Unboxing: BTS 2021 Holiday Collection — Little Wishes Official Merch

My order from BTS' 2021 Holiday Collection arrived, just in time. This year's holiday collection is called Little Wishes, which is the same theme across all of HYBE's artists. There weren't a ton of things that piqued my interest, mostly because holiday-themed products are not usually my cup of tea, but I did pick up two items because, you know, 'tis the season or whatever.

BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box (Outer Box Front)
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box (Outer Box Back)

The first one is the Holiday Special Box. It's a little bit like an advent calendar in the sense that it's one big box holding a lot of smaller gifts in a numbered format, but it's not an advent calendar as there are only 7 boxes and there is no countdown to Christmas Day. The contents of the Holiday Special Box are:

• Box #1: A set of member photocards (7 cards)
• Box #2: A set of ornaments (one group photocard, one acrylic tree, one acrylic tree cut-out)
• Box #3: A secret letter from BTS, "with the holiday gifts BTS wants to give to ARMY," illustrated and handwritten by the members; comes rolled up in a mini glass bottle
• Box #4: Ribbon roll featuring the names of the BTS members
• Box #5: A fragrance sachet of the same white musk scent in the BTS 2021 Holiday Collection Scented Candle
• Box #6: Glittery tree holiday badge
• Box #7: A set of member selfie photocards (7 cards)

Okay, I will admit that the Holiday Special Box, despite being adorable and beautifully packaged, is not particularly useful. But for those of us who collect photocards, there are two sets — one featuring the holiday photoshoot, one featuring their selfies — included in here, which are not sold separately. (Note that the 2021 Holiday Collection does not have any photocard packs for sale — a rarity for BTS collections.) It also includes a badge, which are also a big collectible item in the BTS world. For many, the inclusion of these would make the Special Box worth it. 

BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box (Inside)
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #1: Set of Member Gift Cards
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #2: Set of Ornaments
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #3: Members' Secret Letter (Scroll in Bottle)
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #3: Members' Secret Letter
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #4: Ribbon Roll
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #4: Ribbon Roll
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #5: Fragrance Sachet
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #5: Fragrance Sachet
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #6: Holiday Badge
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Holiday Special Box
Gift #7: Set of Member Selfie Photocards

However, for $45.52 USD, I expected some higher quality or more specialized items. The ornaments, for example, could have included acrylic BTS and ARMY logos instead of a non-descript holiday tree (the fact that the cut-out of the tree and the outline of the tree are considered two separate ornaments is a little cheap, to be honest). Or something similar to the foldable dice that came with the Festa D-Day Calendar would've been cute as an ornament instead of a photocard, which could be ruined really easily. Just putting the photocard in an acrylic frame would've made a far more decent ornament.

My only other qualm with this Special Box is the "fragrance sachet." Y'all, it is not a sachet. By definition, a sachet is a "a small perfumed bag used to scent clothes." The "sachet" in this box is literally a folded piece of card stock paper that was soaked with the fragrance, like those cards that you spray perfume on in a department store. It just screams, "CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP!" They really could've done something more here. Maybe make scented beads and put them in a little cloth bag, or some sort of scented potpourri in a pouch. Like, HYBE, I KNOW YOU HAVE THE MONEY.

BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Scented Candle
BTS 2021 Holiday Collection: Little Wishes — Scented Candle

Anyway, speaking of fragrance, the only other product I bought from this collection is the scented candle, which shares the same fragrance as the sachet. The official description is: "A scented candle with BTS' signature heavy white musk fragrance." Now, I don't know what makes this their "signature" fragrance, as they haven't had any other products with this scent, but it is LOVELY. It smells exactly like The Body Shop's White Musk fragrance, which was my favourite scent ever growing up, so there's a hugely nostalgic element to this for me. 

It smells like a combination of jasmine, ylang-ylang, lily, amber, and musk — soft, powdery, and mellow. It's somewhat earthy and slightly sweet with a gentle warmth, and despite its floral undertones, it's totally unisex and never cloying. I'm obsessed. And unlike the BE "Blue & Grey" candle they released last year, this candle comes with a rubber-sealed lid so it really holds the scent in and effectively prevents smoke from spreading after its put out. I only wish they didn't put a "limit one per person" policy on it. I would've bought at least another three to get me through the winter.