Cedarwood Oil

‘Cedarwood’ is an umbrella name for oils and absolutes distilled from the wood of many different conifers, belonging to the Cupressaceae or the Pinaceae families. Traditionally, the oil is distilled from the Atlas cedar, a very tall tree, growing in North Africa. This is the tree used to produce the cedarwood absolute found in Lush products. However, the essential oils are steam distilled from the wood of two other species, resulting in different scents with different notes to play with.

This oil is distilled from the eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), a large cedar originating from North America, with a distinctive red trunk. Its oil is a little sweet and is closer to the scent of sandalwood with a dry side provided by a soothing aromatic compound called cedrene. The other oil that Lush use is distilled from the Chinese weeping cypress and has smoky notes.

Aromatherapists believe that cedarwood has a sedative and balancing effect on the nervous system. It has been used in meditation to relax and harmonise the mind.