Chinese cedarwood oil is similar in composition to Texas cedarwood oil. Chinese cedarwood oil is obtained by steam distillation of species of the Cupressaceae family such as Cupressus funebris Endl., Cupressaceae
(Chamaecyparis funebris (Endl.) Franco), which is a weeping cypress, indigenous
to China, and/or of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, Chinese arborvitae. Commercial Chinese cedarwood oil is a colorless to slightly yellow
oil with an odor more smoke-like than the American oils. The annual production
volume is in the range of 1000 t.
d2020 0.938–0.960; n20D 1.5000–1.5080; α20D ?35 ° to ?20°; solubility: 1 vol in
≤5 vol 95% ethanol. Composition by GC: α-cedrene 13–29% (may contain
some β-funebrene); thujopsene 18–39%; cedrol 10–20%.
