Cedarwood Oils: The Wood Essential Oil Compositions from Trees Known as “Cedar”

TL;DR

This paper summarizes the chemical compositions of cedarwood oils from various tree species known as 'cedar', highlighting their use in fragrance and medicine.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical profiles of cedarwood oils from multiple genera, comparing them with commercial samples.

Findings

Cedrus wood oils are dominated by himachalenes and atlantones.

Sesquiterpenoids like cedrol and thujopsene are abundant in Cupressus and Juniperus species.

Monoterpenoids are dominant in Calocedrus species, contributing to their fragrance.

Abstract

In addition to the true cedars (Cedrus species), there are several genera of trees commonly called “cedar”, including species of Callitropsis, Calocedrus, Cedrela, Chamaecyparis, Cryptomeria, Cupressus, Juniperus, Thuja, and Widdringtonia. The wood essential oils (cedarwood oils) of these trees have been used as flavor and fragrance materials, as well as in medicinal applications. In this study, we present summaries of the wood essential oils from trees known as “cedar”. A literature search was carried out on cedarwood oils and, when available, compared with commercial wood essential oils from the Aromatic Plant Research Center (APRC) collection. Cedrus wood oils are generally dominated by the himachalenes and atlantones. Sesquiterpenoids are abundant in other cedarwood oils, including cedrenes, cedrol, and thujopsene in Cupressus funebris, Juniperus ashei, and Juniperus virginiana. Cadinane sesquiterpenoids are generally abundant in Cedrela odorata and Cryptomeria japonica, while nootkatane sesquiterpenoids are found in Callitropsis nootkatensis and eudesmane sesquiterpenoids are found in Thuja occidentalis. Sesquiterpenoids are generally responsible for the woody fragrances of cedarwood oils, but monoterpenoids can also be dominant (e.g., Calocedrus species).

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