Cedar Leaf Essential Oil

INCI Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil

Overview

A crisp, evergreen essential oil steam-distilled from cedar leaf, also known as northern white cedar.

What it is

Cedar Leaf Essential Oil is distilled from the leaf of Thuja occidentalis, also called northern white cedar or arborvitae. It carries a fresh, camphor-like evergreen scent, distinct from the warmer, woodier cedarwood oils distilled from cedar bark.

Where it comes from and how it’s made

Thuja occidentalis grows widely across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. The leaves are steam-distilled to draw out their essential oil.

What it does in a formulation

Contributes a crisp, fresh, evergreen note to a finished product’s scent profile.

Why Lovebee uses it

Cedar leaf has a brighter, crisper character than a woody cedarwood oil, and we like reaching for it when we want that fresh evergreen quality without the deeper, warmer notes cedarwood brings.

Good to know

  • Used throughout our blended topical products; sold on its own as a single-note oil, it’s intended for diffuser use only.

Common questions

What does Cedar Leaf Essential Oil smell like?

Fresh and evergreen, with a crisp, slightly camphor-like quality.

Is Cedar Leaf the same as Cedarwood Essential Oil?

No — cedar leaf comes from the tree’s foliage and has a brighter, crisper scent than cedarwood, which is distilled from the bark.

Can I apply this essential oil directly to my skin?

Not as a standalone oil — on its own, it’s intended for diffuser use only. You’ll already find it safely blended into a number of our topical products, though.