Cedarwood Oil

Essential Oil · Juniperus virginiana

Cedarwood Oil

The grounding woods

A warm, dry, woody essential oil steam-distilled from cedar — a soft, grounding base note built on cedrol, long used to calm the mind and condition oily skin and scalp. Hover any measure to see where cedarwood sits on the scale.

Strength
Medium
Strong
Medium
Soft
How forceful the aroma is. Stronger oils dominate a blend; softer ones sit quietly in the background.
Volatility
Low
High
Medium
Low
How quickly the aroma evaporates. High-volatility notes flash off fast; low ones linger and anchor a blend.
Note
Base
Top
Middle
Base
Where it sits in a scent's arc. Top notes greet you first; base notes are the deep, lasting foundation.
Aroma
Woody
Fresh
Herbaceous
Woody
Earthy
The overall scent family — from bright and fresh through green and herbaceous to deep, woody and earthy.
The Basics

What it is

Cedarwood oil is steam-distilled from the wood of cedar trees — most commonly Virginian 'red cedar' (Juniperus virginiana) or Atlas cedar. It's a warm, dry, woody oil whose character comes largely from cedrol and cedrene.

A soft base note, it's long been used to bring a grounding, calming quality to blends, and to help condition oily skin and scalp. Like all essential oils, it's used well-diluted in a carrier.

Quick Facts

Botanical nameJuniperus virginiana
OriginNorth America
Plant partWood
ExtractionSteam-distilled
NoteBase
Main constituentCedrol
Also calledRed cedar oil
Where it comes from

The Tree & The Wood

Cedar tree

The Cedar

A tall, aromatic evergreen whose richly scented heartwood holds the oil.

Cedar wood

The Wood

Shavings and chips of the heartwood are steam-distilled to release the warm, woody oil.

Composition

The Aroma Profile

Cedarwood's character is built on woody sesquiterpenes. A typical breakdown:

Cedrol sesquiterpene alcohol
25%
Thujopsene sesquiterpene
25%
Cedrene sesquiterpene
20%
Other sesquiterpenes widorol & more
15%
Beyond the Aroma

What defines its character:

Cedrol
The signature woody alcohol behind cedarwood's calming, grounding scent.
Sesquiterpenes
Heavier molecules that make it a long-lasting base note.
Dry, Woody Tone
A soft, balsamic warmth that anchors and rounds a blend.
Why People Love It

Key Qualities

Grounding Base Note

Anchors blends with a warm, lasting woody depth.

Calming Character

A soft, settling aroma traditionally used to quiet the mind.

Skin & Scalp Toning

A classic addition for conditioning oily skin and scalp.

In Our Formulations

How we use it

Cedarwood is a grounding base note — we use it in tiny, well-diluted amounts to anchor a blend's scent and lend a calming, woody warmth.

It pairs naturally with our scalp and balancing blends, always carried in a base oil rather than used neat.

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