Wood & Resin Oils

Wood and resin oils are the base notes among essential oils – the oils that remain when everything else has long faded. Dry, deep and with a long finish, they are the grounding counterpoint to zesty citrus and clear herbal notes. Anyone who scents in the evening can't get past this family.

Why woody oils carry so long

Their low vapour pressure means they evaporate slowly and evenly. Where a citrus oil is gone after half an hour, a woody base note still stands in the room hours later. That also makes them the most important tool when blending: a single drop of cedar or patchouli gives a fleeting composition hold and length.

The four cedarwoods

A speciality of this family: we carry four different cedars side by side that smell distinctly different. Atlas is warm and soft, Virginia clear and dry, Texas smoky, Himalaya the mildest of all. Anyone who only knows “cedarwood” in general underestimates the range.

Which oil for what?

• Swiss stone pine – resinous and soft, the alpine sauna classic.
• Spruce needle – green and fresh, the forest scent.
• Cedarwood (Atlas) – warm and dry, the versatile base note.
• Frankincense – resinous and calm, a classic for meditation.
• Patchouli – earthy and extremely assertive, one drop is enough.

Shelf life

This family is the longest-lived in the range. While citrus oils should be used up within a year, wood and resin oils keep considerably longer when stored cool and dark – patchouli and cedar even become rounder and deeper over time.

Frequently asked questions

Which woody oil suits the evening?
Swiss stone pine and cedar tolerate long run times and feel calming in the room without becoming obtrusive.

Why is one drop of patchouli enough?
Patchouli is exceptionally assertive. In a blend it quickly dominates – as a base note, one drop on 30 ml is enough.

How do the four cedarwoods differ?
Atlas warm, Virginia dry, Texas smoky, Himalaya mild. For beginners, Atlas is the obvious choice.

Are woody oils suitable for the sauna?
Very much so – Swiss stone pine and spruce needle are classic forest infusions. See Sauna Infusions.