Nope, No Silver, Gold, or Crypto.

 Nope, No Silver, Gold, or Crypto

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—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: 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 stash of oils is like having a well-stocked spice rack for your nervous system.


My Top Oils to Keep On Hand

You don’t need 30 oils. I picked these not 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. (It is!)
  • 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, universally loved, 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 to Source Oils (Without the MLM or Mystery)

None of these are paid mentions. I’ve used all of them personally.

Before you start filling drawers and glove boxes with peppermint and rose, it helps to match where you’re buying to why you’re buying.

If you want… Go with…
Reliable bulk oils at fair prices Bulk Apothecary, Plant Therapy
High-end, rare Quiet Wealth Oils Eden Botanicals, Liberty Natural
Co-op, refill, or resale orders Liberty Natural, New Directions Aromatics (NDA)
Ready-for-gifting packaging Plant Therapy, Bulk Apothecary

Liberty Natural pulls double duty—it offers rare oils and large-volume ordering options. Some small brands resell these exact sources under prettier labels.

How to Choose Your Source

Ask: “What am I buying this for?”

Your Intended Use Look For Suppliers Who…
Personal care or gifts Offer small bottles, attractive packaging
Refill or resale Ship unlabeled bulk with documents (COA, GC/MS, SDS)
Long-term value or scent storage Provide rare oils in durable containers (like aluminum)
Budget-minded but solid quality Offer fair-priced, mid-to-high grade oils
Want to gift or split from bulk Sell large sizes you can rebottle yourself

Buy for your use—not just your budget.


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.

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 amazing.


I’m not saying essential oils are the new currency.

But I am saying this:

  • If I feel a bit bitchy, I reach for the Rose—the proven heart softener. (for myself and others)
  • 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.

Not bad for a piggy bank that now smells this good.