Incense cedar

Overview

A light, fine-grained, stable cedar-scented wood best known as the pencil wood of North America. It works almost effortlessly, glues and finishes well, and is rot-resistant once dry, which makes it good for chests, closets and small pieces.

Pros

• Easy to work; excellent dimensional stability (Wood Database).
• Holds paint very well; stains, glues and finishes well.
• Durable once dried despite the peck.
• Light (about 385 kg/m3) and pleasantly scented.

Cons

• Pockets of partially decayed wood (peck) are common, because of a fungus in the living tree.
• Soft (Janka 470 lbf) and brittle in thin sections.
• Skin irritation has been reported.
• Limited retail supply outside the West.

Variants and subspecies

• Pecky: boards with fungal pockets, popular for rustic work.
• Clear: premium boards for chests and pencils.
• Not a true cedar; compare Western red cedar and Eastern red cedar.

Working and finishing

Planes, saws and routs cleanly. It is brittle in thin sections and can split at screw holes, so pre-drill. Glues well, and takes paint and clear finishes very well.

Staining and finishing colour

Stains and finishes evenly because of its fine, uniform grain. The reddish heartwood fades to a tan-brown; a UV-blocking finish helps preserve colour.

Sustainability and handling

Not CITES-listed (Wood Database; checked 2026-09-30); IUCN Least Concern as of 2026-09-30. The Wood Database reports skin irritation, though severe reactions are uncommon.

Popular projects

Pencils, blanket chests and closet liners, small boxes, fence posts, exterior furniture and siding.

Buying notes

Mostly found in California and the West, as clear boards, pecky boards and fencing. The Wood Database expects moderate prices; no retail listing was opened, so the range shown is an estimate.