12 Best Sephora Play Alternatives & Competitors (2026)

ScentBox runs a monthly fragrance subscription delivering four small vials chosen from a catalog of designer and niche scents. It emphasizes volume of samples over Scentbird's typical single-vial approach, allowing faster rotation through many fragrances at a comparable monthly fee. Users who want more discovery per shipment often prefer ScentBox, though it lacks Scentbird's option to easily redeem credits toward full bottles.

Birchbox provides personalized monthly beauty samples with a focus on discovery and education. It offers a subscription model with points for full-size purchases, differing from MBX by emphasizing data-driven personalization and a wider mix of mainstream brands rather than K-beauty curation.

FragranceNet operates as a discount retailer selling full bottles and travel sizes of designer perfumes at reduced prices without any subscription requirement. It suits shoppers who already know their preferred scents and want immediate full-size purchases rather than Scentbird's sampling model. Pricing is generally lower per milliliter than subscription services, but there is no curated monthly discovery element.

Birchbox provides personalized monthly beauty samples with a focus on discovery and education. It offers a subscription model with points for full-size purchases, differing from MBX by emphasizing data-driven personalization and a wider mix of mainstream brands rather than K-beauty curation.

Ipsy delivers glam bags with five beauty products monthly based on user quizzes. Its scale and influencer network provide more volume than MBX while maintaining similar subscription accessibility and occasional full-size upgrades.

Boxycharm sends four to five full-size makeup and skincare items monthly. It stands out from MBX with larger product sizes and a heavier emphasis on color cosmetics over curated K-beauty themes.

Ulta Beauty combines mass-market and prestige fragrances with salon services and a broad loyalty program. Its model differs from Scentbird by focusing on in-store pickup and frequent sales rather than curated monthly deliveries. Shoppers who value convenience, points accumulation, and occasional deep discounts on full bottles often choose Ulta over subscription sampling.

Glossybox features international beauty samples in themed boxes. Its European roots give it broader brand variety than MBX, though with less focus on meme or pop-culture inspired selections.

FabFitFun offers seasonal boxes with beauty, wellness, and lifestyle products. It differs from MBX by including non-beauty items and allowing customization, appealing to users wanting more than just cosmetics.

LuckyScent specializes in niche and artisanal fragrances with detailed scent descriptions and sample vials available for individual purchase. Unlike Scentbird's subscription, it operates as an à-la-carte discovery site for hard-to-find perfumes. Customers seeking rare or indie options rather than mainstream designer monthly deliveries often select LuckyScent.

Allure Beauty Box curates editor-approved products with a magazine tie-in. Compared to MBX it adds expert reviews and a more traditional beauty media angle.