• Varieties of cedar trees are found around the world.Akira Kaede/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Cedar is a richly aromatic wood that people use throughout their homes. The intense color of the trees' heartwood provides warmth to rooms and decks while the scent is lingering and just potent enough to block out musty closet smells. Various types of cedar are found across the U.S. and throughout the world.
  
  

Northern White

• Northern white derives its name from its bright white sapwood with an evenly spread grain pattern. The cedar is a light wood, which is also widely used in manufacturing canoes. The center of the tree, the heartwood, is a rich brown tone, while keeping the fine grain appearance. Decks.com explains the odor of northern white cedar as being like a new pencil.
  
  

Western Red

• The large western red cedar tree happens to be less prone to rotting than eastern varieties. Western red heartwood is a light, durable wood that withstands decay and structural variations from temperature changes. With noticeable grain markings at varied spaces and widths, western red cedar heartwood has a signature pink to red tone.
  
  

Atlantic

• Found along the eastern coastal plain of the U.S., Atlantic cedar is known for a strong yet pleasing scent when first cut. The white wood is characterized by a grain pattern that is hardly noticeable due to uniformity and fine texture. Like other cedars, Atlantic cedar is light and durable, with very good decay resistance.
  
  

Port Orford

• Port Orford is found in a small area of southwest Oregon and northwest California. The wood carries a distinctive white to yellow to brown coloration. The yellow tone of some sapwood, and the yellow hints in the browning heartwood, make identifying Port Orford obvious. Decks.com suggests the cedar is known for its "ginger-like odor," and "bitter, spicy flavor." Port Orford may shrink slightly, yet it does not typically decay.