Cedarwood Atlas oil

Chemotypes :

There are currently around 600 different species of conifers.
The genus Cedrus Trew. contains about 9 species, of which 4 are used in perfumery:

- Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carriere: Cedarwood Atlas oil, whose essence is mainly composed of Himaialene but contains very little Cedrene (≈2%).
- Cedrus deodara (Lamb.) G.Don: Cedarwood Himalaya oil.
- Cedrus libani G.Don: Cedarwood Libanon EO.
- Cedrus brevifolia Holmboe: Cyprus Cedar Wood EO.

However, it should be noted that other tree essences are called “cedars” in perfumery. Their botanical genus is not the same for all of them.
- Juniperus virginiana L. : Cedarwood Virginia oil belongs to the genus Juniperus -> Juniper.
- Cupressus funebris Endl. : Cedarwood China oil / Cedarwood China leaf oil -> Cypres
- Xanthocyparis nootkatensis (D.Don) Farjon & Harder : Cedarwood Alaska twig oil / Cedarwood Alaska oil -> Cypres

Extraction process :

The atlas cedar, or blue cedar or silver cedar, can grow up to 40 meters high. It is more imposing than other species of the genus Cedrus. It is distinguishable from other cedars because of its erect branches and short needles (which do not exceed 3 cm length). The cultivation of Atlas cedar requires a well-drained soil regardless of the nature. It resists the cold winter on the heights and the summer drought. Propagation of a crop is preferably done by seed sowing rather than by cuttings.
In cultivation throughout the year, the trunk of the tree is cut and milled to optimize the extraction yield. After a steam distillation, the essential oil of cedarwood is collected in an essencier by decantation.
The Atlas cedar extraction yield can reach 5%.

Uses in perfumery :

Not much used due to the particularity of its note, which is difficult to integrate into composition, and its price.

Stability :

The terpenes identified in this raw material can polymerize when they are oxidized

Other comments :

This cedar specificity is that it does not contain any Cedrol. For this reason, its smell is very different from other cedars.
This species is currently listed as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Atlas cedar has long been assimilated to a subspecies of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani), less elongated and with less longevity.
Several diseases can affect the Atlas cedar. Attacks are perpetrated by processionaries (insects specialized in attacking a species of tree): the Thaumetopoea bonjeani in the case of the cedar. Other insects can cause desiccation of the bark and fungi make the wood rot.
In the past, the resin of this tree was used to embalm the mummies.

This cedar specificity is that it does not contain any Cedrol. For this reason, its smell is very different from other cedars.
This species is currently listed as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Atlas cedar has long been assimilated to a subspecies of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani), less elongated and with less longevity.
Several diseases can affect the Atlas cedar. Attacks are perpetrated by processionaries (insects specialized in attacking a species of tree): the Thaumetopoea bonjeani in the case of the cedar. Other insects can cause desiccation of the bark and fungi make the wood rot.
In the past, the resin of this tree was used to embalm the mummies.

Allergens :

This ingredient does not contain any allergen.

Signal word :

Danger

Hazard pictograms :

Precautionary statements :

IFRA 51^th :

This ingredient is not restricted for the 51th amendment