I have two small cloth bags that contain a cedar and sage mix. I put one in each shoe after I climb. My shoes consistently smell like sage! YAY! So I think that the cedar and sage mix is perfect. My climbing partner made her own bags out of pieces of panty hose and it worked just as well.

I think climbing progress is made simply by being in the gym when you can. It's less about how much you climb and more about how much you enjoy it. So climb on!