This quote ties with what Rumpel says about love “Love is the most powerful magic of all.” and “If you can bottle love, you can do anything.”
I believe that whatever Rumpel wants, whatever his agenda, he needs great power for it. Yes, we learn in this episode that Rumpel is “the most powerful man in the world”, but apparently not powerful enough to do what he wants to do.
Daniel asked in the podcast (I think it was him) why he needed a love potion. That potion with the hairs is NOT a love potion! It’s bottled love! Pure power!
I think Rumpel did this whole thing (and for this theory I’m saying he wanted the dark curse to happen) so that he’d have a major happy ending and with it could somehow channel all true love that comes with it, thus harnessing power until he has enough for whatever his objective is.
– from “I am invested in your future.” Heart of Darkness
Ok, so the rest isn’t really right, but he truly wanted the bottled love, because he needed greater power for something. 