Wood Species Guide
Incense Cedar
Calocedrus decurrens (syn. Libocedrus decurrens)
Also called: California Incense Cedar, Pencil Cedar, Pecky Cedar (decayed grade), Libocedrus
About the name “Incense Cedar”
Incense cedar is in the cypress family, not a true cedar. "Pencil cedar" is also an old name for eastern red cedar, which is a juniper and has its own page, so check which wood a seller means.
What Incense Cedar looks like
Heartwood is light reddish brown to tan, and the sapwood is off-white. Pecky grade boards have scattered brown pockets left by a fungus in the living tree.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a fine, uniform texture. It has a pleasant spicy scent.
Working Incense Cedar: planing, cutting and gluing
Soft and easy to cut, plane and sharpen, which is why it became the standard pencil wood. It glues and holds fasteners fine but dents easily. Sharp tools keep the soft earlywood from crushing.
Finishing Incense Cedar: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes stains, oils and paint well. Pecky boards can be sealed and filled with tinted epoxy for a rustic look; seal the pockets first, because the voids trap air. A clear seal coat also keeps resin and extractives from bleeding into light topcoats.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Dry heartwood is durable against decay and weathers well, so it is used for fence posts and siding. The pecky pockets stop growing once the tree is cut. In Florida, use it outdoors under cover or with a good exterior finish on all sides.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Incense cedar is a light, easy, aromatic softwood that suits closet panels, planters, birdhouses and fence work. Pecky incense cedar makes a fun rustic accent wall or tabletop if you fill the pockets with epoxy. It is far too soft for a busy dining surface. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Incense Cedar
Pencils, fence posts, siding, decking, blinds, chests and closet lining, and outdoor furniture.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Rated Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
Few reports beyond occasional skin irritation. As with other aromatic woods, the dust can bother sensitive airways.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Skin irritation has been reported. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Incense Cedar in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Incense Cedar listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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