Savory Oil

#### Savory Oil. See also summary of correct denominations of this and related oils under **Thyme**** ****Oil**. Various species of **Satureia**** **are steam distilled to yield essential oils known as "**Savory**** ****Oils**". In France, the **Satureia**** ****Hortense**** **is cultivated, while the **Satureia**** ****Montana**** **grows wild. The latter is also found extensively wild growing in Yugoslavia, Turkey, and to a lesser degree in Hungary, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, the U.S.S.R. and Italy. In Spain and particularly in Morocco, the **Satureia Montana **is quite common and it is the only savory used for distillation there. The plant is a small labiate, and the essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the entire overground plant with its flowering stalks. The plant has been used as a culinary herb since Antiquity in the Mediterranean countries. The oil is distilled in France (mainly **Satureia**** ****Hortense**), Yugoslavia, Spain, Morocco (**Satureia**** ****Montana**). The two oils are quite similar, although not identical in odor and flavor. **Savory**** ****Oil**** **is a pale yellow or almost colorless liquid of fresh medicinal-spicy odor, reminiscent of sage and thyme, but with a sharpness recalling that of cumin oil, although not distinctly green. The dryout is rather phenolic-harsh. Of flavor, the Savory Oil is disappointingly sharp, biting or burning, almost bitter. At low concentrations only, the flavor can be recognized as pleasant, herbaceous, reminiscent of the culinary herb. The oil is used mainly in flavors for sauces, seasonings, canned meat, pickles, vinegars, etc., but occasionally, the fresh-herbaceous, medicinal effect can be useful and interesting in perfumes of the forest-type, chypres, fougères, or as a modifier in lavender bouquets and colognes along with citrus oils and oakmoss products. The oil blends well with amyl salicylate, coumarin, lavender. pine needle oils, rosemary oil, etc. The annual production of **Savory Oils **is less than 10 metric tons, but confusion (and adulteration) with origanum and thyme oils (see these monographs) gives the impression of a higher production figure.