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.
I love the modern clean aesthetic from Cloth & Paper so I was definitely intrigued by a box called Aesthete! This is the first edition of their deluxe quarterly boxes and the description felt somewhat vague, yet exciting with the promise of luxury lifestyle items ranging from makeup to home goods valued at $300 or more and curated around a unique theme. I am not sure that this box had a very obvious theme to me other than luxury items with a clean, minimal aesthetic, all of which are fitting for this brand, but I am viewing it as more of a "favorite things" edition which covers this broad range of products. Let's check it out!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
What's in the Inaugural Aesthete Box?
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This little card folds out to tell us about our items, their value, and some even included a coupon code to use for future purchases.
Genuine Leather Vanity Case by Cloth & Paper - Listed Value $79
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Let's start with our deluxe Cloth & Paper item. Each box is promised to have at least one deluxe C&P item along with items from other brands. This pouch is made from genuine pebble leather and it's a great size (4.5in. x 7.5in.) for holding smaller items. I love all of the details like the soft leather, the gold hardware, and the linen lining which features a smaller pocket on one side. It feels luxurious but the cloth lining makes it feel like it would be great for everyday use. For now, it will hold some of my new goodies from this box, but I think eventually it will be a great bag to throw into my larger purse. It feels much too nice to use for a toiletry bag! It did arrive tucked safely in a little dust bag which you can see if you swipe through.
Fawn Eau de Parfum by Ellis Brooklyn, 1.7oz. - Retail Value $100
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This item is almost a third of the total value of this box, so I think it is safe to consider it a "hero" item. The packaging is beautiful and perfectly matches the minimal yet luxury aesthetic. It is described as having "milky coconut tones," which I completely agree with and there is also a little bit of a powdery amber musk scent to it. I found it to be very sophisticated and a little bit sweet. As for the throw, you can smell it when close to me, but not overwhelmingly so. It's the kind of scent that would definitely linger once you left the room and leave you wanting more. It's a great day-to-night perfume as it just borders on the edge of being sultry.
If you've read some of my reviews, you may know that I am not a big perfume fan in general because they cause me headaches, but a heavy spray to my wrist didn't bother me after wearing it all night. I am really hoping this remains true because I actually really love this warm scent!
Nail & Cuticle Oil by French Girl Organics, 0.3oz. - Retail Value $24
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This organic nail and cuticle oil is filled with incredible ingredients such as tamanu, hemp, meadowfoam, and pomegranate seed oils along with sunflower, argan, and jojoba oils. It also has geranium, rosemary, lemon, sea buckthorn, although the scent was still very light. It absorbed very quickly and really did feel hydrating and nourishing to my nails and nail beds which could certainly use a little extra love these days! I love the rollerball applicator which seems to put out just the right amount of product, too. This was a great item that I didn't actually know I needed until I used it!
Barrel Cup by Bombshbee - Retail Value $28
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This cup was an unexpected find and it certainly meets the classic and minimal aesthetic while also providing function. The glass itself holds 8 ounces and is a double layer of Borosilicate Glass cushioned by a thick silicone sleeve. The lid is also silicone and fits snugly on top with a small hole for drinking out of. It is very stylish and the dark double layer of glass is certainly an upgrade from my current to-go cup! It protects your hands from the heat while still keeping your drink warm and it's just the right size to hold comfortably in your hand.
Oat Milk Dark Chocolate by Raaka, 1.8 oz. - Retail Value $6
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Can you call it a luxury box if there isn't a bar of chocolate to indulge in? While my bar arrived cracked, it certainly didn't affect the flavor of this vegan, organic, non-GMO 55% unroasted dark chocolate bar! It was definitely dark but had just the right amount of sweetness from the maple sugar. It was a tad creamy and finished with just a hint of cinnamon. While I might not opt for this flavor again due to personal preference, I would definitely be interested in trying some of the other delicious bars they have on their site due to the quality. Jasmine mint sounds so out of the ordinary that I feel like I need to try it now, while bourbon cask-aged sounds like another winner.
