ABSTRACT
Cedarwood oil, Atlas, is the essential oil obtained from the wood of the Atlantic cedar, Cedrus atlantica G. Manetti ex Carriere. Cedrus atlantica is an evergreen coniferous tree which can grow up to 40 meters high and 2 meters in diameter. Atlas cedar is the principal species in Moroccan forests used for production of timber. The machining waste, sawdust is the ground material for the production of Atlas cedarwood essential oil, which is used in the perfumery and flavor industry and for its medicinal properties, especially for their content of himachalenes C. atlantica wood oil is said to possess antiseptic, diuretic, astringent, fungicidal, sedative, antimicrobial and stimulant properties. Cedarwood oil, Atlas is a pale to dark yellow, clear mobile liquid which has a balsamic, soft woody odor reminding of sandalwood. Contact allergy to/allergic contact dermatitis from cedarwood oil has been reported in several publications.
