OLT

1115
ESSENTIAL OILS, NATURAL PRODUCTS & THEIR APPLICATIONS

CEDAR WOOD OIL

INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF OILS, OLEOCHEMICALS AND SURFACTANTS TECHNOLOGY

Pallav Jani
Final Year B.
Tech
13OIL1008

CEDAR
WOOD OIL
(Juniperus virginiana)

ORIGINS
Cedar wood essential oil (CWO) is extracted from Juniperus virginiana of the
Cupressaceae family. However, based on the location and the species of cedar tree, several
variants of CWO are available.
Genus
Scientific
Cedar wood Oils
Name
Juniperu
s

J. virginiana
J. ashei

Virginian/Red/Eastern Red/Southern
Red/Bedford.
Texas.

Cedrus

C. deodora

Himalayan.

Cupress
us

C. fenebris

Chinese.

Thuja
Plicata
Western Red. (Cedar Leaf Oil)
MentionT.in
History:
-The Egyptians used cedar wood oil in the mummification
process, in cosmetics and as a insect repellent.
-Native Americans used cedar oil in medicine and burnt it for
purification.

ABOUT CEDAR WOOD TREE

Cedar wood is native to North America and grows up to 30 meters and ages up to 1,000
years.
In India, the Himalayan Cedar wood (Deodar) grows at altitudes of 1800-2600m mainly in
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
Cedrus deodora is a tall, evergreen, graceful tree attaining a height up to 100 m and 2.4
3.6 m in girth. Growing shoots and branches are drooping. Tree has typical con-like
appearance, but as it grows it becomes rounded or flat with spreading horizontal branches.
Cedar is also one of the most valued Indian
timbers. Primary use of this is for construction
works, as beams, floor, boards and furniture.
Wood is fragrant, insect repellent, rot resistant
and quite durable.
It also possesses diaphoretic, diuretic and
carminative properties.
Oleoresin of deodar and dark coloured oil
obtained from wood cures ulcers and skin
diseases.
Deodar, Jhelum Valley

CEDAR WOOD OIL

EXTRACTION
Currently CWO is recovered by several methods, such as steam distillation (most common), continuous partial
pressure, solvent extraction and super critical fluid extraction, for laboratory or commercial uses.

SOURCES
Sawdust

Wood
shavings

Stumps

Roots

Finely chipped Waste

Wood

Leaves

Factors considered for extraction and

yield:

Method

Description

CWO Yield

The type of the recovery method

used.

Steam
Distillation

14 20 hr
batch.

1.0 3.5 %

Solvent
Extraction

Hexane
followed by
methanol, 6 hr.

4.01 %

Super Critical
CO2 Extraction

100C, 6000 psi.

4.60 %

Oil content of the wood, which is

affected by other factors such as;
age of tree, growth/soil and
harvesting conditions, time of
harvesting, process control systems,
tree segment that sample is taken
from, pre treatment and collecting
materials and size of the wood

 TEXAROME CONTINUOUS STEAM STRIPPING

PROCESS

Texarome Inc. (Texas, US) is one of the leading cedar wood oil (Virginian & Texan) producers.
It holds the patent for a continuous essential oil extraction process with extremely short
residence times.
Method employs dry steam at temperatures often
above 200C to distil pulverized plant material for
2530 sec at low pressure.
The pulverized material is carried via a plug feeder
to the first contactor where superheated steam in
reverse flow exhausts it in a first step and following
that in a similar second step at the next contactor.
The steam stripping apparatus is designed to
vaporize the entire liquid mixture instead of
separating the mixture of compounds into fractions
during the liquid phase, as occurs during traditional
distillation.
Hence, the operation is simplified through stripping
of the entire liquid mixture from the inert plant
material by low, partial distillation.

Advantages:
The brief residence time prevents many of the undesired chemical reactions that occur
during normal steam distillation.
High steam temperatures do not adversely affect the composition/fragrance of oil due
to absence of air and moisture in the dry steam process.
The dry steam prohibits leaching of organic acids from the aromatic material that would
not only corrode the apparatus but also catalytically affect the oils chemistry.
The recycling of cooling water and the use of the dried plant matter as a fuel contribute to
environmental requirements.

Texarome Plant in Lakey,

Texas.

