dōTERRA Cedarwood oil: price, uses and what to know

Cedarwood is the quiet oil of the range. It does not announce itself the way peppermint or lemon do; it sits underneath other scents and makes them feel warmer and more settled. It is also one of the cheapest bottles dōTERRA sells, which makes it an easy second or third purchase.

In short: Virginian cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana), steam-distilled from the wood, with a dry, pencil-shaving aroma. It costs $16 wholesale in the US and £17 in the UK, and it is used mostly in evening diffuser blends, beard and hair care, and to freshen wardrobes and drawers.

What it is and where it comes from

Despite the name, dōTERRA Cedarwood is not a true cedar. Juniperus virginiana is a North American juniper, traditionally called red cedar, and its wood has long been used for pencils, chests and closet linings precisely because of its scent. The oil is steam-distilled from the wood, and dōTERRA sources it in the United States.

The main aromatic compound is cedrol, a heavy, slow-evaporating molecule. That is why cedarwood lingers on a cotton pad or a wooden block for days, and why it works as a fixative that helps lighter oils last longer in a blend.

Aroma

Woody, dry and warm, with a faint sweetness and almost no sharpness. Most people recognise it at once as the smell of a pencil sharpener or an old cedar chest. On its own it can feel a little flat; in a blend it adds depth and calm.

How people use it

In the diffuser. Cedarwood is mostly an evening oil, and it is better as a partner than a solo act:

Blend	Drops	When
Cedarwood + Lavender	2 + 3	Before bed
Cedarwood + Wild Orange	2 + 3	Cosy afternoon
Cedarwood + Frankincense	2 + 2	Quiet reading or meditation
Cedarwood + Bergamot	2 + 2	Relaxed evening

On skin and hair. Dilute one to two drops in 10 ml of a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut or jojoba. Many men use it as the base of a home-made beard oil, often with a drop of bergamot or frankincense. A few drops of the same mix on the ends of the hair or massaged into the scalp before washing is another common routine.

Around the house. Two or three drops on a cotton pad or an unvarnished wooden block in a wardrobe, linen cupboard or shoe cabinet. Refresh it every few weeks. A drop on a wool dryer ball gives laundry a faint woody note.

For a natural scent. Cedarwood is a classic base for home-made perfume and room sprays: it anchors citrus and floral notes and makes them last.

Safety

Cedarwood is one of the gentler oils, but it is still concentrated:

• Dilute for skin use: one to two drops per 10 ml of carrier for adults; less for sensitive skin.
• Patch-test first: one diluted drop on the inner arm, wait 24 hours.
• Keep it away from eyes and mucous membranes.
• For children, diffuse at low dose (one or two drops in a well-ventilated room) rather than applying to skin.
• In pregnancy or with medical conditions, ask a doctor before use.
• Follow the label of your bottle: it is written for aromatic and topical use, so do not take it internally.

Is it worth the price?

A 15 ml bottle holds about 250 drops, so $16 works out at roughly 6 cents a drop, and an evening of diffusing at 12–18 cents. That makes it one of the cheapest ways to try a dōTERRA oil. Cheap cedarwood elsewhere is common, but labels are often vague about the species, and Chinese or blended “cedarwood” smells quite different. Every dōTERRA batch is tested, and the results for your lot number are published at sourcetoyou.com.

Buying with a wholesale account takes 25% off retail; the wholesale account explained covers how that works.

What to pair it with

Cedarwood is not in Home Essentials or Family Essentials, but it is a natural add-on to the kit’s Lavender and Frankincense. For bright daytime blends, add Wild Orange or Bergamot; for a grounding evening, try it with Vetiver or Balance. If you like woody, outdoorsy scents, Cypress and Juniper Berry belong to the same family. Because the bottle is inexpensive, it is an easy way to make a first order a little more interesting; the list of first five oils for your home is a good place to start.

Where to buy it

Buy directly from dōTERRA under your market’s terms: you pay the price in the table above, the parcel ships from the regional warehouse under your country’s rules, and you know exactly what is in the bottle. If your country is not an official dōTERRA market, you order through Global Access: the parcel ships from the US via a forwarding intermediary, with extra shipping and customs costs. Marketplace bottles are a gamble; here is how to spot a fake. Pick your country on the home page to open the official form with the wholesale price, or ask us if anything is unclear.

Questions and answers

How much does dōTERRA Cedarwood cost?

In the US a 15 ml bottle is $16.00 wholesale and $21.33 retail; in the UK £17.00 / £22.67. It is one of the least expensive oils in the range, and the table above lists ten countries from the official October 2026 price lists.

What does Cedarwood smell like?

Warm, dry and woody, very close to freshly sharpened pencils. It is a quiet base note rather than a bright top note, so it is often mixed with lavender, citrus or frankincense.

Can I use Cedarwood in my beard or hair?

Yes, diluted. Many people add one or two drops to 10 ml of a carrier oil or to a beard oil and work a few drops through the beard or the ends of the hair. Patch-test first if your skin is reactive.

Is dōTERRA Cedarwood the same as Atlas or Himalayan cedarwood?

No. dōTERRA Cedarwood is Juniperus virginiana, often called Virginian or American red cedar. Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) and Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) are different trees with a sweeter, more resinous smell.

How long does a bottle of Cedarwood last?

A 15 ml bottle holds about 250 drops. Used two or three drops an evening in a diffuser blend, it lasts three months or longer; as a wardrobe freshener and in beard oil it goes even further.

This information is for general aromatic and household use. dōTERRA products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Follow the label of the product sold in your country; ask a doctor before use during pregnancy, with children or with medical conditions.