Cryptomeria Japonica Oil

#### Cryptomeria Japonica. **Cryptomeria**** ****Japonica**** ****Oil**** **is occasionally known as **Sugi**** ****Oil**** **or **Japanese**** ****Cedarwood**** ****Oil,**** **see also the monographs on **Cedarwood Oil, Japanese **and **Chamaecyparis Obtusa**. Various essential oils can be obtained from the cypress-like Japanese tree, **Cryptomeria**** ****Japonica**: **Root Oil, Bark Oil **and **Leaf Oil. **Only the **Root Oil **has obtained any significant interest for the perfume industry. The roots are readily available since the fragrant wood of the above tree is used extensively in the local production of beer- barrels. The bark oil and the leaf oil have been produced experimentally in Japan. **Sugi**** ****Root**** ****Oil**** **is produced in quantities of about *5** *to 10 metric tons per year, and only in Japan (figures from 1958). The oil is colorless to pale yellow or pale olive-green. Its odor is woodycedarlike with a faint peppery undertone, not unlike **Atractylis**** ****Oil**** **(which is much more pungent) or **Araucaria Oil **(which is much milder). The oil consists almost entirely of sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohols. **Sugi**** ****Root**** ****Oil**** **is used locally in soap perfumes for its good fixative value, equivalent to the use of cedarwood oils elsewhere. Little, if any, **Sugi Root Oil **is exported and the oil has no importance for the perfume industry outside of Japan. See also **Machilus**** ****Oil**.