What does Virginia cedarwood smell like in perfume? Virginia cedarwood smells dry, clean and softly sweet, like freshly sharpened pencils. It gives a fragrance a crisp, woody structure.
| Botanical name | Juniperus virginiana |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Wood |
| Origin | The United States |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Note | Heart to base |
| Scent family | Woods & Resins |
| Odour | Dry, pencil-shaving wood, clean and softly sweet |
| Perfume uses | Woody, fresh and oriental blends |
| Key molecules | Cedrol, α-cedrene, thujopsene |
| Odour impact | Medium |
| Odour life on a strip | Very long: lasts for days |
| Found in | Oud Octavo |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Cedarwood Virginia?
Virginia cedarwood comes from Juniperus virginiana, the eastern red cedar, which is botanically a juniper. Its wood was once used to make pencils, which is why its scent feels so familiar.
What Does Cedarwood Virginia Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of cedarwood virginia comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Woody
Dry, clean wood.
Dry
A crisp, pencil-shaving note.
Sweet
A soft, gentle sweetness.
Smoky
A faint, warm edge.
How Perfumers Use Cedarwood Virginia
Perfumers use Virginia cedarwood to add dry, woody structure to fresh and oriental blends. It pairs well with oud, spices, citrus and vetiver.
The pencil wood
For more than a century, Virginia cedar was the standard wood for pencils, so its scent is linked in many people’s minds with school days.
Smell Cedarwood Virginia in Prosody London Perfumes
For cedarwood virginia at its most expressive, try Oud Octavo. Cedarwood adds a dry, woody structure to the heart beside cistus and cinnamon leaf.
Oud OctavoWhat Blends Well With Cedarwood Virginia?
Questions About Cedarwood Virginia
Is Virginia cedarwood a true cedar?
No, it is a juniper, though it is called cedar.
Does cedarwood last long?
Yes, it is long-lasting.
What pairs with cedarwood?
Oud, vetiver, citrus and spices.
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