Cedar

Virginia cedar, also called “red cedar” because of its color, comes from the United States. Virginia cedar is a conifer of the cupressaceae family. It grows in poor, dry soils with plenty of sunlight. It is found in the eastern regions of North America, but also in the southwest of France. This small tree serves as a refuge for a Canadian butterfly called the “juniper hairstreak”. Tibetans used it as incense because of its many therapeutic properties.

Virginia cedar, or the smell of pencils

Virginia cedar is widely used in essential oils, as it has always had many virtues. Indeed, it is a lymphatic and venous decongestant. It is also an antiseptic, a fungicide and an expectorant, and it is a valuable aid in fighting cellulite. In perfumery, red cedar is used, but also several varieties of cedar, such as atlas cedar, Chinese cedar or Canadian white cedar. The smell of cedar is dry, green and resinous… It is the exact replica of the smell of a pencil. The return of woody fragrances, for both men and women, finally puts Virginia cedar in the spotlight. Cedar is now the starting point for a host of woody notes. Even if brands do not always list its name in the composition of a perfume, they use Virginia cedar endlessly.

The pairing of Virginia cedar with different olfactory families

Cedar can be paired with all olfactory families, even though it is mostly present in woody perfumes. In compositions, it is mainly used as a base note, as it has impeccable longevity. Virginia cedar blends perfectly with patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, but also with flowers and fruits. It brings elegance, but above all character. One thinks here of the perfume Eau des Merveilles by Hermès, where cedar is delicately blended with vetiver, ambergris and citrus (lemon, orange). The result? A bold and powerful perfume, leaving behind a sillage of distant waters. In the perfume La Nuit de l'Homme by Yves Saint-Laurent, Virginia cedar is present as a heart note, with lavender and aromatic notes. As a base note, there is coumarin, and as top notes, there are floral notes as well as bergamot. This men's perfume is charismatic, dark, but resolutely elegant...

Little known to the public for its involvement in perfumery, Virginia cedar or red cedar is widely used in perfume compositions. Thanks to its history and therapeutic properties, Virginia cedar has a very particular smell, the one felt when sharpening a pencil, which delicately brings us back to our childhood. The blend of cedar with other fragrances gives incredibly strong, powerful and irresistible perfumes! Whether in a women's or men's version, cedar is absolutely worth trying…