We had to make a choice. The price of sesame seed varieties we use has gone up significantly. But these are really the best seeds which gives the oil its unique aroma and suits our process. Do we switch to a cheaper variety to increase sales or stick to the same? Decided not to get into volume games and hoping customers appreciate the reason. This virgin sesame oil is our 'Signature Dish'! The product comes from a family run business that's been in agriculture for centuries. We have been making our own oils for personal consumption for nearly 200 years now. The result of methods fine-tuned over all these years is now in a bottle for you. Our oil is less dense, not too pungent and is smoother than others. We make it so. The result is an oil that children to elders can enjoy - whether it's to cook or for a body massage. The oil is unrefined and clarified using time consuming, expensive natural sedimentation. This keeps nutrients fully intact [Hence, the oil may appear a bit cloudy or have tiny sediments at the bottom of bottle; but it is not a cause of concern]. A good sesame oil’s difference will be seen when you do oil pulling (gargle it in the mouth), it would not solidify in the mouth and would start to become thinner after a minute. Also it won’t be overpoweringly pungent, but would start releasing a rich sesame aroma in the mouth after a minute. During body massage you can find your hand gliding in perfect viscosity – not too thick nor too thin. It will smell good after application and exposure to air. Not all sesame seeds and oils are the same. There are 49 varieties and properties change based on soil, season and nutrient management. PS: Our aim is not to make price competitive cheap oil, but to give value by reducing unwanted expenses. If you find it expensive, it's not because of our margins. It's what it costs to get a quality product to your doorstep across the country with the Fulfilled By Amazon reliability.