What do I do when my mind becomes the enemy?
When overthinking and perfectionism get the better of me?
I reach for my blessed Cedarwood Atlas
One drop on a tissue while I sit in a comfortable chair
and my churned up mind begins to slow down.
Essential Oil of Cedarwood Atlas
Cedrus atlantica
Cedrus atlantica tree in the Atlas Mountain range near Azrou, Morocco
(Source: Wikipedia)
My Personal Connection to Cedarwood Atlas
I was born in Morocco when my father was stationed at the U.S. Naval base in Kenitra in the late 1950s. From my first exposure to this beautiful true Cedarwood, I felt a strong affinity in both my heart and base chakras. I’ve often wondered if there was a connection between my birthplace and this essential oil.
Over the years Cedarwood Atlas has been a faithful friend to my over-busy mind. Sometimes it’s enough for me to simply open the bottle and inhale deeply for it to begin to calm my churned-up energy. In my years as a massage therapist, it found its way into many massage blends for clients who were anxious or had respiratory issues.
Geographical Source: Cedarwood Atlas, also called Atlas Cedarwood, is a native tree to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and neighboring Algeria.
Plant Part: Distillation of the ‘heartwood” (trunk and branches) The Aromatic Wisdom Podcast Episode 025 addresses how essential oils from the Heartwood of a tree can help with grief, loss, and transition.
Note: Base
Cedarwood Atlas Essential Oil Characteristics: A brown and dense essential oil with a sweet aroma; it is the sweetest of all the cedarwoods. The aroma often surprises people when they inhale in for the first time, expecting the classic “cedar closet” aroma.
Chemical Families: Sesquiterpene
Therapeutic Properties:
- Antispasmodic qualities.
- Useful in skincare
- I like to add it to hair conditioner when dandruff is an issue
- Sedative for anxiety.
- Supports the respiratory system because it has two important actions for the lungs; it has mucolytic properties (thins the mucus) as well as expectorant properties (moves it out).
- Can be effective as a bug repellant, but in all honesty, I won’t use it that way due to the fact that it’s becoming endangered. I would use Himalayan Cedarwood for insects and save Cedarwood Atlas for its therapeutic properties to address emotional and physical issues.
Blends well with: The aroma of this particular cedarwood is sweet and resinous with a balsamic undertone. My favorite essential oils to bend with this oil are the floral aromatics and other conifer essential oils.
A Recipe Using Cedarwood Atlas
Earthy and Sweet Sugar Scrub (More scrub recipes are HERE)
3 drops Cedarwood Atlas
3 drops Sweet Orange
4 drops Ho Wood
1 ounce Jojoba Wax
1 ounce PET plastic jar
Fill the jar halfway with any sugar, add the Jojoba and stir in the essential oils. Play with the blend a little. If it’s too “wet”, add litle more sugar or if it is too dry, add more jojoba. Keep track of your exact final measurements so you can repeat the recipe!
Subtle Properties: (vibrational and energetic): As grounding as this essential oil is, you know straight away it resonates deeply with the base chakra. Both emotionally and energetically, Cedarwood Atlas can assist in boosting self-esteem, especially when blended with Bergamot Essential Oil because of how it offers support via the solar plexus chakra.
Safety Information: In their book Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition, Tisserand and Young give no indication of particular safety issues with this essential oil.
Sustainability Status: Endangered
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42303/2970716
For more information on the status of the Cedarwood Atlas tree, visit Dr. Kelly Ablard’s excellent blog post: Atlas Cedarwood (‘Cedrus atlantica’) essential oil: Exploring alternatives.
Podcast Episode on Aromatic Plant Sustainability: In which I talk with Dr. Kelly Ablard, Director of the Midair Institute and Expert on Medicinal Plant Sustainability AWP 039
Where to Buy Atlas Cedarwood: You can find all these essential oils at Nature’s Gift Aromatherapy. This is not my company, nor do I receive a commission from them. I use their exquisite essential oils in my classroom and my personal blends because of the exceptional product quality and customer service, and I love supporting businesses that trust and believe in with my readers. If you would like to get a special Aromatic Wisdom discount on all Natures Gift Essential Oils, just sign up below!
My Aromatic Wisdom Soul Collage® Card
for Atlas Cedarwood
I am one who strengthens your connection to Earth energies.
I am one who keeps you solid, centered and grounded when your head is in the clouds.
I am one who draws earth energy up, up, up filling your base chakra that you may become rooted and stable.
I am one who envelops you in a rich, sweet blanket lulling you into a deep calm.
Where may I sign up for an Aromatic Wisdom discount?