I've never got past the golden quality Power/Awareness. Just my thought, I think you have to wait for the best quality (red) before using any golden treasured tool essence, as the lower quality ones may be a waste coz of their cap. Whereas if you keep leveling your tool and reach red quality, you'd be assured to have the most use of each golden treasured tool essence, unless you can get it back from recycling.

I get it that the return is possible. But would it be much better to push the upper limit of the tool trait to red quality so that excess exp from golden essence wouldn't go to waste? I'm terrible at explaining, but I hope you do get my point there.