Bombay & Cedar is a luxury lifestyle subscription box for women that focuses on essential oils, diffusers, skincare, books, snacks, and other products. In addition to the Lifestyle box, they also offer a Beauty Box that includes 5-6 full- and/or deluxe-size products for $31.95 per month (retail value of at least $100). Check out our Beauty reviews here.
FYI, COVID-19 Update: Bombay & Cedar is experiencing significant shipping delays. Keep up to date on progress and estimated timelines here.
This review is of the monthly Lifestyle Box for $44.95/month.
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 this Premium Self-Care and Aromatherapy Subscription Box
The Subscription Box: Bombay & Cedar
The Cost: $44.95 per month + shipping, or save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: 2 essential oils and 6-8 full-size products such as diffusers, skincare, books, healthy snacks, and other surprises with a retail value of $120+.
Ships to: The U.S. for free, Canada for $10.95, and internationally for $17.95
Good to Know: Bombay & Cedar also offers a seasonal Lifestyle Box that includes 6-9 full-size products and a value of $200+ for $74.95/quarter.
Bombay & Cedar "Celebrate" December 2020 Review
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The box arrives with a booklet of information that lists the products and highlights some of the brands found within. December's theme was "Celebrate.”
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Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil by Bombay & Cedar, 10 mL - Listed Value $15.00
Bergamot Essential Oil Blend by Bombay & Cedar, 10 mL - Listed Value $14.00
Lime Essential Oil Blend by Bombay & Cedar, 10 mL - Listed Value $14.00
This month's oils came as a mystery grab bag! There was a supplier delay for December boxes so they switched to the grab bag option, and featured three oils instead of the traditional two. I received the Pink Grapefruit, Bergamot, and Lime. I actually already have the Pink Grapefruit from a previous box, but I rarely use it because it is so overwhelmingly sweet-smelling. The lime is interesting, I might need to find another oil blend that will work well along with it in my diffuser. Bergamot is a scent that I really gravitate towards so I was super excited to get this one! It smells amazing in my diffuser and is a great scent to have on a cold evening, so warm and cozy smelling.
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Eat Clean Play Dirty by Danielle Duboise & Whitney Tingle - Retail Value $29.99 (found on sale here for $23.86)
This book is visually stunning! Honestly, the food photos are so vibrant, they look delicious, and highlight how artful food prep can be. I truly wish I ate this way all of the time. I've only just started diving into this book, but I am loving what I have read so far. A lot of their recommendations are easy, like drinking more water, not avoiding fats in food, that lemon water in the morning can be a game-changer for you and a few other tips. While the recipes look delicious and beautiful, I will say that for a busy mom, I know that I won't be able to make a lot of the recipes in this book. We all eat the same meals because it is just way easier, and a lot of these recipes aren't super kid-friendly unless your child started out eating this way (mine did not). There are a ton of really yummy recipes though that I plan to try on a night where I make something special just for myself and my husband! I am excited to learn more from this book though on easy ways to change your lifestyle!
From Amazon:
Since delivering their first meals by bicycle in 2012, Whitney and Danielle have changed thousands of lives across the country and garnered a long list of celebrity devotees including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, and Oprah. With Eat Clean, Play Dirty, they have gathered the vibrant, delicious dishes that clients and fans crave and make it possible to recreate the Sakara magic in their own kitchens. Every recipe is backed by Sakara’s roots in nutritional science—honed over years of studying with doctors, scientists and healers of all kinds. Alongside the recipes, readers will learn about superfood ingredients from around the world, discover the phytonutrients needed for true vitality, unearth the secrets of the microbiome, and master tangible lifestyle tricks for balancing lifelong health with ultimate happiness. It’s Sakara’s signature blend of science, sexiness, irreverence, and light-filled intention. The ultimate wellness cookbook has arrived. Celebrate abundance. Say yes to body love. And don’t forget to break some rules.
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Pastrybase Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Mix - Retail Value $6.50
Let me start by saying that I somehow messed up my icing. It was still delicious, it just didn't come out as a buttercream should. I am not a baker, so I honestly don't know what I did wrong, I even asked my mom and she wasn't too sure. It could have been that my butter wasn't warm enough, maybe I used too little, maybe I didn't leave it in the mixer long enough. Anyway, it was super liquid instead of being a thick buttercream. Again, still usable and totally delicious, my kids ate it right out of the bowl! All I had to do was add milk and butter to the mix and bam, frosting! It also made a ton which I appreciate as a frosting lover. The directions also give you options on how to make it vegan. This was a really fun activity to do with my kids and even though it didn't turn out just right, the cinnamon creamy flavor was incredible!
