15 years ago I subscribed to a coffee-of-the-month service. Every now and then they would throw in a mug or something else coffee related. It was always such a pleasure to open that box and take a whiff of whatever exotic blend had found me that month.
A while back I found out about Turntable Kitchen. Every month they send out a box containing a 7-inch vinyl, 3 seasonal recipes, 1-2 premium ingredients, pairings & tasting notes, & a digital download code for a mix tape of tunes to enjoy during your meal. Food + music = heaven, right? I ♥ this idea so much. (See their promo video to help fall further in love.)
So it was only recently that I discovered that subscription boxes are like a thing now. A lot of the ones I first came across were filled with beauty products, and most of those products seemed suited for those in the clubbing age-range. But apparently if you live in the right country, you can get a boxful of surprises from any number of categories.
Sadly Australia is, of course, a bit lacking in this department. What is available, for the most part, seems to pale in comparison with what you can get in the U.S. or U.K., for instance. However, I wanted to make a list to keep track of which boxes are available here in the event that I feel I have a bunch of disposable income in the future. (Prices are at the time of this writing.)
**ECO**
No Tox Box – ($25/mo.) “get a box of natural, organic & eco products delivered to your door every month”
Native Box – ($15/mo.) “monthly subscription of Australian eco-friendly & sustainable products that are healthier, safer & better for you & our planet.”
**BEAUTY**
Bella Box – ($15/mo.) “5 deluxe beauty samples sent to your door each month. Be the first to try the latest in beauty and cosmetics. Discover new products you will love.”
Beauty Basket – ($15/mo.) “Delivery is free, beauty baskets contain 5 miniatures and samples of the newest cosmetics, tailoured to your beauty profile needs.”
Glossy Box – ($21/mo.) “Each month we curate a box of 5 luxury travel-sized beauty products for you to lather, blend, soak, spray, buff, and groom. Indulge and experience luxury at its finest.”
Lust Have It – ($15/mo.) 5-6 premium beauty samples per month
Petits Fives – Launching 2013. Looks like there will be men’s & women’s options.
**FOOD**
Crave Good Food – ($50/mo.) “Crave Good Food was launched from a desire to support small to medium sized independent food makers & producers whose creations are not easily accessible or stocked in supermarket chains.”
Europe in a Box – ($53/mo.) “Packed with delicious products, educational, cultural and culinary information, Europe in a Box brings new flavours directly to your doorsteps. Highlighting several European culinary destinations each month, the subscription service provides an ever-changing mix of hand-picked gourmet foods and drinks.”
Harvest Box – ($8/box) Snack boxes delivered weekly on any day(s) you choose.
Urban Locavore (WA only) – ($50/mo.) “Each month we hand pick the best products in WA and deliver them to the Perth Metropolitan area.”
uTaste – ($29/mo.) “uTaste is a delicious collection of gourmet treats in one box. Our professional curators scour the country for decadence. Each month we select the most amazing treats we can find, box them up and ship them to you direct.” Weirdly, they don’t mention anything about being Aussie, aside from the URL.
**KIDS**
Bambino Box – ($21/mo.) “An innovative and convenient way to experience amazing products designed for the love of our lives… delivered to your door monthly!”
Bizzy Box – ($20/mo.) “Monthly themed activities that ignite creativity, imagination & logical thinking! A craft box a month posted to your door. For kids aged 3-7.”
Twinkly Tots – ($25/mo.) “We aim to provide mums with the best baby products curated by our panel of mums in a regular monthly discovery package.”
**Internationals (who ship to AU)**
Not Another Bill – Love, love the items found here. (And such lovely design too.) May be worth the international shipping price.
Quarterly – From what I can tell, these are mini-subscriptions (3 months long) that are curated by notable individuals. Prices vary.