Is there a simple way to actually learn how spices work without ruining a bunch of meals?

Hey everyone, total beginner here. I recently started cooking my own meals instead of ordering out every night and I keep running into the same problem. I buy spices because a recipe calls for them, use half a teaspoon, and then have no idea what to do with the rest of the jar. My spice cabinet is filling up fast and I honestly couldn't tell you what most of them actually taste like on their own.

I tried smelling them to get a sense of things but that only helps so much. I also have no idea which spices go well together or which ones work for what types of food. I bought cumin for one recipe and now it just sits there. Same with paprika and coriander.

Should I be toasting them, blooming them in oil, or just throwing them in? I keep seeing those terms but recipes never really explain the reasoning behind it.

Would love to hear how you all figured this out when you were starting. Did you just experiment and make mistakes, or is there a more logical way to build that knowledge? Any tips for a complete beginner would be really appreciated.