Thuja can be found in many gardens. With its rapid and upright growth it is ideal for hedges. It is also known as the ‘northern white cedar’, which is actually misleading as thuja does not belong to the cedar family. The tree originally comes from North America. People mistakenly use the name ‘cypress’ with it.  Thuja is indeed a relative of the cypress but differs considerably from the real cypress which is typical of the Mediterranean environment.

The smell of thuja is pleasant and sweet, so not surprisingly it is used in the perfume industry and in disinfectants. To some the smell even evokes that of apples and pineapples. It is also a pleasant component of room fresheners.