The stone pine ( Pinus cembra L., 1753), also simply called stone pine or stone pine , is an evergreen needle-leaved tree of the Pinus genus that lives in the Alps. It is a tree that can be up to 25 meters tall, although it usually does not exceed i 15, with cylindrical-conical crown. It is a long-lived species.
The bark appears greyish, thin and smooth with traces of resin in the young parts, in the adult parts it appears wrinkled, cracking in small plaques with brownish-red fissures.
The leaves are needle-like and collected in bundles of 5, the needles are 5-8 cm long, dark in color on the upper part and grayish on the lower part
Today the stone pine is one of the most used wood species for wood sculpture.
In the past, pine was mainly used to build furniture, wardrobes or coverings for stubes. In fact, it was noticed that clothes were better preserved in wardrobes made from this wood
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Like most conifer oils, it is chemically characterized by monoterpenes.
CAUTIONS
No essential oil derived from conifers should be used if too old, i.e. if excessively oxidized, as it could cause irritation. In terms of time, the essential oil, if well preserved, becomes "old" in 12-18 months.
Store in sealed containers, protected from light and heat, if possible in the refrigerator.