There are many different types of cedar, but Atlas and Virginia cedar are particularly used in perfumes. The oil is extracted by steam distillation from wood chips.

The traditional cedar is an evergreen conifer and belongs to the Pinaceae family:

• Cyprus cedar
• Himalayan cedar
• Atlas cedar
• Lebanon cedar.

This tree is the national symbol of Lebanon and is depicted on the country’s flag.
These four cedars all have soft, camphor and leathery accords.

There are two other well-known cedar trees, which belong to a different species and are related to the juniper tree: The Virginia and the Texas.

These trees have red cedar wood that is also used to make furniture. The scent of the Virginia and the Texas is drier and spicier than that of the Pinaceae family.