Cedarwood Atlas Essential Oil, 100 ml

Atlas cedarwood essential oil is added to cosmetics for its warm woody fragrance with a sweet balsamic undertone and for its use in the care of oily skin and scalp. It is obtained by steam distillation of the wood of the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), which originates from North Africa. In a formulation it serves two purposes at once: it gives the product its fragrance and also acts as an active ingredient in products for problem skin, hair prone to oiliness, and massage or bath products aimed at relaxation.

The fragrance is sweet, woody and balsamic. The oil is suitable for rinse-off and leave-on products for the face, body, hair and scalp, and it can be used in vegan formulations.

What it is suitable for

• Fragrance – sweet, woody and balsamic; suitable for perfumes, body oils, soaps and, according to the manufacturer, also candles.
• Scalp and oily hair – the manufacturer states that it contributes to a balanced scalp environment and helps to ease the feeling of irritation and itching. It is added to shampoos, rinse-off conditioners and hair oils for hair prone to oiliness.
• Oily and problem skin – according to the manufacturer’s data it has a soothing, antimicrobial and cooling effect, so it appears in toners, cleansing products and light serums for skin prone to impurities.
• Aromatherapy and relaxation – the manufacturer classes the fragrance as calming and grounding; typical uses are massage oils, bath products and body lotions.
• Repellent potential – the manufacturer states a possible insect-repelling effect; it can be used in repellents intended for the skin.

Use in a formulation

The essential oil is oil-soluble. In emulsions it belongs in the oil phase or is added only in the cooling phase. It cannot be incorporated into water-based systems, that is toners, hydrosol sprays or body mists, without a solubiliser, and it separates on the surface. In that case, mix it with a solubiliser first and only then add it to the water phase.

The recommended processing temperature is below 40 °C. In hot-process emulsions it is therefore added only after the mixture has cooled, with constant stirring, so that the volatile components of the fragrance do not evaporate. In anhydrous products, that is oil serums, balms, butters and massage oils, it is incorporated cold by simply stirring it into the carrier oil.

The usage rate is determined by the IFRA category according to the type of finished product. Each category has its own limit, one for lip products, another for shampoos and soaps, another for candles. The definitions of the individual categories are given in the product parameters; the maximum percentage for a given category can be found in the IFRA certificate for the product.

The manufacturer states that it can also be used in soaps and candles. We recommend testing the behaviour of the fragrance in your specific process, for example in cold process soap or in solidified wax, on a small sample beforehand.

Suitable for products such as

• Shampoos and rinse-off conditioners for hair prone to oiliness, where the oil is added to the finished surfactant base.
• Hair oils and scalp oil treatments in carrier oils, optionally in combination with other essential oils.
• Facial toners and cleansing gels for oily and problem skin, in water-based systems with a solubiliser.
• Massage and body oils, where the woody fragrance complements the relaxing character of the product.
• Solid and liquid perfumes, deodorants with a warm woody fragrance.
• Repellent balms and oils intended for the skin.
• Soaps and candles as a fragrance component according to the IFRA limits for categories 9 and 12.

Good to know

The colour of the oil is light yellow to orange-yellow. At normal usage rates it usually does not affect the colour of the finished product, but in light, clear gel or spray products we recommend checking the shade in a test batch.

The essential oil does not replace a preservative. Water-based and emulsion products containing cedarwood oil need standard preservation. The antimicrobial effect stated by the manufacturer applies to the skin, not to the microbial stability of the product.

The oil must never be applied to the skin undiluted. It is always processed in a carrier oil, an emulsion or with a solubiliser. Leave-on products for the face and the eye area have their own IFRA categories with their own limits, so check them separately.

The oil is readily biodegradable, is not classified as CMR and does not contain ingredients of animal origin.

Frequently asked questions