Made from the wood of the western red cedar, which peoples of the north-west coast have used for centuries. A strong, smoky wood aroma — not for everyone at first, but surprisingly well behaved in blends.
Where it comes from
Plant part used: wood. Extraction method: steam distillation. Typical origin: Canada.
Steam distillation means that hot steam passing through the plant carries the volatile compounds with it. The steam is cooled, and the water and the oil separate on their own — the oil floats on top.
What it smells like
Aroma notes: dry woody, smoky, earthy.
If you are meeting it for the first time, do not sniff straight into the bottle. Hold it a few centimetres from your nose and waft the aroma towards you — that way the stronger oils will not hit you, and you will pick up the finer notes too.
How people use it
- In the diffuser with citrus, which cuts the smokiness.
- Diluted on the soles of the feet for winding down in the evening.
- A few drops in a conditioning oil for wooden objects.
- One drop on a linen sachet in the wardrobe.
Recipes
The ratios are worked out, and one drop is roughly five hundredths of a millilitre. Where a companion oil is listed, feel free to swap it for whatever you have at home — the drop counts stay the same.
Bedtime foot oil
What you get: 10 ml, about two weeks’ worth.
- Fill a 10 ml bottle with fractionated coconut oil, roughly up to the shoulder.
- Add 4 drops of Arborvitae — that is a two per cent blend.
- Close it and turn it over a few times.
- Before bed, massage some into the soles of your feet and pull on socks.
The skin on the soles is thick, which makes it one of the gentlest places to apply oil. For a child, half the drops is plenty.
Palm blend for a deep breath
What you get: 5 ml, lasts a long time.
- Put fractionated coconut oil into a 5 ml bottle.
- Add 2 drops of Arborvitae and 1 drop of Juniper Berry.
- Put a little in your palm and rub it in.
- Hold it in front of your face and take three slow, deep breaths with your eyes closed.
This is the quickest way for an aroma to actually reach you — diffusing is slow by comparison.
Surface spray
What you get: 300 ml.
- Put 60 ml of vinegar into a 500 ml spray bottle.
- Add 20 drops of Arborvitae and swirl to combine.
- Top up with 250 ml of water.
- Shake before use, and wipe down the kitchen counter or the bathroom with it.
Do not use it on natural stone — marble or limestone — as vinegar etches it. There, use water and the oil only.
What to pair it with
These suit the same situations, so they sit well together in a blend:
- Juniper Berry — shared topic: Inner calm
- Lemon Eucalyptus — shared topic: Time outdoors
- Lemongrass — shared topic: Time outdoors
Safety and storage
A strong oil; always dilute it. Avoid during pregnancy.
In dark glass, somewhere cool, tightly closed. Heat, light and air all age it: citrus oils keep for roughly one to two years, woods and resins for years. It does not need to go in the fridge, but the bathroom windowsill is the worst place for it.
Questions
How much should I use?
For adults, daily whole-body use usually works out at around two per cent: that is roughly twelve drops in thirty millilitres of carrier oil. For sensitive skin and for children, considerably less. The dilution helper on the home page works out the number of drops for your bottle.
What should I dilute it with?
Fractionated coconut oil is the easiest, because it stays liquid, has no scent of its own and does not go rancid. Sweet almond, jojoba and grapeseed oil are good choices too. Essential oil does not mix with water, so for a bath always disperse it in something fatty or in salt first.
What should I watch out for with this oil?
A strong oil; always dilute it. Avoid during pregnancy.
How long does it keep?
In dark glass, somewhere cool, tightly closed. Heat, light and air all age it: citrus oils keep for roughly one to two years, woods and resins for years. It does not need to go in the fridge, but the bathroom windowsill is the worst place for it.
