Western Red Cedarleaf

Western red cedarleaf is more than an ingredient.
In British Columbia, it is a presence: alive, grounding, and deeply tied to place.

At Max Wellness, it is a core material, chosen with intention, respect, and care for both its aromatic character and the responsibility that comes with using it.

A Living Part of the Forest

Western red cedarleaf (Thuja plicata) is distilled from the needles and small branches of the western red cedar tree, native to the coastal forests of British Columbia. Its aroma is distinctive: green, softly camphorous, gently resinous, and unmistakably alive.

In aromatherapy, cedarleaf has traditionally been associated with feelings of clarity, grounding, and emotional steadiness. Its scent can feel both cleansing and anchoring: qualities that align naturally with rituals of focus, reflection, and nervous-system regulation. 

We use it to support presence: a return to breath, body, and place.

Cultural Significance

Western red cedar holds profound cultural significance for many Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Often referred to as the “Tree of Life,” cedar has been used for generations for shelter, tools, clothing, and ceremony, and is deeply woven into systems of knowledge, culture, and community.

We recognize that this relationship long predates our work. Our use of cedarleaf is approached with respect and restraint, with an understanding that it carries meaning far beyond scent alone.

Sourced at the Origin

Western red cedarleaf essential oil is rare, limited, and not industrially farmed.

The oil is obtained only when trees are already being felled as part of regulated forestry practices in British Columbia. Cedarleaf and branch material is collected at the source and distilled with full traceability, rather than harvesting living trees solely for oil production.

Because of this, supply is:

  • limited

  • seasonal

  • directly tied to local forestry practices

Availability can fluctuate, and we accept that.
We choose cedarleaf knowing it cannot and should not be rushed or scaled irresponsibly.

Ethical Ingredients, By Design

All Max Wellness formulations are created using:

  • essential oils sourced from ethical, traceable suppliers

  • no petroleum-based ingredients

  • plant-derived and aroma-identical molecules where appropriate

We use aroma-identical molecules intentionally: not as shortcuts, but as a way to protect vulnerable natural resources while maintaining performance, safety, and consistency. These materials allow us to create modern fragrances without contributing to overharvesting or environmental harm.

Our guiding principle is simple:
care for the body should never come at the expense of the land.

Why Cedarleaf Matters to Us

Cedarleaf is bright, grounding, and quietly powerful. It anchors our fragrances in place rather than fantasy, and connects our work to the forests around us: not as something to extract from, but something to move alongside.

Whether it appears in a studio spray, body care ritual, or as a signature thread within a fragrance, western red cedarleaf remains essential: not because it dominates, but because it belongs.

This is what it means to be rooted in British Columbia.
This is what it means to formulate with intention.