Lip Care Trio by CLE Cosmetics - Retail Value $48
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Nothing has ever felt so luxurious and unique as this lip care trio; the packaging is just so cool and different! It features a lip peel, oil, and gloss all in one little square (that does not come apart). You can use them separately or together for the full experience.
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When you're ready to use them, the top flips open to reveal the lids and a small mirror, and while the oil and gloss have doe-foot applicators, the peel had this unique tip to apply it with. The lids don't actually screw on either which is super interesting. I have tried them all separately and together and while there is nothing major to report, I blame that on the fact that my lips are incredibly dry at the moment. I do love the way it feels on my lips and I'm trying to be consistent with using the peel and oil in hopes that it will revive them! The peel is a very thin liquid that dries quickly, while the oil is slightly sticky, thick, and moisturizing. If you swipe through you can see a swatch of the gloss which provides a nice shine with just the faintest tint of color.
Leche Bath Salts by Linne Botanicals - Retail Value $30
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Being that I am pregnant at the moment, Epsom salt baths have been my best friend these days for all of the aches and pains that carrying a baby can bring. I was so excited to receive a large bag of bath salts and so pleased that it not only contained Epsom salt but also Dead Sea and Himalayan salt which are great for your skin. The addition of coconut milk powder and honey crystals gave it just a hint of sweetness and added a milky layer to the bath. I decided to have a soak right away and it was so soothing and relaxing. My skin felt smooth afterward and while the scent was not terribly noticeable in the bath, it still made for a lovely soak!
It looks like they only have one bath salt listed on their site right now which is a bit different from the one we received since ours was exclusive to the box, but it contains similar ingredients, so I'm sure it is just as lovely! It is difficult to find bath salts with such minimal ingredients these days, but I think the price of this one is fair, so this might just be one of those coupons that I take advantage of!
Chelbesa Gedeb Ethiopian Coffee by Bluestone Lane Coffee, 12 oz - Retail Value $19
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While this is listed as whole bean coffee, I actually received a bag of ground coffee which doesn't bother me, but for those who are a bit more serious about their coffee, that little detail may be a bit of a disappointment. This is an organic, single-origin roast from Ethiopia with notes of chocolate, creamsicle, citrus, and orange. It fell somewhere in the mid-roast range for me, medium-bodied with nice toasty notes. I don't feel like I got much of the citrus notes until the end, but it was certainly a pleasant cup of coffee!
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $149 per quarter
The total retail value of everything in this box comes to about $334 (an average of $41.75 for each of the 8 items), which is $185 over the cost of this box, or even more if you were able to get in at the early discount cost! I think there is also some added value in the coupons if you were to fall in love with any of these brands. With the perfume's value being about a third of the total, I think this could lead some to value the box less if they weren't a fan of perfume and while typically, I am one of those people since I am very particular about perfume, I'm really happy with the scent of Fawn, so in this case, I am happy with the value! High-end, unique, quality items and a beautiful aesthetic; this is what I would expect of a luxury box from Cloth & Paper. I enjoyed my experience and felt that this was a nice debut!
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Key Takeaways
I really enjoyed this box and the curation felt very luxurious with a nice mix of the simple pleasures that most will enjoy, although I didn't notice much of a theme other than everything having a very minimal and classic aesthetic. I will certainly enjoy my coffee, chocolate, new cup, and beautiful pouch, and the perfume is better than expected but the other items are what stood out to me most. Surprisingly they are all beauty items, which is not something I was actively in search of!
- Item I Never Knew I Needed: Cuticle Oil
- Most Unique Item: Lip Trio
- Most Useful Item: Bath Salts
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, this box is currently sold out, but you can sign up for the spring box waitlist here! They sold out of their first box very quickly, so I recommend signing up soon if you're interested! More from Cloth & Paper:
We will be opening up new spots in March for the April Box. Anyone who signs up in March is locked in for all boxes moving forward (unless they cancel).
Are you going to subscribe to this new box from Cloth & Paper?
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