The simple leaves of Cryptocarya woodii are alternate, growing on petioles of 3 mm to 5 mm.

The leaf-shape is ovate to broadly ovate, the base tapering and the tip rounded or tapering, often with a pronounced, abruptly attenuating drip tip. The margins are entire, slightly rolled under and sometimes wavy. The leaves are often small but ranging from 1,5 cm to 9 cm long and from 1,5 cm to 5 cm wide.

The hairless, mid-green to bright green blades are glossy above and slightly paler below and thinly leathery. The creamy white midrib is grooved on the upper surface. A few pale ascending lateral veins curve in before the margins, joining the next higher veins. The net-veining is pale translucent against the light. The leaves are aromatic when crushed, resembling an apricot scent. Old leaves turn yellow or orange. 

The forest emperor butterfly (Charaxes xiphares) and Papilio euphranor breed on this tree, at least the former probably on other Cryptocarya species as well (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).