CEDARWOOD

This week I will be spotlighting an oil I use daily, dōTERRA Cedarwood. Did you know that Cedarwood essential oil was considered by the Sumerians to stem from the Tree of Life? Essential oil from different varieties of cedar trees has a rich historical past. The cedar of Lebanon is thought to be one of the first essential oils extracted from nature.

Ancient tribes believed G_d held the energy of the Cosmos on earth in the cedar and that the wood was sacred, gifting those worthy with power, greatness, and immortality. The Egyptians incorporated it into their embalming rituals. The Phoenicians and Assyrians even used cedar to build fleets of ships.

With the botanical name of *Juniperus virginiana*, dōTERRA Cedarwood essential oil comes from a tree more commonly known as the red cedar. The wood is steam distilled, the oil is collected from the distillation, and then it is bottled allowing us to enjoy and benefit from it.

The red cedar tree is able to withstand extreme climates, and can tolerate most soil types. This ability may come from the cold, high altitude climates cedar trees are natively from. Depending on soil conditions, the tree can reach anywhere from 16 to nearly 100 feet high. It is also a species with an unusually long lifespan, with some trees reaching 900 years old. Cedarwood has its original warm and woody scent that provides limitless benefits for its user.

Cedarwood is unique among essential oils as it is primarily composed of complex sesquiterpenes that are often exclusive to conifers. Cedrol’s primary benefits are aromatic, as clinical research suggests that it has a calming aroma that promotes peaceful and relaxing environments. You can use Cedarwood as an alternative to Lavender or Ylang Ylang in your bedtime routine, diffusing it to prepare yourself for restful sleep. If you are looking for an alternative to florals in your skin toner or moisturizer, try adding a few drops of Cedarwood instead to promote healthy-looking skin.

With its ability to ground and calm the mind, Cedarwood not only makes the perfect essential oil to calm emotions; it also relaxes you while boosting confidence and vitality through its rich herbaceous and camphoraceous scent. Not to mention, it also makes a handy chemical-free insect repellent.

I love to diffuse Cedarwood with Cypress for a warm scent to promote feelings of confidence and self-esteem within my home.

It can also be used to keep insects at bay or promote vitality during a workout. I’ve started working out more heavily. Even though I feel better and look better, working out can be very tiring. One thing I found that really helps me stay motivated throughout my workout, is dōTERRA’s Cedarwood essential oil. I massage one to two drops onto my chest to help maintain vitality throughout my workout.

Cedarwood is a great oil for promoting relaxation also! With properties that help to soothe the mind and body, the warm, woodsy scent of Cedarwood essential oil can create a relaxing environment when used topically or aromatically.

After a long day, I love to diffuse to create a calming environment or apply one to two drops to the bottom of my children’s feet to help soothe and calm them when they wake up frightened. Not only is it used to help us have feelings of calmness, it also helps keep our skin looking healthy. Cedarwood oil also includes the main sesquiterpene constituents cedrene, and thujopsene, which help improve the appearance of skin. I personally apply Cedarwood topically to my legs before shaving, to provide a smooth shaving experience, as it also improves my skin imperfections at the same time! During my facial routine, I add one to two drops to my nighttime moisturizer to promote clear, healthy skin. I even add 4 drops to my witch hazel, to help with my skin condition.

One might sense a kind of power in the cedar in the way it benefits the mind and body. Cedarwood essential oil has the ability to calm strong emotions—like anger, providing a balance, which eases stressed and anxious thoughts. It is said to improve focus and establish wisdom, making it the perfect gift for your 13-year-old.

Cedarwood blends well with Bergamot, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Thyme, and Vetiver. I think I know who is next up to receive a custom “Tame That Teen” blend from me.

Combine equal parts:

4 💧Cedarwood, along with

4💧Serenity,

4💧Sandalwood,

4💧Vetiver, and

4💧Green Mandarin, which is not photosensitive and can be used on skin exposed to sunlight) –

That’s 💧💧💧💧4 drops each essential oil (teen strength) into a 10mL rollerball bottle, and top that off with FCO. I prefer to use fractionated coconut oil to other carrier oils, since it’s very light and absorbs easily into the skin, it also doesn’t go rancid like other carrier oils do. Have your dramatic teen start rolling for a trauma free day. Apply every hour, or as needed. Some teens got it bad. Make up this blend to tame that teen, and pivot when confronted with yet another emotional rollercoaster of a parenting ride. I know my drama queen teen won’t be the only one using this one often. We use the tools we have here, in order to transition away from the red blooded anger/power struggle zone, and into the happy cooperative zone, where parenting goes from misery to relief.