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Cade Essential Oil (Rectified)

Cade, also known by several other common names including Juniper Tar and Prickly Juniper, is a variety of juniper that is native to regions of the Mediterranean.

Rectified Cade Oil is generally obtained by steam distillation of the crude extraction of cade oil through destructive distillation. According to Tisserand and Young, crude (unrectified) Cade Oil is potentially carcinogenic due to the presence of benzo[a]pyrene and should not be used internally or externally. They precaution that only rectified Cade Oil should be used. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 222-223.] Therefore, it's important to ensure that you procure and use only Cade Oil that has been rectified to remove the carcinogenic constituents.

Unless you have an appropriate background in aromatherapy to understand the risks of working with the crude oil, I don't recommend procuring or working with it. Crude, unrectified Cade Oil is generally darker, thicker and smokier than is rectified Cade Oil.

Aromatically, rectified Cade Oil possesses a deep, smoky, woody, somewhat tar-like aroma. I've also heard the term "leather" used to describe the aroma. Those that are fond of the aroma of Vetiver Essential Oil may also favor the aroma of Cade Essential Oil. It acts as a base note and can act as a fixative in fragrance blends.

Emotionally, Cade Oil is grounding and can promote a sense of calm. I can see it being useful in meditation and for the Root Chakra in Chakra applications.

Botanical Name

Juniperus oxycedrus

Common Method of Extraction of Rectified Cade Oil

Steam Distillation and Rectification of the Crude Oil

Plant Part Typically Used

Wood

Color

Generally Light to Medium Brown

Consistency

Medium-Thick

Perfumery Note

Base

Strength of Initial Aroma

Medium

Aromatic Description

Smoky, similar to the aroma of burning wood or tar.

Cade Oil Uses

Cuts, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, spots. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 158.]

Major Constituents of Rectified Cade Oil

delta-Cadinene
Torreyol
Epicubenol
Zonarene
B-Caryophyllene
See Essential Oil Safety for more complete list of constituents.
[Private Communication: Abisset 2004. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 224.]

Safety Information of Rectified Cade Oil

Due to the presence of a carcinogen known as Benzo[a]pyrene in crude (unrectified) Cade Oil, only oil that has been rectified to remove the carcinogenic compound(s) should be used. Tisserand and Young caution that there is a risk of toxicity even with the rectified oil. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 222-223.]

Shelf Life

View Shelf Life Information

Important Information About the Profiles

The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, oil color can vary based on harvesting, distillation and other factors. Profiles for several absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.

General Safety Information

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Essential Oil Book Suggestions

Click on a book's title to view details and read a full review for the book. Visit AromaWeb's Books area to find details about many other essential oil and aromatherapy books.

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Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals
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The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
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The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Essential Oils
Level: Beginning • Intermediate • Advanced
Author: Julia Lawless

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