Cedar is a majestic tree that can live for over 2,000 years. Renowned for its strength and resilience, it symbolizes grandeur and longevity. Cedarwood has been widely used for centuries due to its durability. In fact, furniture and sarcophagi in Ancient Egypt were made from cedarwood.
The Latin word cedrus comes from the Greek kédros, which means cedar.
Additionally, it is one of the most fragrant woods, exuding a rich resinous scent that is widely appreciated.
Cedar in Perfumery
Cedar trees can grow up to 50 meters tall and have short, slightly prickly needles. Originally from the Middle East, Africa, and the Himalayas, cedar has since adapted to the European climate.
Several species of cedar are used in perfumery, including:
Virginia Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
Texas Cedarwood (Juniperus mexicana)
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani)
Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodora)
Most of these cedars belong to the Pinaceae family, except for Virginia Cedar and Texas Cedar, which are actually junipers and belong to the Cupressaceae family.
The Raw Material from Cedar
Cedar essential oil is extracted from wood shavings and sawdust, which can be collected year-round, primarily from woodworking industries.
The essential oil of cedar is obtained by steam distillation of a mixture of sawdust and wood chips. First of all, this essential oil has many medicinal properties. Indeed, it is an antifungal, an antiseptic and a decongestant. It also has very strong olfactory properties, in particular by the presence of molecules such as alpha-cedrene, beta-cedrene or cedrol.
The Cedar of the Perfumer’s Point of View
Cedarwood belongs to the woody olfactory family that is most often expressed in the background note of perfumes. However, the olfactory notes of Cedar essential oil differ depending on its origin.
The essential oil of Virginia Cedar is subtly smoked. It is the memory of freshly cut pencil. Also, there is the Texas cedar, close to the Virginia cedar, and more powerful.
Like Virginia Cedar, China Cedar is a dry wood but with more character with a more pronounced smoky note. It’s the smell of a fire on a winter day.
Finally, the essential oil of Atlas cedar is more aromatic, similar to the resinous and sticky sap that escapes from a tree with a terpene tip of orange.
Some perfumes around the Cedarwood note
- Féminité du Bois – Serge Lutens – 1992
- Dior Homme Intense – Dior – 2008
- La Nuit de l’Homme – Yves Saint Laurent – 2009
- Cèdre – Fragonard – 2010
- Cèdre & Oranger – L’Occitane – 2013
- Cèdre Atlas – Atelier Cologne – 2015
- Cèdre Sambac – Hermès – 2018
- Légendes du cèdre – L’Artisan Parfumeur – 2021
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