Use

Marjoram oil (sweet marjoram oil) is obtained by steam distillation of the herb Origanummajorana L. (Majorana hortensis Moench, Lamiaceae). It is a yellow to greenish-yellow liquid with a characteristic earthy, spicy odor. d2525 0.890–0.906; n20D 1.4700–1.4750; α20D +14 ° to +24 °; acid number: max. 2.5; saponification number: 23–40; saponification number (after acetylation) 68–86; solubility: 1 vol in 2 vol of 80% ethanol. The main constituent of the oil is 1-terpinen-4-ol (>20%), which with (+)-cissabinene hydrate (3–18%) is responsible for the characteristic flavor and fragrance of marjoram oil. Sweetmarjoram oil is produced on a relatively small scale, for example, in Egypt, and is used mainly for flavoring foods, but also in smaller amounts in perfumery for spicy shadings in men’s fragrances.