In short: cedarwood smells dry, clean and woody. If you have sharpened a pencil or opened a cedar closet, you already know it.
What cedarwood smells like
Cedar is the most familiar wood smell for most people. It is dry rather than creamy, a little sharp, and very clean. Some cedarwoods lean sweet and balsamic, others smoky or leathery. In a candle it gives a blend a clear, straight-backed wooden structure.
Where it comes from
"Cedarwood" in perfumery covers a few different trees:
- Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) from the mountains of Morocco: a true cedar, warm and slightly sweet.
- Virginia cedar (Juniperus virginiana): technically a juniper. It is the wood of old pencils and cedar chests, very dry and clean.
- Texas cedar (Juniperus ashei): another juniper, a little smokier and more leathery.
The oils are steam distilled from wood chips and sawdust, often left over from lumber. Our candles use fragrance oils built around the cedar note.
How it is used
Cedarwood is a base note. It is one of the most common supporting woods in fragrance because it is affordable, lasts well and makes other notes feel cleaner and more structured. Cedar chests and closets have long been used to keep moths away from wool.
What it pairs with
- Bergamot and other citrus, for a fresh, outdoorsy smell
- Moss and vetiver, for a forest
- Sandalwood, to round out its dryness
- Sea salt and ozone, for a coastal driftwood smell
Our candles with cedarwood
- Zeus: cedar, oakmoss and bergamot.
- California Redwoods: cedar, pine, moss and embers, like a walk through a redwood grove.
- Pelagic: weathered driftwood cedar with sea salt, ozone and jasmine.
- Ares: cedar under blood orange and grapefruit.
Common questions
Do cedar candles keep moths away? No. Moths are deterred by the oils in solid cedar wood, not by a scented candle.
Is cedarwood the same as redwood? No, but they smell related. Redwood scents are usually built from cedar, pine and earthy notes.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Woody & Earthy candles.