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 over time).

In the United States, the oil is steam distilled, mainly from scrap wood collected from sawmills 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. The woody-balsamic odor makes it a favorite for masculine type after shaves and colognes and "out-doorsy" fragrances.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. Sixty 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.