Wood Species Guide
Aromatic Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana (southern red cedar is often treated as Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola)
Also called: Eastern Red Cedar, Aromatic Cedar, Southern Red Cedar, Tennessee Red Cedar, Red Juniper, Juniper, Pencil Cedar
About the name “Aromatic Red Cedar”
Despite the name it is a juniper, not a true cedar. It is also unrelated to western red cedar or Spanish cedar.
What Aromatic Red Cedar looks like
Reddish to purplish brown heartwood with bold streaks of creamy yellow sapwood. The vivid color fades toward a warmer brown over time, faster in sunlight.
Grain and texture
Usually straight grain with a fine, even texture, interrupted by many small knots.
Working Aromatic Red Cedar: planing, cutting and gluing
Easy to work, though knots can chip out and the wood can be brittle. It glues fairly well; wipe oily faces with acetone first. The scent fills the shop while you mill it.
Finishing Aromatic Red Cedar: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Leave the inside of closets and chests unfinished so the aroma keeps working. On the outside, shellac and oil look great. Its natural oils can slow some finishes and epoxy, so wipe with acetone and seal coat first.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
The heartwood is very decay resistant and insect repellent, which is why it is used for fence posts and closets. Stable. Good for covered outdoor projects in Florida.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
We carry aromatic cedar as rough-sawn lumber. Its classic use is lining closets and blanket chests, where the scent helps keep moths away; plan to touch it up with light sanding every few years to refresh the smell. The knots and sapwood stripes give it a lot of personality for small boxes and accents. Keep oily dust off adjacent light woods when finishing.
Common uses for Aromatic Red Cedar
Closet and chest linings, hope chests, boxes, fence posts, birdhouses, pencils, carving and small outdoor projects.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. The IUCN Red List rates it as Least Concern.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
- Nausea or headache
The dust and aromatic oils can irritate skin and airways, and the strong scent gives some people headaches in closed rooms. Serious reactions are uncommon.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask; ventilate the room; gloves for sensitive skin
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Cedar dust and the aromatic oils can cause skin and respiratory irritation, and some people find the smell overwhelming in closed spaces. Its strong scent and resin make it a poor choice for cutting boards. Use dust collection and a mask.
Aromatic Red Cedar in stock now
Want to see them in person? Book a slab & lumber visit.
-
4/4 Aromatic Cedar(Eastern Red Cedar) · Rough Sawn Lumber
Regular price $8.96 USDRegular price
Similar woods: Cedars & Junipers
- Alaskan Yellow CedarCupressus nootkatensis (syn. Callitropsis nootkatensis, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) Alaskan yellow cedar is a slow-grown Pacific cypress with pale yellow, fine-grained wood that resists rot. Boatbuilders, carvers...
- Atlantic White CedarChamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar is a light, aromatic false cypress from East Coast swamps, reaching into the Florida panhandle....
- Cedar of LebanonCedrus libani Cedar of Lebanon is a true cedar, the biblical timber of temples and ships, with warm, fragrant wood....
- Incense CedarCalocedrus decurrens (syn. Libocedrus decurrens) Incense cedar is the classic pencil wood of the western mountains, soft, aromatic and easy to work. Its...
- Northern White CedarThuja occidentalis Northern white cedar is the light, aromatic thuja behind northern fence posts, shingles and canoes. It is very...
- Port Orford CedarChamaecyparis lawsoniana Port Orford cedar is a rare, aromatic false cypress from a small corner of Oregon and California. Its...