Cedar smudge bundle 6 inch. from Oregon in the U.S.A.

Cedar is burned while you pray aloud or in mind. The prayers rise with the cedar smoke and carry it to the creator. Cedar (Cedrus) is a genus of conifers that belongs to the pine family (Pinaceae). Cedar is related to pine (Pinus) and spruce, and, like these, has conical fruits. Cedars occur naturally in the western Himalayas (1500-3200 m) and the Mediterranean (1000-2200 m). Cedars are known for their fragrant and sustainable wood.

A cedar can reach a height of 40-50 m (sometimes 60 m). The plants have a bark that consists of thick ridges or square ridges and wide, straight branches. The shoots are two-shaped. Long shoots form the branches and short shoots support the leaves. The plants are evergreen. The leaves are needle-like and 0.8-6 cm long. They are placed separately in an open spiral on long twigs or in tightly packed spirals on short twigs. The color varies from clear grass green over dark green to sea green, depending on the thickness of the whitish wax layer that protects the leaves from drying out. The cones are barrel-shaped, 6-12 cm long, and contain winged seeds. The seeds are 1-1.5 cm long and have a 2-3 cm long wing. They have two or three resin bags, which contain an unpleasant-tasting resin, probably to prevent them from being eaten by squirrels. The ripening of the cone takes a year. The pollination takes place in September and October. The seeds are ripe a year later.