Kiko & Sven is a monthly box curated by the Kiko & Sven shop in San Diego, California. They feature gift items inspired by Japanese and Swedish design. They include items that are "often handmade, always unique", "from candles & soaps, to letterpress cards & ceramics."
Kiko & Sven offers two subscription sizes: Small Box for $36 a month and Full-Size Box for $48 a month.
This review is of the Small, $36 a month, box.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Kiko & Sven
The Cost: $48 for the Full-Size box; $36 for the Small Box. Shipping for the Small Box was $10.17.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get free shipping on your first box!
CODE: YESSANDIEGO
The Products: The Full-Size box contains 5–7 items, and the Small Box contains 3–4 items
Ships to: USA
Check out more Lifestyle Subscription Boxes in the Women's Subscription Box Directory!
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This month's box has a home theme. Although it doesn't mention it on the card, there was a color theme as well, since everything was in shades of cream and grey.
Now Designs Elmwood Coasters, set of four – Value $9.99
I've received a lot of coasters from subscription boxes, and these are probably the most functional ones I've tried. The top resists water and the cork on the bottom helps protect the table. I think they will last a long time, and the motif on top is charming.
Danica Angle Crochet Dishcloths – Value $15
These beautiful dishcloths measure 12" square and were made in India. The diagonal pattern makes the traditional technique feel more modern. They are very soft.
Daiso Stainless Steel Soap – Value $5.88? (similar item)
According to the item description, "the electric charge of stainless steel soap removes strong odors like fish and onions from the hands that are otherwise hard to remove. Just rub and rinse off." I've seen these around and have always been curious about whether or not they work. I'd heard anecdotally that they do, but why couldn't you get the same result from rubbing your hands on the sink edge?
I rubbed fresh coffee grounds on my hands and then rinsed them off. My hands still smelled strongly of coffee when I tried using the soap. Sadly, they smelled like coffee afterward too, and so did the soap. I wish that it had worked better, but I'm glad that my curiosity is finally satisfied. I still think it was a fun item to include in the box.
Now Designs Crochet Potholder – Value $9.95
Danica/Now Designs is one company, and this was the third item from them. This handmade potholder is so thick that I initially mistook it for a trivet! This will come in handy for holiday baking. I really like the texture and natural coloration.
Decorative Pumpkin – Value $4.95?
This little pumpkin finishes off the box. I love pumpkin decorations; they feel autumnal. I like how they picked a cream one to coordinate with the other items. (I couldn't find this exact pumpkin online but am basing the value on similar ones.)
Verdict: I estimate a retail value of $45.77, which is close to the $46.17 cost after shipping. I like all the items – even the soap was a fun experiment. Items from this box seem to melt into my everyday life; I'm still using things from past boxes on a daily basis, weeks and months later. However, the retail value is consistently right around the cost of the box, which makes it a hard sell when so many others offer a better value. I still really enjoy this subscription as it's a good fit for me, but they'd probably have more subscribers if they could get the RV just a little higher.
What do you think of October's Kiko & Sven Box? If you've tried steel soap before, did it work?
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