Cedar oil was used as the base for paints by the ancient Sumerians. They would grind cobalt compounds in a mortar and pestle to produce a blue pigment. They could obtain green from copper, yellow from lead antimoniate, black from charcoal, and white from gypsum.

Today, cedar oil is often used for its aromatic properties, especially in aromatherapy.

It is also used as an insect repellent.