Cedarwood essential oil is a versatile oil used primarily for promoting sleep, reducing stress, repelling insects, and supporting hair and skin health. Its benefits come largely from a group of plant compounds called sesquiterpenes, with cedrol being the most studied. Cedrol typically makes up 12 to 25% of the oil depending on the species and is responsible for many of its calming and protective effects.
Sleep and Relaxation
The most well-supported use of cedarwood oil is as a natural sedative. Inhaling cedrol shifts your nervous system toward its “rest and digest” mode by increasing parasympathetic activity and dialing down sympathetic (fight-or-flight) activity. In practical terms, this means a lower heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and a body state more conducive to falling asleep.
Animal studies show that exposure to cedar essence increases the amount of deep, restorative sleep while decreasing the time spent awake and reducing spontaneous activity. In humans, cedrol inhalation has been shown to decrease the time it takes to fall into deep sleep. Interestingly, these effects don’t depend on your ability to smell the oil. Research on people who had lost their sense of smell found that cedrol still decreased sympathetic nervous activity and increased parasympathetic activity, suggesting the compounds are absorbed through the lungs and act on the brain directly through nerve pathways in the lower airway.
Stress and Cortisol Reduction
Cedarwood oil also appears to lower cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. In a controlled experiment using rats subjected to daily swim-induced stress for 30 days, cedarwood balm applied to the skin significantly reduced plasma cortisol levels compared to untreated controls. Higher concentrations of the oil produced greater reductions, and at 30% concentration, cedarwood performed comparably to diazepam, a standard anti-anxiety medication. While human clinical trials are limited, the combination of cortisol reduction and the parasympathetic shift described above makes cedarwood one of the more evidence-backed essential oils for stress relief.
Natural Insect Repellent
Cedarwood oil has a long history as a pest deterrent, and USDA research confirms it works well against ticks. In laboratory testing, contact with cedarwood oil repelled 80 to 94% of black-legged tick nymphs, the life stage most likely to transmit Lyme disease. The ticks retreated, moved more slowly, or dropped off treated surfaces entirely. The effect was strongest within the first 30 minutes of application (94% repellency) and remained substantial at 60 minutes (80%). This makes cedarwood oil a reasonable option for treating outdoor clothing or gear, though it will need reapplication more frequently than synthetic repellents.
The oil’s pest-repelling properties also extend to moths and other household insects, which is why cedar wood has traditionally been used in closets and storage chests.
Hair Growth Support
Cedarwood oil is a common ingredient in natural hair care products, and there is some basis for this. Research using oleogels containing cedarwood oil (alone and combined with rosemary oil) applied to animals over six weeks demonstrated measurable hair growth enhancement compared to controls. The mechanism likely involves improved blood flow to the scalp and the oil’s mild astringent properties, which can help with oily or flaky scalp conditions. Many people add a few drops of cedarwood oil to their shampoo or mix it into a carrier oil for scalp massage.
Skin and Antimicrobial Properties
Several of cedarwood’s key compounds contribute to skin benefits. Alpha-cedrene has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies, while thujopsene contributes antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Together, these properties make cedarwood oil useful for minor skin irritation and blemish-prone skin. Its naturally astringent quality can help manage excess oil production without stripping the skin.
Different Types of Cedarwood Oil
Not all cedarwood oils are the same. The three most common types come from different tree species and have distinct profiles.
- Virginia cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) comes from the eastern United States. It has a soft, sweet, pencil-like scent and contains roughly 13% cedrol along with significant amounts of alpha-cedrene (about 32%) and thujopsene (about 19%). Its mild aroma makes it popular in men’s grooming products, beard oils, and candles.
- Atlas cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) is sourced from Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. It has a richer, deeper, more resinous scent with warm, amber-like undertones. It lingers longer on skin and in the air, making it a favorite fixative in natural perfumery and spiritual blends.
- Texas cedarwood (Juniperus ashei) grows in central Texas and shares a similar chemical profile with Virginia cedarwood, with high levels of cedrene, thujopsene, and cedrol.
For aromatherapy and sleep support, any of these will work since they all contain cedrol. For fragrance purposes, the choice comes down to whether you prefer a lighter, sweeter scent (Virginia) or a deeper, warmer one (Atlas).
How to Use It Safely
Cedarwood oil should never be applied undiluted to your skin. For body oils and lotions, a 1 to 3% dilution is standard, which works out to roughly 6 to 18 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond, or coconut oil. For facial use, stay at the lower end: 0.5 to 1.2%. If you have sensitive or reactive skin, start at 0.5% or less and watch for irritation.
For diffusing, 3 to 5 drops in a standard ultrasonic diffuser is typical for a bedroom-sized room. Running the diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes before sleep is a common approach for taking advantage of cedarwood’s sedative properties.
Cedarwood is generally regarded as safe during pregnancy at dilutions of 2% or lower, according to the International Childbirth Education Association.
Pet Safety Concerns
Cedarwood oil requires caution around animals. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists cedar among the essential oils that can cause seizures in pets. Cats are especially vulnerable because they lack a key liver enzyme needed to metabolize essential oil compounds. Birds are also at high risk due to their uniquely sensitive respiratory systems, where even aerosolized particles from a diffuser can cause harm.
If you diffuse cedarwood oil at home, keep pets out of the room while the diffuser is running and ventilate the space afterward. Ultrasonic and nebulizing diffusers pose the greatest risk because they release microdroplets that can settle on fur or feathers and be ingested during grooming.