Cedar, Virginia

 Juniperus virginiana

Cupressaceae family

This is American Cedar, or Virginia Cedar. It grows all over the southeastern United States. The wood is used to make furniture like cedar chests--the oil is distilled from the shavings and dust from the lumbermills. The older the tree, the better, for copiousness and quality of oil.

Color Show
©Donna Jones

vivid green cedar
against winter's bare oak tree
red bird sits alone

Arctander says:

Virginia cedarwood oil is a pale yellow to a significantly orange-yellow colored oil, which, on rectification, will yield a water-white, oily liquid. It's slightly less viscous than Atlas or Texas cedarwood oil, and does not deposit crystals at ordinary temperatures. The odor is at first oily-woody, and almost sweet, , mild and pleasant, somewhat balsamic and typical of cedarwood lumber. The odor becomes drier and more woody, less balsamic as the oil dries out on a perfume blotter. Virginia cedarwood oil is used in perfumery, soap making, as a fixative and enhancer of certain oils like vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli or guaicwood. The dry-woody character and fixative effect of cedarwood oil make it almost universally applicable.

Battaglia says

Cedar can work as a stress reliever, against anxiety and tension.

It can be beneficial treating coughs and catarrhal and chrinic bronchitis.

Urinary tract infections have been indicated as another use for cedarwood oil

In skincare for oily, acne prone skin, dandruff, and hair growth.

Safety Warning
As with most essential oils, dilute before using on skin. Perform a patch test before use if essential oil sensitivity is suspected. Do not take essential oils internally. Do not use on children or pets. Seek advice from a trained aromatherapist before using on people with compromised immune systems. Keep away from eyes and mucus membranes.

Enfleurage makes no medical claims relating to any products, essential oils or otherwise, on our website or through social media. We are an essential oil company, not doctors, The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. We present our information in order to educate our customers on traditional and general uses of essential oils; in no way do we diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or condition.
You the customer are responsible for understanding the safe use of any and all of our products, including essential oils, and use them accordingly.