Bombay & Cedar is a luxury lifestyle subscription box for women that focuses on essential oils, diffusers, skincare, books, snacks, and other products. For $44.95 per month, you receive two essential oils and 6-8 full-size products with a retail value of $120+. 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 (with a retail value of at least $100).
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
FYI, COVID-19 Update: Bombay & Cedar is experiencing significant shipping delays. Keep up to date on progress and estimated timelines here.
First Impressions
Last month’s box debuted the inclusion of the Bombay and Cedar essential oils with a nifty rollerball applicator, so I’m interested to see if that was a one-off or if this month will offer up the same type of signature product.
What's Inside The Box
The box arrives with a booklet of information that lists the products and highlights some of the brands found within for this month's "Prepared" theme.
BOMBAY AND CEDAR Thief Essential Roll-on and Tea Tree Essential Roll-on, 10 ml each - Retail Value $21.00 (Thief) and $14.00 (Tea Tree)
Hooray, the roll-ons have made a reappearance this month! Although I’m not a huge fan of essential oils in general, I am really enjoying this rollerball applicator. I find the roll-ons to be much more convenient for myself as a person. You simply apply to pulse points and breathe deep. Applying to my wrists works best for me because it’s the furthest place away from my nostrils (I tend to be sensitive to scents). The ‘Thief’ roll-on is formulated with a special oil blend known to help support the immune system and fight off infection, while the ‘Tea Tree’ roll-on acts as an antifungal and can help soothe skin irritations. Whether or not these essential oils perform as they say they will, I’m unsure, but with the roll-ons, it doesn’t hurt to give them a try.
BOMBAY AND CEDAR Pre-Stink Toilet Spray in Peppermint + Eucalyptus, 60 ml - Retail Value $16.00
I am thrilled about the inclusion of Bombay and Cedar’s pre-stink toilet spray in this month’s box. I’m unsure if it’s a product new to the brand, or if it had been available for purchase on the website all along, but in any case, I had not been aware of such a product from them. I had been trying to make my previous toilet spray stretch well beyond its lifespan, so this came in the nick of time. Like most other toilet sprays, this is super easy to use. When you gotta go, you gotta go, so when the need strikes, simply spritz this into the toilet bowl between three to five times before letting loose. Always remember to shake the bottle before use, or the odor-trapping properties might not activate properly. I really enjoy the scent of this too; the peppermint and eucalyptus combo is definitely more ideal for me personally as opposed to a floral spray. I find that floral-scented sprays seem to have a harder time banishing odor and instead mingle to create a nauseating scent that’s worse than any NYC street on the hottest summer’s day.
TOM & LUKE Snackaballs in Original Dark Chocolate, 99 g - Estimated Retail Value $3.75
I’ve had the pleasure of tasting Tom & Luke’s spin on a chocolate snack once before, and I have to admit, I enjoyed it. I’m not a huge fan of chocolate myself; I prefer fruit flavors to the standard chocolate and vanilla any day. These little snacks have a ‘natural’ cocoa flavor with a light coconut taste that peeks through. It’s a unique experience and definitely a more healthful choice than some of the other snacks out there. It doesn’t taste like a Hershey’s bar, but I didn’t expect it to; nor would I want it to (again, not the biggest chocolate fan). These have a nice smooth mouthfeel. I’ve eaten two or three of these in between meals and to my surprise, they held me over. Bonus points for being gluten free, vegan, and all-natural without any preservatives. Although it might take some getting used to, this product would be a wonderful alternative for anyone trying to make some healthier choices while still satisfying their sweet tooth.
EARTH SQUARED Makeup Bag - Estimated Retail Value $17.52
For me as a person, the design of this bag isn’t my cup of tea. These particular prints make me feel like I’m drinking tea but I’m old and not Angela Bassett old, like crusty, fossilized old. They just give me ‘grandma’s fabric couch’ vibes. Now, I know there are many people who adore this classic, vintage style, and I’m not knocking ya; to each their own. But I’ll pass this bag off to one of my friends who has that ‘I’m young but an old soul’ style. What I do appreciate about this makeup bag is the shape. It has a wide bottom that leads to a tapered top, allowing space for more storage. The zipper is sturdy, and the bag as a whole feels like it's of exceptional quality. I also love that the Earth Squared brand is a fair trade business that gives disadvantaged women the opportunity to support and improve their lives.
