_Cedar oil_ (_oleum cedri_) is obtained by distillation from the shavings of the wood of the American or Virginia cedar (_Juniperus virginiana_). For the distillation of oil the waste falling off in the manufacture of lead-pencils is almost exclusively used. It yields about 2 to 3 per cent. of oil. The oil is thinly-fluid, of specific gravity 0.9622, of a greenish color, and an agreeable but not very penetrating odor. It is a mixture of a terpene, boiling at about 540° F., and of a hydrocarbon. The latter, which is called _cidrin_, forms the fluid portion of the oil. It has a specific gravity of 0.984, and boils at about 459° F. Cedar oil is extensively used in the manufacture of toilet soap, it serving as the basis for other perfumes. Care must, however, be taken that its odor does not preponderate, as in such case it readily produces an unpleasant effect. The oil being cheap, adulteration is scarcely to be feared. A volatile oil is also obtained by distillation from the leaves of the _Juniperus virginiana_. In odor it resembles savin oil, and is unfit for perfuming purposes. _Cherry-laurel oil_ (_oleum laurocerasi_) is the volatile oil, which contains prussic acid, obtained from the leaves of the cherry-laurel (_Prunus laurocerasus, L._). Like bitter almonds, the leaves contain some amygdalin. Hence they are macerated with water and allowed to stand in a warm place for 24 hours. By subsequent distillation a volatile oil is obtained which closely resembles oil of bitter almonds, but differs in some respects. It is colorless or yellowish, rarely reddish, and of specific gravity 1.05 to 1.06. In its behavior towards air, solvents, and reagents, it does not essentially differ from oil of bitter almonds.[5] [5] Compare Kremel's observations, p. 91. To detect oil of mirbane in cherry-laurel oil, Enrico Pega adds some alcohol to the oil to be tested and then mixes it with some alcoholic potash lye and a few drops of ferric chloride solution. After standing for a few hours the mixture is shaken and distilled. A small portion of the oil distilling over is freed from water, poured upon a few small pieces of pure caustic potash in a test-tube, and heated over a lamp. If the sample is pure it remains colorless; in the presence of oil of mirbane it acquires a dark coloration in consequence of the formation of nitrobenzide and aniline, a few drops of calcium chloride solution brought into the mixture producing, for this reason, a violet coloration. Cherry laurel oil is but seldom used for perfuming purposes. _Cinnamon oils._--There are four different kinds of this oil, viz., _Ceylon cinnamon oil_, _cassia oil_, _cinnamon root oil_, and _oil of cinnamon leaves_. Though the first two are very much alike, the Ceylon oil is considered the best.