Scent Almanac

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Atlas Cedarwood

Atlas Cedarwood

Cedrus atlantica

Base note Woody Essential oil

Warm, soft and slightly sweet wood with a balsamic, faintly honeyed edge and a touch of camphor. Rounder and less pencil-like than Virginian cedarwood.

Made from
Steam-distilled from the wood chips and sawdust of the Atlas cedar, mostly in Morocco.
Strength
●●●○○
Cost
Budget
Moods
GroundingCalmingCozy
Seasons
Autumn, Winter
Rooms
Living room, Bedroom, Office
Blend with it
No special cautions at normal use.

How it behaves

CandlesGood

A good fixative: it slows the flash-off of citrus and herbal top notes. Its own hot throw is modest in soy; paraffin blends carry it further.

Wax meltsGood
Reed diffuserGreat

Blends easily into diffuser bases and helps a mix last longer on the reeds.

Room & linen sprayGood
Electric (water) diffuserGreat
Cold-process soapGreat

Very soap-friendly — no acceleration or discoloration, and it anchors lighter notes that would otherwise fade during cure.

Melt-and-pour soapGreat
Laundry & cleaningGood

Pairs well with

Lavender
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Bergamot
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Frankincense
Frankincense
Base · Resinous & amber
Essential oil
Vetiver
Vetiver
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Sweet Orange
Sweet Orange
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Rosemary
Rosemary
Middle · Herbal
Essential oil
Cypress
Cypress
Middle · Woody
Essential oil
Clary Sage
Clary Sage
Middle · Herbal
Essential oil
Patchouli
Patchouli
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang
Middle · Floral
Essential oil

Don't have it? Try Virginian Cedarwood, Hinoki.

In these blends

Morning Grove
Sun through an orange grove at breakfast — bright, green and gently floral.
Geranium · Atlas Cedarwood · Sweet Orange · Petitgrain · Bergamot
Top 32% Middle 45% Base 23%
UpliftingEnergizingSpringSummer
Eucalyptus Steam Room
The cool, clearing air of a spa steam room after a long week.
Eucalyptus · Rosemary · Lavender · Atlas Cedarwood · Peppermint
Top 35% Middle 47% Base 18%
RefreshingCleanCalmingWinterSpring
Forest Bathing
A slow walk under firs after rain, bark and needles underfoot.
Fir Needle · Atlas Cedarwood · Bergamot · Cypress · Grapefruit · Vetiver
Top 26% Middle 47% Base 26%
GroundingRefreshingAutumnWinter
Snowy Pines
Cold, clean mountain air and a stand of pines under fresh snow.
Pine · Fir Needle · Atlas Cedarwood · Eucalyptus · Peppermint
Top 22% Middle 56% Base 22%
RefreshingCleanWinter
Hearth & Clove
Orange peels drying by the stove, a pinch of clove and a warm spoonful of spice.
Sweet Orange · Atlas Cedarwood · Cinnamon Leaf · Nutmeg · Cardamom · Clove Bud
Top 29% Middle 47% Base 24%
CozyFestiveAutumnWinter
Salt & Driftwood
A windy afternoon on the beach — salt spray, warm sand and sun-bleached wood.
Coconut · Sea Salt · Atlas Cedarwood · Bergamot · Freesia · Amber
Top 33% Middle 39% Base 28%
RefreshingCalmingSummer
Cabin Weekend
A log cabin, a woodstove going and fir trees right outside the door.
Fir Needle · Bergamot · Atlas Cedarwood · Juniper Berry · Campfire · Black Pepper
Top 22% Middle 50% Base 28%
CozyGroundingAutumnWinter
Fig & Cedar
Ripe figs split open in the shade of an old cedar tree.
Fig · Atlas Cedarwood · Bergamot · Fig Leaf · Pink Pepper
Top 25% Middle 50% Base 25%
GroundingSensualSummerAutumn

A little lore

The Atlas cedar is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria, and most of the oil is distilled from timber-industry offcuts there.

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