A cedar is a type of evergreen tree known for its fragrant, reddish wood and its ability to resist rot and insects. True cedars grow naturally in mountainous regions of the Mediterranean and the Himalayas, with massive trunks and branches that spread wide like outstretched arms.

The wood has a distinctive, pleasant smell that you might recognize from pencils, closets, or storage chests. People have valued cedar for thousands of years because moths and other insects dislike its scent, making it perfect for protecting clothes and blankets. Ancient shipbuilders prized cedar for constructing vessels that could withstand years at sea without rotting.

In North America, what we call “cedars” are actually different species with similar qualities, such as the aromatic red cedar of the eastern forests and the massive western red cedar of the Pacific Northwest. Native American tribes along the Pacific coast used western red cedar to build longhouses, carve totem poles, and fashion ocean-going canoes from single enormous logs. The wood splits easily into planks, making it ideal for roof shingles and outdoor construction.

The word cedar appears in many place names and is sometimes used to mean strength or durability, as in the phrase “strong as cedar.” When something is made of cedar, it carries that distinctive woodsy fragrance that lasts for decades.