Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedrus atlantica
Description
Since originally adding this profile to AromaWeb in 2011, I have sadly learned that Atlas Cedarwood trees are endangered. For informative purposes, I will continue to share the below Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil profile information, but please be sure to take a close look at the Sustainability Concerns section below.
Cedarwood Essential Oil is said to be one of the first crude essential oils to be extracted, and it was one of the oils that the Egyptians used for spiritual embalming purposes.
Aromatically, I love the rich, woody aroma of Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil. It is a base note that can help hold an otherwise flighty blend together well. Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil is said to act as an aphrodisiac. It also complements masculine blends.
Though I enjoy blending and diffusing Atlas Cedarwood Oil throughout all four seasons, it's especially nice during the Fall and Winter months.
Emotionally, I find Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil to be grounding and calming, and it is said to help combat negativity. Atlas Cedarwood is an oil that I used to reach for at times when I'm faced with chaos or conflict and want a grounding oil for use during meditation or reflecting on the situation.
Atlas Cedarwood is a conifer. You can learn more about conifers by reading AromaWeb's Guide to Coniferous Essential Oils.
Additional uses for Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil are noted below.
Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Acne
- Arthritis
- Bronchitis
- Coughing
- Cystitis
- Dandruff
- Dermatitis
- Stress
Source: Julia Lawless, The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Updated Edition) (London: Harper Thorsons, 2014), 66-67.
Botanical Name
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Light Golden Yellow
Consistency
Medium and oily feeling
Perfumery Note
Base
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium - Strong
Aromatic Description
Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil smells woody and sweet. It smells a bit sharper than Virginian Cedarwood Oil. The aroma is reminiscent of artificial mothballs.
Sustainability and Conservation Status
Endangered
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42303/2970716
If making the decision to purchase Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil, it is very important that you ensure that you are purchasing it only from reputable suppliers that are mindful and that actively support the sustainability of Atlas Cedarwood. Virginia Cedarwood Essential Oil, although it is a Juniper that is traditionally classified as a cedar oil, is amongst the cedarwood essential oils that are presently at less risk of endangerment. For more information that can help you choose appropriate alternatives to Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil and to view a table that identifies the threat status for eight cedarwood essential oils, visit Dr. Kelly Ablard's detailed post Atlas Cedarwood ('Cedrus atlantica') essential oil: Exploring alternatives.
To learn more about the conservation status of essential oil bearing plants and how to use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, please refer to AromaWeb's Guide to Essential Oils and Sustainability.
Major Constituents
- B-Himachalene
- a-Himachalene
- (E)-a-Atlantone
- Gamma-Himachalene
- Deodarone
- (E)-Gamma-Atlantone
- Himachalol, Isocedranol
See Essential Oil Safety for a more complete list of typical constituents.
Source: M. Aberchane, M. Fechtal, Analysis of Moroccan Atlas Cedarwood Oil (Cerus atlantica Manetti). (Journal of Essential oil Research 16, 2004), 542-547. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 237.
Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil Safety Information
Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Atlas Cedarwood Oil. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 237-238.]
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for basic educational purposes only. The references to safety information, test results, constituents and percentages is generalized information. Essential oils can vary greatly in composition. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil composition and color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several CO2 Extracts and absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
