find this item online, but similar products seem to go for about $5.00. I've never seen rope-style incense, but I love the uniqueness of it and that it's made from Lotka paper, which is a renewable resource. This little bundle is about 3 inches long and contains ingredients like saffron, nagi, and red and white sandalwood. It has a strong sandalwood aroma that's super rich, but because of the natural-ness of the product, I'm not finding it to be terribly overwhelming.
Ylang Ylang Body Butter, 4 oz. - Estimated Value $21.00
I couldn't find this exact product on the Merkaela site, so I listed what a similar body butter of the same size would cost. The body butters from this subscription are so great. They don't leave the cleanest finish, but they're really soothing and moisturizing. I love the smell of this shea-butter-based product—it has a creamy, subtle, comforting fragrance, almost like kitchen herbs being baked into bread.
Bentonite Clay Mask, 2 oz. - Estimated Value $8.00
This product wasn't listed on the Merkaela site shop, so I just took a guess at the value. This clay mask is great for clearing the gunk out of my pores and reawakening my tired winter skin. All you have to do is add a bit of water to it to make a paste, then apply it like a regular mask. It can be pretty drying, so be sure to have something to moisturize immediately after on hand.
Chamomile Tea Potion, 12-14 tsp. - Estimated Value $7.70
There's a new loose-leaf tea blend in each installment of this subscription. This month's isn't available online yet, so I'm guessing at its value based on similar blends I could find. I don't think I've had such a decadent chamomile like this one before! There are notes of lemon, anise, and a general honey-ish flavor to it that's really lovely. Beyond just being relaxing and grounding, it's heartwarming, too. There's nothing like holding a big mug of tea on a cold winter day.
Calendula Body Exfoliator, 2 oz. - Estimated Value $8.80
This is another product that hasn't hit the site yet, so I'm guessing the value based on a similar exfoliator. I just recently kicked a jar of natural salt scrub and was hoping I might get another in a box soon. This scrub is just what the doctor ordered. The aroma of calendula and ginger is very gently sweet and floral—it's more floral in a "walking through a field of flowers" than a "walking through a flower store" type of way. The salt crystals provide the high-powered exfoliant I love this time of year, and the oils that hold the salt replenish the skin so that my skin comes out of the shower feeling soothed, plump, and refreshed.
Woodspice Soap Bar, 3.5 oz. - Estimated Value $8.50
Another value guess! There are similar soaps on the site, but not this unique style. Wow, what in the world is "woodspice"? Because it. Smells. Amazing! The effect of this bar is kind of like walking into a carpentry shop that has a natural holiday wreath on the door. There's a good bit of woodsy goodness here, but it's coupled with sweet, festive scents of cinnamon and rosemary. The soap has a creamy lather to it that melts into the skin. Looooove this!
Lotus Bodhi Mala Bracelet - Estimated Value $10.00
I'm totally guessing at this item's value based on versions I've found online. This bracelet is elastic, so it stretches, but it starts out around 2.5 inches across. It's super comfortable to wear, and I appreciate the organic, simple look of the coral beads. Counting the beads, or associating an intention with each bead can be helpful in meditation. I always need help focusing during my practice, so this will provide me something to hone in on!
The Verdict: I loved this Merkaela box, as usual. I really appreciated the unique fragrances and flavors, and the fact that everything is as natural and thoughtfully made as possible. Just poring over the items in the box, I felt more at peace, thoughtful, and eager to breathe more deeply (if just to take in all of the aromas!). I love how this subscription always gives me an excuse to slow down and be more mindful and that it features gorgeous products that nourish the body and mind. (There's also a playlist that's been curated for the box! You can see it listed on the info card! Definitely recommend it!)
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! Hurry and get it while it lasts!
Coupon - Use code ALIVE15 to save 15% off your first quarterly box! Or, use code ALIVE20 to save 20% off your annual subscription!
Value Breakdown: The box costs $61.00, but I estimated that there's about $69.00 of product inside. That's mostly based on estimates, though, since these specific items aren't listed online. Another way to look at it is that there are 7 physical items in the box, which means I paid an average of $8.71 for each item in the box.
Check out all of our Merkaela reviews and the Women's Subscription Box Directory!
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