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Cedrene

Q: Is Cedrene natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Isolated by fractional distillation of Virginia cedarwood oil. The oil comes from wood shavings, often byproduct of pencil manufacturing..

WOODS AND MOSSES / woody · fresh · cedar

Cedrene

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	woody · fresh · cedar
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A - synthetic molecule (also found in cedarwood oil)
Appearance	colorless clear oily liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	United States (Virginia cedarwood), China, India, Morocco
Pyramid	Base

Sharp, dry, pencil-shaving woody. Cedrene (CAS 469-61-4) is the hydrocarbon backbone of cedarwood: the raw, pencil-factory smell of freshly cut cedar.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Sharp, dry, raw cedarwood. The pencil-factory smell. More angular than cedrol, less polished than cedryl acetate. The sound of the saw, not the finished furniture.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sharp dry-cedar burst, pencil-like

After a few hours

Raw woody harshness, camphoraceous

After a few days

Persistent dry-wood backbone

The Full Story

Cedrene (CAS 469-61-4 for alpha-cedrene) is the dominant component of Virginia cedarwood oil. Sharp, dry, slightly harsh character. A terpenic, camphoraceous edge.

Unlike cedrol (softer) or cedryl acetate (smoother still), cedrene is raw and angular. The cheapest and most abundant cedarwood component.

Rarely featured alone due to harshness. Used in combination with cedrol and cedryl acetate.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Albâtre Sépia. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Australian Blue Cypress · Cedar · Cedarwood · Cedrol · Cedryl Acetate · Cypress · False Cypress · Himalayan Cedar

Did You Know?

Did you know?

The connection between pencils and cedarwood is literal: pencils are made from Juniperus virginiana and the pencil-sharpening smell is predominantly cedrene. The pencil industry is the primary source of cedar shavings for oil production.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Isolated by fractional distillation of Virginia cedarwood oil. The oil comes from wood shavings, often byproduct of pencil manufacturing.

Molecular Formula	C15H24
CAS Number	469-61-4
Botanical Name	N/A - synthetic molecule (also found in cedarwood oil)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	ALPHA-CEDRENE · BETA-CEDRENE · CEDARWOOD SESQUITERPENE
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	112 hour(s) at 100.00 %
Appearance	colorless clear oily liquid
Boiling Point	261.00 to 262.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	219.00 °F. TCC ( 103.89 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.92600 to 0.93700 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.50000 to 1.50300 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Base note and woody filler. CAS 469-61-4. Dominant component of Virginia cedarwood oil. Sharp raw cedar character. Combined with cedrol and cedryl acetate for smoother cedar. Inexpensive.