PURPOSE: To obtain a dye composition by producing a new hardly soluble cyanine compound and dissolving this compound in a water-miscible organic solvent.

CONSTITUTION: 2-(2-Anilinovinyl)benzoxazolium compound represented by formula I (wherein X is a halogen atom; R1 is a 1-4C alkyl group, optionally having methylene group replaced by O or S; R3 is H or acetyl; an Q is an anion) is reacted with 2-methylbenzimidazolium compound represented by formula II (wherein R2 is the same as R1; L is a 1-4C alkylene; and Y is CH2, a single bond or O) in the presence of a base to give a new cyanine compound represented by formula III. The cyanine compound is dissolved in benzyl alcohol to give a content of 0.1-30g in 100ml of the alcohol, and if necessary, other water-miscible organic solvent is added thereto in an amount of at most 40vol.% based on the benzyl alcohol, thus giving the dye composition.