One of the most accessible, sustainable, and versatile essential oils has to be cedarwood. Grounding, woodsy, and clean, it offers users the sense of clearheaded relaxation that comes from a walk in the forest, as well as a multitude of useful applications around the house. Steam distilled from the chips of cedar trees, this oil is known to have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, insecticidal, and mood-soothing benefits (source.)
Since it has a very low tendency of causing skin reactivity, when mixed with a carrier oil, cedarwood oil is great for topical use on the scalp and skin. It’s said to help with conditions such as eczema , and dandruff. Mix a few drops with equal parts rosemary and lavender essential oils and add to your shampoo to promote hair growth. For help with stress and anxiety management, cedarwood is one of the best choices (source); not only will it help to settle and unwind, it also has sedative qualities, making it a must-have for any bedtime blend (source.)
One of the most common uses for cedarwood oil around the house is as a natural insect deterrent, especially fabric-dwelling pests such as moths and fleas (source.) A few years ago, after finding moth holes in one of my favourite wool blankets, I invested in a pile of little cedar rings to put in my closets and storage containers. When the natural scent abated over time, I added a few drops of cedarwood oil to them to boost their effectiveness, and have had no issues since. You could also place drops of cedarwood oil on cotton balls or pads and tuck them around your closet or drawers, or toss into the bottom of storage containers when you pack up your sweaters and blankets for the warmer seasons. Since my top bedspread is wool, I also use a natural linen spray and lightly spritz over the bed as needed. This recipe is for a lavender oil linen spray, but does well when mixed half and half with cedarwood.
A fabulous scent in its own right, cedarwood oil is also a really versatile base note to use in blends, whether for use in topical applications, or for diffusers. We’ve put together some of our favourite recipes of blends that really let the earthy hum of cedarwood shine.
For skin applications or rollerballs, it’s generally advisable to work with a 5% dilution of essential oils in a carrier oil. Combine the following recipes with the carrier oil of your choice (such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil) in a 10ml bottle. For active or reed diffusers, dilute the following in 200ml of water.
Anxiety buster blend
Stress and anxiety management often requires a multifaceted approach, and one of the tools that may be helpful in feeling more relaxed and settled is aromatherapy. Combining the chillest of the chill oils, this blend is perfect for rollerball application on pulse points when you need some stable mood support, or for use in a diffuser in your bedroom as you unwind for sleep.
3 drops cedarwood oil
3 drops lavender oil
2 drops clary sage oil
2 drops rosemary oil
Grounding blend
Rampant thoughts, wild imagination, and sharp mental energy is great when you need it, but sometimes it can be a real struggle to get out of our heads and back into the here and now. Yoga, meditation, walks in nature, deep breathing, warm foods, massage, and earthy scents are all ways to become more fully anchored in the moment. This blend offers an earthy compliment to a meditation session, or grounding energy whenever and wherever you need it most.
3 drops cedarwood oil
3 drops juniper oil
2 drops vetiver oil
2 drops cypress oil
Clear the air blend
This recipe takes my favourite air purifying scents and combines them into something uniquely bright, fresh, and clean, making it an ideal diffuser blend for bathrooms, kitchens, or basements…or anywhere else that could use some antiseptic sparkle.
3 drops cedarwood oil
2 drops tea tree oil
2 drops eucalyptus oil
2 drops lemon oil
Balance blend
I personally love combining cedarwood oil with complimentary florals and fruits, as it is such an easy, harmonious base note to work with. This blend makes for a lovely skin scent, thanks to the sweetness of bergamot and the powdery softness of ylang ylang.
3 drops cedarwood oil
3 drops bergamot oil
2 drops clary sage oil
2 drops ylang ylang oil
Autumnal blend
When resinous cedarwood gets mixed up with pumpkin-friendly spices like ginger and cardamom, it evokes all the cosy, nesting comfort of sweater weather. All you need are your rubber boots, wool hat, and a crackling fire and the vibe is as good as gold.
3 drops cedarwood oil
2 drops ginger oil
2 drops cardamom oil
2 drops sweet orange oil
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