Death can be a frightening prospect, riddled with uncertainty for people of all faiths and beliefs.

While we may have little clue or control over what happens to consciousness after death, our bodies are another story. Though most opt for traditional burials, if not tasteful cremation or scientific donation, there are a plethora of other options ranging from practical, quirky, to the deeply strange.

Don’t feel like reading? Watch our quick explainer.

Here’s a list of what you can do with your body or ashes after death, from most practical to the most disturbing.

Unusual, but practical

Rot the natural way in an egg-shaped tree-pod, or a biodegradable coffin by Natural Burial Company.

Become one with the forest by transplanting your DNA into a living tree with Biopresence.

Grow under the sea in a special coral reef through Eternal Reefs.

Donate your body to Plastination for display at Body Worlds.

Fun, but unorthodox

Go out with a bang in the sky with Heavens Above Fireworks.

Launch your ashes into space to orbit Earth with Celestis.

Shine forever as a certified, high quality diamond with LifeGem.

Discover new use as a birdbath, sundial, or stained glass with Scattering Ashes.

Measure post-death time in an hourglass with In the Light Urns.

Interesting, but questionable

Be in teddy bear’s belly with The Eddy Bear Company.

Become a bunch of pencils to write beyond the grave with Nadine Jarvis.

Immortalize your ashes in a Dorian Grey-style portrait, action figure, or life-size head with Cremation Solutions. Jeff Staabs (proprietor of Cremation Solutions) says about the heads, “they creep people out. They’re too real-looking, really. They look just like the person.”

Trap yourself in a snow globe purgatory with BullWorks.

Finally become a musical sensation in a record by AndVinyly.

Deeply strange

Really embody the whole death thing inside bullets by Holy Smokes.



Be stained into someone’s skin forever (or until they die too) with a tattoo by Red Inc.



Freeze your body for preservation and future resurrection with the Cryonics Institute.

Do any of these ashes after death solutions appeal to you? Take our quiz below to find out which suits you best.