An optical cell suitable for Raman studies and for absorption studies of gases, liquids, and solids is described. The cell has been used at temperatures down to 4.2 K and pressures up to 10 kilobars. It contains a sample chamber with special scattering geometry and a ruby manometer for in situ pressure measurements. Typical results are given for the impurity induced one phonon Raman spectra of doped alkali halides and for the fundamental vibrational Raman spectra of matrix-isolated molecules under pressure.