Olive Wood vs. Cedar Wood: Key Differences for Wall Art | Moss the Walls
Moss & Wood

Olive Wood vs. Cedar Wood: Key Differences for Wall Art | Moss the Walls

Aug 21, 2024

Olive Wood vs. Fragrant Cedar Wood: Which is Best for Your Wall Art?

Choosing the right type of wood for your wall art can make a big difference in both the look and feel of your home decor. At Moss the Walls, we use two incredible types of wood in our Moss & Wood Collection: Olive Wood and Fragrant Cedar Wood. Let’s take a closer look at what makes each of these woods special and how they differ.

Olive Wood

  • Origin: Primarily from the Mediterranean region, olive trees are known for their longevity and dense, hard wood.
  • Appearance: Olive wood has a distinctive, irregular grain pattern with beautiful swirls and a variety of shades, ranging from creamy or yellowish tones to dark brown. The wood often has an attractive, oily sheen due to its natural oil content.
  • Texture: Dense, fine-grained, and relatively hard, making it durable and resistant to wear.
  • Aroma: Has a subtle, natural fragrance, but not as strong as cedar.
  • Uses: Commonly used in high-end furniture, kitchen utensils (like bowls and cutting boards), decorative items, and religious artifacts due to its aesthetic appeal and durability.

Fragrant Cedar Wood

  • Origin: Often sourced from Asia, especially China and Japan, fragrant cedar wood refers to types of cedar that emit a strong, pleasant scent.
  • Appearance: Cedar wood typically has a straight grain and a uniform texture. The colour can range from light reddish to pinkish-brown, which may darken with age.
  • Texture: Cedar is relatively soft and lightweight compared to olive wood, making it easier to work with but less durable in terms of wear resistance.
  • Aroma: Cedar is well-known for its strong, pleasant, and long-lasting fragrance, which comes from natural oils in the wood. This scent can repel insects, which is why cedar is often used in closets and storage chests.
  • Uses: Due to its aroma and resistance to decay, cedar is commonly used for outdoor furniture, closets, chests, and decorative elements. It’s also popular in incense and essential oils.

Key Differences:

  • Density and Hardness: Olive wood is denser and harder, making it more durable but also more challenging to work with compared to the softer, lighter cedar wood.
  • Grain and Appearance: Olive wood has a more complex and varied grain pattern, while cedar wood has a straighter, more uniform grain.
  • Aroma: Cedar wood is known for its strong fragrance, which is much more pronounced than the subtle scent of olive wood.
  • Uses: Olive wood is typically used for items where strength and beauty are key, while cedar is often used where fragrance and resistance to insects are important.

 

Each type of wood has its own unique benefits, and the choice between them depends on your personal preferences and the specific qualities you want in your wall art.

At Moss the Walls, our Moss & Wood Collection offers handcrafted wall art that showcases the best qualities of both olive wood and fragrant cedar wood, combined with lush preserved moss. Explore our collection and find the perfect piece for your home at www.mossthewalls.com.

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