ALLISON STEWART The Family Disaster Organizer, 224 pages - Listed Value $17.99
This organizer is amazing! It looks like it was created by some ‘super mom’ that is incredibly organized and astoundingly productive. I strive for this level of preparedness. The book contains everything you need to know about how to handle medical emergencies, evacuation, and natural disasters. It breaks down everything you need to do or have on hand to navigate the situation safely. It’s a great way to collect and organize potential life-saving information that could help you survive any crisis all in one place and keep it easily accessible.
SOLEMATES Anti-Skid Pads, 3 pairs - Retail Value $15.00
What a cool product! I really enjoy these anti-skid pads. This packet comes with enough to apply to three different pairs of shoes. These are perfect for that new pair of heels, which tend to be much more slippery. Don’t want to risk being the highlight of the night in a bad way? Slap a pair of these ultra-thin, texturized anti-skid pads onto the bottom of your heels before going out. I love how fast and easy these are to apply. All you do is remove the adhesive from each pad and then stick it onto the shoe, being careful to remove any air gaps or bubbles. While they do work best on unused shoes, they can be applied to any clean shoe surface.
ROOT 7 Jungle Refracting Tumblers, 2-pack - Estimated Retail Value $12.50
I love, love, love these tumblers! Sadly, though, only one of mine survived the shipping trek to my front door. If the same thing happened to you, no sweat because the customer service team at Bombay and Cedar will be happy to assist. Now, back to these tumblers. I love how they feel in my hand. They are not too delicate and don’t feel like they might shatter in your grip at any second. Instead, they are thick and the bottom is weighty, which is perfect for me. Delicate items don’t usually fare too well in my house or in my presence, period, so I love that these tumblers can withstand general everyday use. The highlight of these is the jungle-themed refracting base that shines through, making the entire glass appear to be filled with tropical plants from certain angles. Of course, it works best with clear liquids.
Verdict
I truly enjoyed this month’s Bombay & Cedar Lifestyle Box! One of my favorite things, despite only one surviving, was the Root 7 refracting tumblers. The design is so fun and tropical, and I love that they have some heft to them. Allison Stewart’s ‘The Family Disaster Organizer’ is the very thing that I didn’t know I so badly needed; like, seriously, guys, I am absolutely unprepared for anything that could happen. Even though Earth Squared’s makeup bag doesn’t necessarily fit my aesthetic, the craftsmanship and quality clearly stand out to me, making this a re-giftable item. And if you hadn’t noticed, I also really like the Bombay and Cedar pre-stink toilet spray. I love getting useful, everyday things to try in subscription boxes. Tom and Luke’s Snackaballs are definitely growing on me. I enjoy that they have a more bitter cocoa flavor as opposed to sickly sweet milk chocolate. The Solemates anti-skid pads definitely prevented me from needing that disaster organizer after I wore a brand new pair of heels and had to make an emergency stop at Costco. Lastly, the Bombay and Cedar essential oil roll-ons: a staple of this box in redesigned packaging. Overall, this was a great box for me personally. I enjoyed the diversity in the curation and the pedestrian usefulness of some of the items.
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Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $44.95
VALUE BREAKDOWN
- Essential Oils: $35.00
- Pre-Stink Spray: $16.00
- Snackaballs: $3.75
- Makeup Bag: $17.52
- Disaster Organizer: $17.99
- Anti-Skid Pads: $15.00
- Tumblers: $12.50
The products this month have an estimated retail value of around $117.76, which is amazing for a $44.95 box.
To Wrap Up
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but order now to receive the April 2022 box while stocks last. The May beauty box will start shipping on May 20. Click here for more info.
What do you think of the Bombay & Cedar "Prepared" box?
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