Skin Benefit
Balances sebum, antibacterial/antifungal; soothes irritation and tones skin.
Spiritual Benefit
Used in Mediterranean and South Asian skin oils to clarify oily complexion and calm reactive scalp. Aromatic enough to be its own ritual.
The record
In use for 5,000+ years
Origin
The cedar forests of Lebanon and the Atlas Mountains. Most cedarwood oil today is distilled from American juniper and Moroccan Atlas cedar.
Harvested
The oil is steam-distilled from the wood itself, often from heartwood and offcuts left after milling, so little of the tree is wasted.
Cultural impact
Egypt imported cedar oil for cosmetics and preservation, and the Near East built its temples from the wood. The scent of cedar was the scent of sacred rooms for most of recorded history.
Traditional use
Worked into oils and salves for skin and scalp, and burned so the smoke could carry through spaces people wanted cleansed.