MAJOR COMPONENTS
Impact olfactory components of cedar wood oil differ in different types of oils depending on:
Variety of cedar wood oil.
Type and age of cedar wood chosen for oil extraction.
Method of essential oil extraction.
Research indicates 29 31 different components in cedar wood oils. Primary among these are;

 WCO consists of mainly -cedrene, -cedrene, thujopsene, cuparene, cedrenol, cedrol

and widdrol.
It was found that all the compounds in CWO that were related to cedrene and sesquiterpene
were converted to cedrol and cedrenol during aging and maturity of essential oil.

PROPERTIES
OLFACTORY
CHARACTERISTICS
Cedar
wood oil has a characteristic soft and woody odour with a
faint undertone of sandalwood.
The base notes are of musk and vanilla underneath the warm
earthy scent of cedar.
The odour is somewhat viscous (intense), almost balsamic which
may change somewhat in the course of drying out.
Adams, R.P. (1991) observed that the major constituents (cedrol and
sesquiterpene hydrocarbons) did not play any significant role in the typical cedar
wood oil odour.
Adams confirmed this result in a study, when the VCO composition was compared with that of
TCO and Chinese cedar wood oil, which shared the same major components (-cedrene, cedrene, thujopsene, cedrol, widdrol) in almost similar quantities. However, the oils differed in
composition of the minor components. Especially, Chinese cedar wood oil had the minor
components which caused its off-odour.

Virginian cedar wood oil smells dry, aromatic, dusty, diffusive and deep.
This is the classic pencil shavings or cedar closet aroma.

 PHYSICOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Virginian Cedar wood Oil (VCO)

It is observed that the physicochemical

properties of cedar wood oil obtained from
fresh and old cedar wood are different from
each other.

Colour

Pale Yellow to slightly

Orange.
0.949 0.961

The samples derived from fresh wood

have a higher specific gravity and
optical rotation than those of derived
from the old wood.

Specific gravity at
15C
Optical Rotation at
20C

-2527 to -3715

The higher optical rotations of the fresh

wood samples were attributed to their
Cedar
only available from
higherLeaf
cedrolOil
content.

white cedar since all other

varieties consist of poisonous
components.
In case of Texan cedar wood oil
(TCO), the colour is quite dark and
the oil is viscous and readily
deposits cedrol crystals on

RefractiveHimalayan
Index at 1.5030
1.5067
Cedar wood
Oil
20C
Colour
Reddish yellow.
Solubility
Soluble in 8-10 vol. of
Specific gravity at
0.9280
0.9360
90% alcohol
27C
Optical Rotation at
20C

+55 to +65

Refractive Index at
27C

1.5050 1.5132

Acid Value (AV)

1.0 max.

Ester Value (EV)

15.0 max.

IS 1615 :
1996

 THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES

Anti
(Preventing or relieving excessive secretion
seborrheic
of sebum)
Antiseptic
(Relieving spasm of involuntary muscle)
Antispasmodic
Tonic
(Causing the contraction of skin cells and other body
Astringent (Causing
tissues)
increased passing of urine)
Diuretic
(Stimulating
Emmenagogu menstrual
flow)
(Increase bronchial
e
secretion)
Expectorant
Insecticide
Sedative
In India,Cedrus deodaraoil has been shown to possess insecticidal and antifungal properties
Fungicide
and to
have some potential for control of fungal deterioration of spices during storage. However,
its commercial use for this purpose remains, at present, speculation.

CWO SPECIFICATIONS
International (ISO) standards and Fragrance Manufacturers Association (FMA) standards exist for
Texas and Virginia cedar wood oils.

CWOs

Alcohol Content (as

cedrol)

CWOs

Alcohol Content (as

cedrol)

Texas cedar wood

oil

35 48 % (Min. 20%
cedrol)

Texas cedar wood

oil

25 42 %

Virginia cedar wood

oil

Max. 14 % cedrol
content

Virginia cedar wood

oil

18 38 %

ascedar
guidelines
Chinese cedar wood - Standards can only be treated
Chinese
woodfor
Min. 8 %
facilitating the assessmentoilof quality and not as
oil
definitive statements.

