Botanical name: Cedrus atlantica, Various woods are referred to as cedar, including the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), the Himalayan cedar (Codrus deodara, and the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani, which is now nearly extinct. These three are closely related as species and ate similar in use. However, trees from other unrelated families are also commonly called cedat, for example, the Virginian cedar Uuniperus virginiana), Western red cedar (Tbuja plicata, or the Japanese cedar omerid japonic). to name only a few. These are also distilled for their essential oils but have very different properties and contraindications than the Cedrus genus Family: Pinaceae. Native to: The region stretching from North Africa to Asia. Part of plant used: Wood. Extraction method: Distillation. Color of oil: Pale yellow to deep amber. Consistency: Viscous and slightly sticky, especially when exposed to air for some time. Odor: Freshly cut sawmill timber, may be very sweet, may have a slight cat urine odor. Chemistry ce-, B-, nd himachalene (sesquiterpene) about 70%. cadinene (sesquiterpene) 2% Precautions: None known. History and Traditional uses: Mention of the cedars of Lebanon is found in some of the most ancient texts, including Egyptian writings The oil was used by the Egyptians for incense, cosmetics, and embalm- ing,' and the wood (as can be read in the book of Solomon in the Bible) was prized as a building material because of its resistance to in- sects. The resin is still valued in Tibet as an incense and is used in Tibetan medicine