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Pastry Base Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Mix - Retail Value $8.00
These cupcakes were amazing and so easy to make! The recipe gives you a vegan option, but for the recipe I went with, all I had to do was add oil, milk, and eggs to the mixture. They baked in about 16 minutes and turned out so soft and fluffy, with enough to make 12 large or 36 mini cupcakes. The pumpkin spice tasted like something I would get from a bakery. My kids were able to join in on the baking fun, which made for a really fun snowy morning. The last photo is my daughter Philomena patiently or not patiently waiting for the cupcakes to bake! The cupcake mix is made with Gluten-Free Flour (Sweet White Rice Flour, Whole Grain Brown Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Whole Grain Sweet White Sorghum Flour, Tapioca Flour, Xanthan Gum), 100% pure organic cane sugar, dried pumpkin, cinnamon, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), aluminum-free baking powder (monocalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch), 100% pure ground vanilla beans, sea salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. While these did have egg and milk in them, I still felt like the mixture was a tad on the healthier side of things as far as cupcakes go so it felt like a less guilty indulgence for us all. What a yummy treat to bake together!
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Blush Mariposa Spritzer Glasses - Retail Value $14.95
These glasses are really lovely and I love that they are glass instead of plastic. They have a vintage look to them with a hint of modern sleekness. The coral and gold colors make me think of a glamorous movie star in the '50s drinking a spritzer by a pool. My husband really loves making fancy cocktails when the weather is warm for us to enjoy on our deck when the kids go to bed, so I could see us using these for those evenings. I cannot wait and what a solid glass set to add to our collection!
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Cakewalk Party Supplies, Paper Tags & Flatware - Listed Value $17.49
This party supply set is super cute, I just wish I was having a party or gathering anytime soon. It gives me major "Girls Night" or Galentine's Day vibes which I totally love! I can see these eco-friendly flatware sets used for an outdoor party or picnic set at a table with a ton of flowers. The tags would be perfect for a name tag for a seating chart or a tag for a party favor. This set feels so chic, and I really can envision the perfect party to use these for. I am going to tug these away in hopes of getting to use them this summer, maybe even for a small gathering with my immediate family!
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Vacewear Fabric Vase Sleeves - Listed Value $10.00
I honestly wasn't super sure about these vase sleeve covers. I have a large collection of antique vases that I purchased and have kept since my wedding many years ago so I can't say that I have any vases that I would want to cover. However, after looking at the Vace website I am now totally on board with these sleeves, I just wish I hadn't received the white cover. The website shows beautiful reds, lilac, and even a fishnet cover. They really do totally change the look of a vase and add this beautiful texture. I could see these being great to use for an event or to simply add a little pop of color. I am really loving the photo on the Vace website of the deep red roses with the red vase sleeve, so chic! While I am not super pumped about the color sleeve I received, I was instantly inspired and totally see the value in this product after browsing the Vace site.
Verdict: December's box was a mix of some hits and misses. I absolutely loved receiving the cupcake and frosting kits! These were such a treat and a fun activity to do with my kids. Plus, what an easy item to keep in your pantry to throw a yummy dessert together quickly in a pinch if you are having guests over. The glass set was really well made, I was happy to see that they were glass instead of plastic making them feel very chic. They feel perfect for a cold cocktail on a summer evening, I can't wait to use them with one of my husband's signature cocktails on our deck this summer! The cookbook really is more of a lifestyle book, filled with healthful tips and recipes that can help you to create an entire lifestyle change. The book really mean an entire food overhaul for me personally, but I appreciate the small steps that they provide to help you build to healthier eating habits. This month's theme was 'celebrate' and I totally see that in the curation. However, December celebrations feel a bit more cozy and warm for me personally, while I thought this curation had a big summer vibe. I really enjoyed the products this month, but by looking at everything I would have guessed this was a July box instead of December. That is just my personal opinion though, and someone else might see this box as a fun take on December celebration decor. The estimated retail value is $129.93, well above the $44.95 monthly cost including free shipping. While this month's box was a mix of hits and misses for me, I always enjoy the quality and learning about new brands and products that I might not have heard of before.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? January boxes are now shipping!
Value Breakdown: This box costs $44.95 + free shipping, which means that each of the 9 items in the box has an average cost of $4.99.
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What do you think of the Bombay & Cedar December "Celebrate" Box?
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