The Atlas Cedar, also known as Cedrus atlantica, is a majestic tree native to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It is particularly known for its essential oil with a woody scent, possessing numerous properties that are as beneficial for use on the skin of the face and body as they are for the scalp. Discover everything there is to know about Atlas Cedar essential oil in the following.
Atlas Cedar Essential Oil: What should you know?
Summary
Published on August 28, 2024, updated on November 15, 2024, by Marie, Scientific Editor — 9 min of reading
Themes:
The Atlas Cedar essential oil in a nutshell.
The essential oil of Atlas cedar is derived from the cedar tree, a species known for millennia for its longevity and often associated with a symbol of wisdom and tranquility. Its wood was notably used in the construction of temples and palaces during antiquity. The cedar was also traditionally used for performing sacred rituals due to its potent aroma. Through hydrodistillation, it is possible to extract the essential oil of Atlas cedar from its leaves. This oil has a golden-orange color and possesses a slightly viscous texture.
Recommendation : To maintain its quality, it is advised to store Atlas Cedar essential oil in an airtight, opaque container, protected from light and heat.
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What does Atlas Cedar essential oil contain?
The essential oil of Atlas cedar boasts a composition rich in active ingredients, allowing it to exert its numerous properties on the skin and hair.
| ACTIVE INGREDIENT | PERCENTAGE | PROPERTY/PROPERTIES |
|---|---|---|
| β-himachalene | 40 to 52% | Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal |
| α-himachalene | 12 to 20% | Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal |
| γ-himachalene | 6 to 14% | Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal |
| Deodarone | ≈ 8.5% | Anti-inflammatory |
| Trans-α-atlantone | 4 to 7% | Lipolytic |
| Himachalol | ≈ 5.8 % | Anti-inflammatory |
| α-cedrene | ≤ 6 % | Anti-inflammatory |
| Cedrol | ≤ 1 % | Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal |
Composition biochimique de l'huile essentielle de cèdre de l'Atlas.
What are the properties of Atlas Cedar essential oil on skin and hair?
The Atlas Cedar essential oil holds numerous benefits and can be used for various applications in cosmetic skin care, but also for hair care.
Atlas Cedar essential oil to soothe skin and scalp inflammation?
The Atlas cedar essential oil is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, as demonstrated in several in vitro studies and on rats. However, to date, no studies have been conducted on humans, which calls for caution. The potential anti-inflammatory action of Atlas cedar essential oil is thought to be associated with its content of himachalene and cedrol, sesquiterpenic compounds that may have the ability to inhibit certain pro-inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α and interleukin-6. Therefore, Atlas cedar essential oil could help soothe the skin and scalp by reducing irritation and redness. However, as previously mentioned, more research is still needed.
An antifungal action of Atlas Cedar essential oil?
The essential oil of Atlas cedarwood also appears to have antifungal activity. Indeed, studies have shown that it could inhibit the growth of fungi such as Aspergillus niger. To do this, it would act directly on the fungal membranes causing their alteration, leading to the leakage of compounds essential for fungal growth. The antifungal activity of the Atlas cedarwood essential oil suggests that it might be effective against dandruff or even certain skin mycoses. However, additional research would be necessary to confirm these potential actions.
Atlas Cedar Essential Oil: An Oil Promoting Healing?
The essential oil of Atlas cedar has shown a beneficial effect on the healing process during a study in vivo on rabbits. Its effects were compared to those of a reference healing cream based on Centella asiatica. The topical application of a cream containing the essential oil allowed a significant reduction similar to that obtained with the reference cream in the appearance of the rabbits' skin scars. However, the mechanism of the healing effect of the Atlas cedar essential oil is unknown to date. Moreover, the studies were conducted on rabbits, not humans. Therefore, it would be interesting to continue the investigations.
Atlas Cedar essential oil for soothing pain?
A study has highlighted the analgesic effect of Atlas cedar essential oil. This oil was found to reduce the number of abdominal cramps in mice, which were induced following the injection of acetic acid. This effect is believed to be linked to the sesquiterpenic compounds in the essential oil, which have the ability to inhibit molecules involved in the pain mechanism, such as bradykinin, histamine, and prostaglandin. Therefore, the application of Atlas cedar essential oil could potentially be beneficial for alleviating mild pain, although this hypothesis still needs to be scientifically confirmed.
Is Atlas Cedar essential oil a potential ally for oily skin and greasy hair?
The composition of Atlas cedar essential oil is also particularly interesting for its effects on oily skin and hair. Thanks to its content of sesquiterpenes, particularly atlantone, it is believed to be capable of initiating a lipolytic action which leads to the alteration of fatty substances and thus balances the activity of the sebaceous glands by limiting sebum production. However, studies on this property are currently lacking. More research will need to be undertaken to truly confirm this effect.
Are there any precautions related to the use of Atlas Cedar essential oil?
Whether on the body, face, or even the scalp, the Atlas cedar essential oil, like most essential oils, should not be applied in its pure form. It is therefore recommended to create a 10% dilution of the oil within a carrier oil. For example, to prepare 10 mL of solution, you would need to mix 1 mL of Atlas cedar essential oil and 9 mL of the chosen carrier oil.
In general, Atlas Cedar essential oil is relatively well-tolerated when applied topically. However, since there is no such thing as zero risk, to prevent unwanted skin reactions, it is advisable to perform a skin test during the first use. To do this, simply apply a small amount of essential oil to a small area of skin, behind the ear or in the crook of the elbow for example, and observe the skin's reaction over the following 48 hours.
Another point of caution: the Atlas cedar essential oil is generally not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children due to a precautionary principle as it may pose a neurotoxic risk and potentially increase the risk of miscarriages. Lastly, the ingestion of Atlas cedar essential oil is contraindicated.
Sources
CHAOUCH A. & al. Analysis of moroccan atlas cedarwood oil (Cedrus atlantica Manetti). Journal of Essential Oil Research (2004).
KORAICHI S. & al. Cedrus atlantica essential oil : Antimicrobial activity and effect on the physiochemical properties of cedar wood surface. Moroccan Journal of Biology (2019).
BOUHRIM M. & al. Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex carrière essential oil alleviates pain and inflammation with no toxicity in rodent. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (2022).
FIKRI-BENBRAHIM K. & al. Dermatoprotective properties of Cedrus Atlantica manetti Ex carriere essential oil : In vitro and in silica investigations. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, Molecules (2023).
