The GQ Best Stuff Box is a quarterly men's subscription from GQ magazine that features products that the editors have tested and love. Although this box is geared towards men, I personally find most of the items to be delightfully unisex! Each box is promised to be valued at over $200.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About GQ Best Stuff Box
The Subscription Box: GQ Best Stuff Box
The Cost: $49.99 + free shipping
The Products: “The GQ BEST STUFF BOX is a quarterly subscription box featuring the things we love—rigorously tested and loved by GQ editors. It includes our favorite electronics, grooming products, and accessories—every box valued at over $200 each”
Ships to: US
GQ Best Stuff Box Spring 2019 Review
There's a little fold-out information card/poster.
Arquiste Parfumeur 'Nanban' Eau de Parfum, 0.25 fl oz - Estimated Value $13.97 (Buy a full size 3.4 fl oz here for $190.00)
Wow. Let's start off with my favorite item. I am a perfume nerd and I love scents that are woody, spicy, and more than a little masculine. While this perfume definitely leans more manly, it is technically a unisex fragrance. The box includes a little paragraph describing the smell's inspiration:
January 1618, a Japanese galleon, the Pacific ocean.
Following a diplomatic mission to the West, a galleon carrying a delegation of samurai charges through dark ocean currents. Loaded with a rare and precious cargo, the ship’s hull is redolent of sweet-smelling tropical woods, heady Spanish leather, frankincense, fine black pepper and other exotic ground spices—the intoxicating spirit of a singular, extraordinary voyage of discovery.
This is 100% accurate for this intoxicating perfume with heady notes of pepper, saffron, tea, leather, spices, and rare woods. This is exactly the sort of interesting and memorable fragrance I adore and although this is a rather heavy scent for spring, I have worn it daily since opening the box and will likely justify purchasing a full bottle.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye, 0.1 fl oz - Estimated Value $7.40 (Buy a full size 0.5 oz here for $37.00)
I have yet to convince my husband to use an eye cream but this one might be basic enough for him to concede and try. Truly he doesn't need one because he has this magical power of only getting better looking with age, while I feel like my face is falling apart without 948048 serums. This formula has a lovely scent that is botanical and medicinal at the same time. It is a thicker cream that feels great on my skin and absorbs very quickly.
Dr. Squatch Bay Rum Soap Bar, 5 oz - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $7.00
This soap smells incredible! The scent hit me as soon as I opened the box. It smells like booze and citrus and reminds me of vintage aftershave. The formula itself is good, leaving skin feeling clean but not overly dry. My husband loves soaps like this so I don't expect it to last long.
Hims Immunity Gummy Vitamins, 42 gummies - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $19.00
These gummies were really interesting because they seem to be geared towards preventing colds/boosting immune systems but are targeted towards men. They are described as having a Meyer lemon flavor, but I didn't taste much of that at all. They are also kind of smelly, but they do taste good. Along with having a ton of vitamins A, E, and K, they also have thiamine.
This is Ground Bandito Cord and Plug Rollup - Listed Value $45.00
SO I found a super similar version of this here, but ours seems to be a smaller option missing that zipper pouch portion. This is a pretty handy little rollup if you have tons of cords that you take with you to and fro. It is certainly a more elegant alternative to just balling them up and throwing them in your purse or bag. The leather is super soft, yet sturdy, and it smells really great!
House 99 Greater Look Face Moisturizer, 0.67 fl oz - Estimated Value $6.62 (Buy a full size 2.53 oz here for $25.00)
This is part of David Beckham's skincare line and it smells amazing! This moisturizer is a creamy sort of gel, and very light and quick absorbing, leaving a matte finish. It is very cooling and contains spirulina and quinoa extracts, as well as vitamin E. My husband doesn't have skin that is nearly as dry as mine, so this might be a great option for him!
House 99 Smooth Back Shaping Pomade, 0.50 oz - Estimated Value $4.11 (Buy a full size 3.04 oz here for $25.00)
Pomade is probably the only consistent beauty product that my husband actually uses other than a bar of soap or shampoo, so I know this will be well received! Another item from Beckham's line, this pomade has a clean scent and a lightweight feel, though it certainly keeps hairs in place.
Counterman Daily Exfoliating Cleanser, 1 fl oz - Estimated Value $4.17 (Buy a full size 6 fl oz here for $25.00)
I swear that everything in this box smells INCREDIBLE. This lightweight gel cleanser has tiny jojoba beads that exfoliate your skin without feeling too abrasive. While it didn't do the best job at removing eye makeup (I suspect most men don't really need that as much as I do at the end of the day) it did leave my skin feeling very clean and refreshed otherwise!
Counterman Smoothing Shave Cream, 1 fl oz - Estimated Value $4.44 (Buy a full size 4.5 fl oz here for $20.00)
Another scent winner. This shaving cream has an almost oil-like finish and really clings to the skin as you shave, lubricating the razor with every swipe. This means less irritation and ingrown hairs, two issues my husband generally likes to avoid when shaving his face. Hs skin felt very smooth and soft after rinsing.
Mophie Power Reserve 1x Mini Charger - Retail Value $34.95
I am always on the go and both Will and I have OLD iPhones with batteries that aren't quite as long lasting as they used to be. I always have a battery pack on hand and this little mini bank is a great addition to my purse because it is on the smaller side. It essentially holds enough charge to refill my depleted iPhone battery once over, with a little to spare.
JLab Audio Crasher Mini Splash-Proof Bluetooth Speaker - Retail Value $30.00
I like portable Bluetooth speakers because I take them along on photo shoots to get my clients moving and just make the atmosphere a little more relaxed. This speaker is pretty heavy duty and rugged. It is also splash-proof, making it a great option for those shoots where we might see some rain. With around 10 hours of playtime per charge, it is a great addition to my kit!
Verdict: This GQ box had a ton of awesome stuff! The perfume was by far my favorite. It is pretty dreamy! I also loved the mini size skincare items that I can share with my husband in hopes that he finds some new formulas he likes and would consider using long term. The vitamins were interesting, though I don't see myself ever purchasing them again. The cord roll-up is really useful and I love that it is genuine leather. I also appreciate that along with skincare/health items they included a really cool speaker and always useful battery bank. The overall value of this box is somewhere around the $176.66 mark, which is a great value for a $49.99 sub, especially one that is this well rounded.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? It looks like it! The FAQ notes: “The specific box you receive will depend on the date you signed up and how that corresponds with the shipping deadlines of the quarterly boxes. You may contact customer service at: 1-800-999-6536 for the specifics.” I would give them a call to be 100% sure!
Value Breakdown: Each of the 11 items in the $49.99 box has an average cost of $4.54.
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What do you think of the Spring 2019 GQ Best Stuff Box?
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