Spotlight On: Cedarwood Essential Oil

  Botanical Name: Cedrus atlantica

Type of Plant: Evergreen tree

Method of Extraction: stream distillation of the sawdust

Like most essential oils that are derived from trees, Cedarwood is excellent for helping to “ground” someone, or find their roots.  From a perfumery stance, this oil is a base note and will anchor any blend it’s used in.  I love its subtle, coniferous scent.  You can tell it’s from an evergreen tree, but it’s not an overwhelming pine-like scent.  Men in particular seem to enjoy this oil’s aroma.

Although I use it mainly for its psychological effects, Cedarwood also has many applications for physical ailments.  This oil is a member of the Pine family, and like its brothers & sisters, Cedarwood is great for respiratory problems.  It can be used in a chest rub to help break up and expel mucus.  Just add 3 drops to a tablespoon of oil and massage into the chest before bedtime.

This oil is also an effective bug and pest repellent, especially against moths.  We’ve all heard of hanging cedar blocks in the closet, or storing our linens in a cedar-lined chest, haven’t we?  Moths just don’t like cedar, and the same goes for the essential oil.  Not just moths, either.  I use this oil as one of the ingredients in my Nature line of products. Note – my “Nature” line is so named because archaic laws prevent me from calling anything that does not contain DEET a bug repellent.  So I just suggest you apply some before stepping out into Nature and see what happens.  Or rather, what doesn’t happen, and that will be getting eaten alive by flying nasties!

There are different types of Cedarwood oil out there, but Atlas is the most commonly used in aromatherapy.  Be sure to check the botanical name of any essential oil you purchase to ensure it is the correct oil.  If the botanical name is not listed on the label, do not purchase essential oils from that supplier.