"Cedarwood" is a trade name, not a single tree: it covers oils distilled from the wood of several conifers, not all true cedars. Ours adds a dry, woody note to our lavender bathroom and glass and mirror cleaners.
Contains added scent. Prefer none? Our Fragrance-Free All-Purpose Refill and Spray Kit have no fragrance or essential oils. No fragrance-free bathroom or glass cleaner yet.
Quick facts
- What it is: Cedarwood oil, labeled Cedarwood Oil. Our ingredient record lists Texas cedarwood (Juniperus mexicana oil).
- Its job: Fragrance only
- Where it comes from: Steam-distilled from the wood
- EPA Safer Choice: Not on its ingredients list
Cedar or juniper?
Texas and Virginia cedarwoods are junipers in the cypress family, not true cedars, which belong to the pine family (Tisserand & Young, 2014). Texas cedarwood oil is mainly cedrol, thujopsene and alpha-cedrene, the source of its woody aroma (Tisserand & Young, 2014). Our cypress oil shares the family.
The Texas supply story
Texas mills use Ashe juniper, the only local juniper with enough oil-yielding heartwood, and prefer trees cut years earlier. A Texas A&M report, with data through 1996, credits ranchland juniper clearing from the 1930s to the 1990s for much of that wood (Garriga et al., n.d.).
Allergen status depends on the tree
Since 2023, EU cosmetics labels must name Virginia (Juniperus virginiana) and Atlas (Cedrus atlantica) cedarwood oils above 0.001% (leave-on) or 0.01% (rinse-off). Texas cedarwood and its main compounds are not named (European Commission, 2023).
If scents bother you, check the blends' other oils, several of which contain listed allergens like limonene and linalool (European Parliament & Council of the European Union, 2009). Safer Choice judges fragrances under separate criteria (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.-a, n.d.-b). See how we vet ingredients.
Handling and safety
- Undiluted essential oils can irritate skin and eyes. Each tablet holds a little, diluted in water.
- Store unused tablets packaged and out of reach. They can look like candy.
- We found no pet toxicity listing for cedarwood oil, so we make no claim either way. These products also contain citrus or lavender oils, and the ASPCA lists the orange and lavender plants, not our cleaner, as toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, n.d.-b, n.d.-c). Keep pets away until surfaces dry. Never apply cleaner to an animal. Worried about a pet? The ASPCA hotline is below.
- We have not measured dried residue, so rinse the tub before little ones use it.
If something goes wrong
- Eyes or skin: rinse well with water. Call your doctor if irritation continues.
- Swallowed: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (America's Poison Centers, n.d.).
- Pet ate a tablet or cleaner: call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control, (888) 426-4435, fee may apply (ASPCA, n.d.-a).
Where you will find it
Two blends: Lavender (lavender, lavandin, rosemary, frankincense, bergamot, cedarwood and ylang ylang oils) for bathrooms, and Glass & Mirror (orange, grapefruit, patchouli, cedarwood and cypress oils) for glass.
See all our ingredients →
Sources
- America's Poison Centers. (n.d.). [Homepage]. https://poisoncenters.org/
- ASPCA. (n.d.-a). ASPCA Poison Control. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
- ASPCA. (n.d.-b). Lavender. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lavender
- ASPCA. (n.d.-c). Orange. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/orange
- European Commission. (2023). Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. Official Journal of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1545/oj
- European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2009). Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. Official Journal of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1223/oj
- Garriga, M., Thurow, A. P., Thurow, T., Conner, R., & Brandenberger, D. (n.d.). Commercial value of juniper on the Edwards Plateau, Texas. Texas Natural Resources Server, Texas A&M University. https://texnat.tamu.edu/?p=614
- Tisserand, R., & Young, R. (2014). Essential oil safety: A guide for health care professionals (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-a). Safer Chemical Ingredients List. https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-ingredients
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-b). Safer Choice criteria for fragrances. https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-criteria-fragrances
