

84 Report of Schimmel ■§ Co. 1921. 



control the rose oil manufacture in Milikouri and introduce better methods of distillation. 

 In its constants the Cyprus oil distilled in 1917 agreed almost completely with those 

 of Bulgarian oil of rose. The smell of the Cyprian product was quite good, though 

 rather feeble. The price offered for the oil (70 s. per oz.) was not bad, when one 

 considers that French oil was sold at the rate of 78 to 85 s. per oz. 



The Cassie Shrub, Acacia Farnesiana, Willd., the flowers of which are utilised in 

 France for the preparation of scent, occurs only sparely on the island of Cyprus, but 

 in strong and healthy specimens. As cognate species are frequently found on the 

 island, we may assume that the variety which is valuable for its scented flowers might 

 be further distributed. The cassie shrub, which is known in various countries under 

 all sorts of names (dune rose, sweet briar in Barbados, stinking cassie in Antigua, 

 cassier In the south of France), is called Skouroupathos or Skouroupathia by the 

 inhabitants of Cyprus. The same name is given to a weed, related to cassie and to 

 be found almost on any field, which is very hard to extirpate owing to its deeply- 

 penetrating roots. 



Origanum Oil from Cyprus, the mother plant of which has not yet been identified 

 with certainty, has since 1899 been prepared under Government control. The last 

 English communication confirmed former investigations (Imperial Institute, London, 

 and Schimmel 8{ Co. 1 )) which did not agree with the statement made by the Government 

 analyst, that the origanum oil from Cyprus was rich in carvacrol (80 per cent.). Frequent 

 analyses, moreover, revealed that the composition of the product was not always the 

 same. As the oil darkens rapidly when exposed to light and air, the Imperial Institute 

 has worked out a method by means of which the rectified oil can be kept colourless 

 for a long period. n 



In 1910 people were permitted to gather the wild plant in the forests; private 

 people then began, in addition to the Government, to distil origanum oil. At present 

 about 2750 lbs. of oil are prepared every year. Prices have steadily been going up, 

 from 3/- per lb. to 8/6 d. per lb. Whilst before the war the transport to London cost 

 <£ 8 per ton, £ 200 are now demanded per ton, and it is no wonder that the oil 

 of 1917 is still in the docks of Alexandria. 



Only within the last years a commencement has been made on the Philippines 

 to manufacture, on a larger scale, essential oils from the plants which are natives of 

 these islands and which supply Odorous substances, such as ylang-ylang, champaca, 

 lemongrass, vetivergrass, Cinnamonum Mercadoi, Vid. and ginger. According to 

 A. N. Luz 2 ) the erection of works with modern equipment is contemplated on the 

 island. The article by Luz, which contains much that was already known 3 ), may be 

 extracted to supplement previous communications. 



The Ylang-Ylang tree, Cananga odoruta. Hook. f. et Thomson (Anonaceoe), is 

 particularly characteristic for the Philippine Islands. The ylang-ylang oil there 

 obtained is distinguished by its fine quality from the oils of other tropical countries. 

 350 kg. of blossoms are required for the preparation of 1 kg. of first-class oil, which 

 is sold at 100 dollars; less superior kinds of oil can be bought for 15 to 35 dollars. 

 The blossoms, the treatment of which requires experience and care, are generally 

 plucked over night and then gathered in the morning in such a manner that they are 

 only piled up in small heaps and then taken to the still houses. 



*) Cf. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, 2 nd ed., vol. Ill, p. 487; Report 1918, 37. — 2 ) Americ. 

 Perfumer 15 (1920), 216. — 3 ) Cf. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, 2 nd ed., vol. II, p. 393, 375, 209, 445. 



