Cedarwood Oil
We’ve Got Something Old and
Improved!
Oil derived from the many varieties of Cedarwood is one of the major building blocks in the Fragrance industry. Cedarwood comes in a variety of types, is extremely versatile and (dare we say it?) cheap and readily available.
Years ago, varieties produced in North and East Africa and in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent were widely used, but today, the bulk of the trade is centered around three main types:
Chinese: (Copressus Funebris) – a clear pale to straw yellow colored liquid with a rich sweet odor.
Texas: (Juniperus Mexicana) – a pale yellow to pale brown liquid with a clean, sweet balsamic, woody odor.
Virginiana: (Juniperus Virginiana) – a pale yellow to pale brown liquid with a fresh, rich woody odor.
(Note: Of course there is still some Atlas (Moroccan) and Himalayan production, however, they are no longer used here in commercial quantities and have become more "specialty" oriented)
In the US, the oil is steam distilled, mainly from scrap wood collected from saw mills in Texas and the Carolinas. Isolates include Cedrol, Cedryl Acetate, Cedrene, Cedrenol and Methyl Cedryl Ketone. All of these are starting materials for perfumery chemicals.
By far, the largest producer of Cedarwood oil is China with distillation mainly occurring in the Central-Southern area encompassing the provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangzhou etc. In the last few years a number of multi-national companies have set up factories in China to produce derivatives from Cedarwood and this accounts for the US import tonnage continually decreasing.
U.S. IMPORTS IN METRIC TONS
1994…….. 558
1995…..….288
1996…...…598
1997….…..458
1998…..….447
NOTE: VIRTUALLY ALL THE TONNAGE EACH YEAR ORIGINATED IN CHINA
The woody-balsamic odor makes it a favorite for masculine type after shaves and colognes and "out-doorsy" fragrances. However, there is literature out there that expounds on the virtues of Cedarwood oil as having the following qualities (which we cannot let pass without comment)
Insect Repellant (Ok, we’ll agree to moths..I just haven’t found a Cedarwood candle yet.)
Cellulite Reducer (yeah, sure!)
Urine Stimulator (Great ! Just what we need – more time in the Loo!)
Kidney Toner (Anyone see a flabby one yet?)
Acne Treatment (Manufacturers of OXY-10 must be issuing po’s like mad right now) Muscle Relaxant (Aromatherapists … let’s have the inquiries!)
Human Scent Mask (oh boy, we think we’ll refrain from commenting)
It should also be noted that we are totally in the dark regarding the dosages or "delivery methods" (The Kidney Toner is a total mystery..) needed to utilize these properties to their fullest efficacy. We’ll sell you the stuff, you figure it out. The internet is full of good ideas!
But now, seriously, we wish to introduce you to the new "old" boy on the Cedarwood block. This re-entrant to the specialty market in the form of Cedarwood oil Port Orford, is making a comeback. 60 years ago, this essential oil used to be steam distilled from the sawdust and waste of the western White Cedar (Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana) in mills in California and Oregon. By the time Mr. Arctander wrote his comments on the oil in the 1960’s, it was all but ignored in the market.
Today, we are happy to report, the oil is being produced from the sawdust and scrap wood dug up from the marshes in Oregon for use in the manufacture of archery arrows, (Oil takes flight and no one has lost an eye…or a spotted owl). Currently it is being exported to the far East for use in fragrances. However, it has not caught on quite as quickly in it’s homeland. We hope to change that. A few statistics to get you started and perhaps interested in working the perfumer selection back in the direction of using oils, not killing them off.
Appearance: pale yellow to amber colored liquid
Organoleptic: This material has a strong penetrating odor of cedarwood.
Physical Constants:
Optical Rotation: +19.0 to +24.5 deg
Refractive Index at 20 deg C 1.4960 to 1.5120
Specific Gravity at 25 deg C 0.924 to 0.945
Composition by GC Relative Peak Area
| a-pinene | 6.53 +/- 2.94% | Fenchone | 4.67% +/- 0.18% |
| Camphor | 5.94 +/- 1.05% | a-Fenchol | 5.51% +/- 1.06% |
| a-Terpineol | 14.33% +/- 5.80% | a- Amorphene | 1.87% +/- 1.06% |
| a-Muurolene | 4.23% +/- 1.56% | Citronellol | 2.28% +/- 1.75% |
| delta Cadinene | 8.17% +/- 1.75% | Myrtenol | 1.09% +/- 0.09% |
| Tau Cadinol | 3.42% +/- 1.18% | Tau-Muuronol | 2.71% +/- 1.22% |
| Gamma-Cadinol | 5.30% +/- 1.77% |
So, the good ol’ Oregon boy is back and we hope you’ll use him! Our contact details are right below and we’d love to hear from you.
The Cookson Team
