A report furnished by the Imperial Institute (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. iv. 1906, p. 299), after giving a detailed description of the oil, states:
"The foregoing results show that this oil sells readily in this country at prices which should be fairly remunerative to producers in Cyprus. It should, however, be borne in mind that the demand for this oil is somewhat limited, and that it competes with the thyme oil produced in France and Spain, and with the 'origanum oil' produced in Smyrna, and that consequently a sudden increase in production in Cyprus might lead to a considerable fall in price. The Cyprus oil has, however, the advantage that it is very rich in the odorous and antiseptic constituent carvacrol, and it is probably due to its richness in this constituent, as revealed by the analyses made at the Imperial Institute, that the comparatively high prices realised for these consignments were obtained at a time when 'red thyme oils' were selling at lower rates. It would be advantageous if a refined white oil could be prepared by some simple method from this material, as this probably would fetch an enhanced price, and be applicable to other purposes for which the 'red oil' is unsuitable."
Until 1910 the distillation was made by the Department, but since then it has been undertaken by private contract, permission being given to collect the wild plant from the forest. The annual production is now about 2,750 lb., and the price has steadily risen from about 3s. per lb. to 8s. 6d. per lb. at the present time. But whereas the cost of transport to London before the war was £8 per ton, it has risen to the prohibitive rate of £200 per ton, and the 1917 oil still remains in store at Alexandria.
The supply of the wild plant is limited and its cultivation is under consideration.
The following table shows the exports of origanum oil in recent years:
| Year. | Quantity. |
| lb. | |
| 1902 | 2,092 |
| 1903 | No distillation |
| 1904 | 2,410 |
| 1905 | 1,463 |
| 1906 | 2,200 |
| 1907 | 1,745 |
| 1908 | 2,051 |
| 1909 | [4]1,530 |
| 1910 | 2,842 |
| 1911 | 2,276 |
| 1912 | 2,230 |
| 1913 | 2,455 |
| 1914 | 3,776 |
| 1915 | 3,709 |
| 1916 | 2,756 |
| 1917 | 2,696 |
| 1918 | 2,066 |
Marjoram Oil
This is not yet a regular product, but samples of locally produced oil have been examined at the Imperial Institute and pronounced to be superior to European marjoram oil and about equal in value to sweet fennel oil (see Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. xi. 1913, p. 50). It is distilled from a plant which is abundant in the forests of Kyrenia and Paphos, and which has been referred by Dr. Stapf to O. majoranoides, Wild., and by Mr. Holmes to O. Maru, Linn. The market is, however, restricted.
Laurel Oil
Samples of oil distilled from the leaves of Laurus nobilis which were examined at the Imperial Institute were found to have an aroma inferior to that of the oils usually met with in commerce (see Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. xi. 1913, p. 430). The demand for the oil is said to be small.