Silver, Gold, or Crypto? …Nope
I want something I can sniff, trade, or use for spiders.
A few years ago, I bought a tiny bottle of cedarwood oil for $8. I didn’t think much of it at the time, I just needed a bug deterrent that didn’t smell like chemicals. I took the top off, left it on top of my small box of silver coins in my closet, and forgot about it.
A week later, I opened the door and noticed a subtle, grounded scent that made my shirts smell like a cedar grove. For me, a pleasant aroma. I hadn’t spilled a drop. That bottle had just quietly worked its magic. It did not evaporate quickly, either!
That was the moment I started thinking: maybe my backup plan shouldn’t be silver or crypto. Maybe it should smell good.
Why I Stash Oils, Not Coins
I’m not anti-crypto. Or gold. Or silver. But I don’t want to build a large pile of metal or cold wallets in my closet anymore.
I want something:
- Useful in daily life
- Easy to give
- Tradeable if things get weird
- Beautiful, compact, and good for morale
Essential oils hit all four.
They’re not just aromatherapy. They last for years, especially when stored right. They take up almost no space. And when you pick the right ones, they hold emotional, medicinal, and practical value.
What Can You Actually Do With Them?
- Gifts: I fill mini vials with blends and give them as housewarming, birthday or holiday sets. You can make a dozen tiny gifts out of one bottle. (Bonus tip I learned: Adding a bit of vanilla extract or vanilla oil to a blend can double the persistence of the scent — especially useful in mosquito repellent mixes.)
- Barter: A bottle of lavender or tea tree oil might be more welcome than a bag of rice, depending on the situation. (And way easier to carry.)
- Everyday fixes: Peppermint for headaches. Cedarwood for bugs. Tea tree for mildew. These aren’t luxuries — they’re little tools.
Plus, they just feel good to own. A collection of oils is like having a well-stocked spice rack for your nervous system.
My Top Oils to Keep On Hand
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You don’t need 30 oils. I didn´t pick these based on sales charts, but on what holds up over time: emotional power, multiple uses, long shelf life, and how easy they are to gift or trade. This is less “what’s trending” and more “what you’ll be glad to have on hand.”
- Cedarwood — cheap, grounding, long-lasting; doubles as a bug deterrent
- Sandalwood — pricey but timeless; feels like wealth in a bottle
- Peppermint — energizing, great for headaches or stuffy air
- Tea Tree — antifungal, cleaning power, familiar scent
- Frankincense — emotional depth; makes a stunning gift
- Rose — my personal favorite; emotionally potent, and instantly luxurious. And as a store of value, it’s right up there with sandalwood — just less well known. You pay for purity here.
Where I Get Mine
I don’t sell oils. No MLMs. No subscription boxes. NO affiliate links in this article.
I usually buy from:
- Bulk Apothecary (not flashy, but reliable with fair prices)
- Eden’s Garden (beautiful gift-ready singles)
- Amazon (for mini droppers, bottles, caps…)
Note that the normal grade of oils gets the job done just fine. Paying extra for certification may not be called for when buying from the above vendors. If you get the “store of wealth” hint, an idea worth research, buy the highest grade oil you can.
Bulk Math: Does the Stash Add Up?
When I first experimented with rebottling oils, I sourced frankincense in bulk and broke it down into 10 ml dropper bottles. All-in, the essential oil, with caps, glass bottles, and basic labels — my cost came to about $1–$2 per bottle. That’s for something I could gift, trade, or stash for years. A similar bottle might retail for $8–$15 online.
Back in that day, I used those bottles as unexpected thank-you gifts for people who ordered my diffusers. High perceived value, low cost to me, and everyone remembered them.
These days, I’m not trying to run a business — I just like having things around that hold value and make my closet smell pleasant.
I’m not saying essential oils are the new currency.
But I am saying this:
- If I had to gift something last-minute: I’d grab a vial of peppermint.
- If I needed to trade something small but meaningful: Frankincense.
- If I wanted to feel prepared, calm, and a little bit rich: Sandalwood.
- If I feel a bit bitchy, I reach for the Rose — the proven heart softener. Works for me. Works on others.
Not bad for a piggy bank that now smells this good.
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