I Brought This $4 Trader Joe’s Find to a Party — And It’s the Only Host Gift I Ever Want to Give

As a thankful guest, I try to always bring a host gift when I go to parties or events. Usually, it’s a bottle of wine. But as more people are ditching alcohol for any number of reasons, I’ve been trying to switch up my gift to be something more universally appealing.

And something recently caught my eye: I saw writer L. Daniela Alvarez’s post on Apartment Therapy about bringing fresh eucalyptus from Trader Joe’s as a host gift (you can get a bundle for $3.99). I love flowers and plants — both receiving and giving them — so I knew I wanted to give it a shot. Granted, Alvarez made a garland with theirs, and I’m definitely not that crafty. So a simple bunch of fresh eucalyptus it is.

I also love the idea because of the benefits of eucalyptus on its own. Aside from smelling great, it has both health and spiritual benefits.

“In floriography, the secret language of flowers, eucalyptus carries the meanings of strength, protection, purification, loftiness, and ‘I watch over you,’” says Jesse Navatta, co-owner of The Floriography Fellows, a Chicago-based company offering bouquets, floriography classes, and floral spell jars. “With its height and grandeur, it is easy to see why it takes on these meanings,” Navatta says. When it’s not only used as a bouquet, “this verdant giant has antimicrobial properties historically used to treat colds, fungal infections, and to dress wounds,” they explain. “Eucalyptus has also been used to alleviate pain, boost the immune system, and as a natural insect repellent.”

It also looks nice standing up in a vase and smells great.

Lucky for me, Trader Joe’s tends to have a pretty bountiful selection of eucalyptus every time I go. I stopped to grab some recently on the way to my friend Lauren’s house for a small get-together she was having for her birthday. Lauren’s a little witchy like me, so I knew she’d appreciate the magical qualities of the bundle as well. Navatta and Hollister note that eucalyptus is perfect for removing negative energy from a space and releasing spiritual blockages. You can even add the fresh leaves to a floor wash to capitalize on the cleansing properties.

By the time I got to Lauren’s house, my car smelled like a spa. (I may have smacked the bundle around the inside of my car to enjoy the scent even more.) I’m not entirely sure what happened to the eucalyptus after I left, but during the party, Lauren put it in a vase, and I noticed that people would walk a little slower past it and take a deeper breath as they passed through the kitchen. Basically, the bundle was a hit.

The success of the eucalyptus bundle — as well as the selection of plants at Trader Joe’s — has inspired me to try and swap the greenery out from time to time with other aromatherapy favorites. When the store has fresh lavender, I plan to grab a bunch of that for parties, too, because it’s got such a lovely smell and promotes relaxation. Myrtle could be another great choice, with a lemon-ish woody scent that gives you a boost of energy as you pass it. I think my friends and family are going to enjoy the gifts they’ve got coming their way.