ESSENTIAL OIL USES

AROMATHERAPY & MEDICINAL USES:
1. Benefits the skin by its sedating ability which relieves itching.
2. Astringent action is great for acne, oily skin, as well as for hair and
dandruff.
3. It helps with chest and urinary infections, acts as a general tonic
and has a pronounced effect on mucus membranes.
4. It has a calming and soothing effect on the mind and is of great
help in conditions associated with anxiety and nervous tension.
APPLICATIONS:
Burners and vaporizers
(In vapour therapy, CWO can be used for arthritis, bronchitis, rheumatism, respiratory
problems)
Blended massage oil or in the bath
(Cedar wood can be used in a blended massage oil, or diluted in the bath to assist with asthma,
bronchitis, respiratory problems, catarrh, cystitis, painful joints, oily skin and dandruff)
Creams
(CWO in combination with other products is used as a homeopathic remedy and is sold as a
topical ointment)

Although both Texas and Virginia CWOs are similar in composition, the former is mostly used as
feedstock for manufacture of chemical derivatives such as cedrol, cedryl methyl ether, acetyl
cedrene and cedryl acetate. Chinese CWO is also used for this purpose. In contrast, VCO is
widely used in the fragrance industry.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS:
Restoration of the smell of cedar to furniture.
As fragrance in cosmetic formulations, including shampoos for humans and
animals, aftershave lotions, as fixative and diluent of perfume in soap bars
and household detergents, as masking odour in sanitary supplies and
polishes.
Fine Fragrance & Perfume
Rectified VCO is widely used as a fine fragrance in perfumes, deodorants and room sprays.
Standard dosage is 3 4 %. (English Leather, Old Spice, Chaz and Stetson).
Food Additives
Cedarwood oil alcohols and terpenes are food additives considered by the (FDA) to be Generally
Recognized as Safe (GRAS). These food additives are used as flavor enhancers, flavoring
or adjuvants.
agents,
Immersion
Oil
CWO and thickened cedar wood oil have laboratory uses as immersion oils for light microscopy
and for clearing microscope sections.

 Insect Repellents
It is also the active ingredient in cedar balls/wood blocks
used as moth repellents (potential substitute for
naphthalene moth balls) and in bug blocks.
Himalayan cedar wood oil is biologically active against
mosquito (Anopheles stephani). A formulation consisting
0.445% proved successful in killing 50% mosquitos under
laboratory conditions.

INSECT REPELLENT - GEL

Dioctyl Maleate

10 %

Propyl Paraben

0.1 %

Cedarwood Oil
(VCO)

5%

Neem Oil

10 %

Citronella Oil

5%

Ethoxyquin/BHA

0.1 %

Geahlene 750

69.8%

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS:
Derivatives

Uses

Cedrol methyl
ether

Fragrance in cosmetics

Acetyl cedrene

Fragrance

Cedryl acetate

Fixative, food additive

Acetyl thujopsene

Perfume fragrance

Cedrol

Woody, spicy and oriental flavour applications

MARKET

The United States, Western Europe and Japan are the major markets for cedar
wood
oil. utilizes much of its own Texas and Virginia cedar wood oils but also
The USA
imports significant quantities of Chinese oil.
(last updated 2008)

Chinese CWO

Texas CWO

Virginia CWO

$ 2.90 3.50/kg

$ 7/kg

$ 13/kg

Himalayan cedar wood oil is produced commercially only in India since the late
1950s and is assumed to be consumed internally only without any significant
export.
Texarome Inc. (Texas, US) remains the largest player of cedar wood oil in the
world.

*Much information regarding current market scenario

remains obscured.

REFERENCES
Semen, Elif et al., 2005. Production, Yield and Derivatives of Volatile Oils from Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus
Virginiana L.). American Journal of Environmental Sciences 1, 2: 133-138.
Adams, R.P., 1991. Analysis of Juniper and other forest tree oil. In Modern Methods of Plant Analysis New
Series-Essential Oils and Waxes. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany, 12: 131-157.
Adams, R.P., 1991. Cedar wood oil-analyses and properties. Modern Methods of Plant Analysis, 12: 159-71.
Melvin Blum, Michael Roitberg. Natural insect repellent formula and method of making same. US Patent
5885600 A, March 23, 1999.
Laurel Laboratories, Inc. (2002) An Introduction to the Oil of Western Red Cedarwood Pacific..
[http://home.istar.ca/~daijones/index.html]. Searched August 8, 2016.
Skaria, Baby. Aromatic Plants, 66-67.
[http://www.primaryinfo.com/cedar-wood-oil.htm]. Searched on August 6,2016.
[http://sscp.in/cedar-wood-oil.html]. Searched on August 7,2016.
[http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/cedarwood.htm]. Searched on August 7,2016.
[http://www.acedar.org/cedar-oil.html]. Searched on August 7,2016.
[http://www.fao.org/docrep/v5350e/V5350e12.htm]. Searched on August 7,2016.

THANK
YOU!
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