- March 21, 2020
- 688
- Culture
Rose oil is the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of rose. Bulgarian Rose Oil is extracted from one of the rarest flowers in the world, the Bulgarian Rose Damascena. This rose is harvested in the Rose Valley of Kazanlak (also known as the “Bulgarian Rose Valley”).
Due to its amazing properties, rose oil has multiple applications in aromatherapy, medicine, skin care, and perfumery. The pure genuine Bulgarian Rose oil is considered one of the highest quality essential oils in the world.
Two major species of rose are cultivated for the production of rose oil:
- Rosa damascena, the damask rose, is widely grown in Bulgaria, Syria, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Iran, and China
- Rosa centifolia, the cabbage rose, is more commonly grown in Morocco, France and Egypt.
Where is the Bulgarian Rose Valley located?
The Rose Valley is a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan Mountains and the eastern part of the lower Sredna Gora chain to the south. The rose valley has a total of 1895 square meters of land which represents about 1.8% of Bulgaria’s total area. It is 10-12km wide and around 95km long and an average of 300-400 meters above sea level.
The Valley of Roses is one of the biggest producers of rose oil in the world. For more than 400 years, the Valley of Roses has been known as the world center for rose oil production. The climate and the soil in this region are quite suitable for the roses. The conditions in Kazanlak, the biggest city in the area, are proved to be more favorable for the cultivation of the rose. The cloudiness, air humidity, and precipitation in May and June contributed to obtain roses yielding a high percentage of oil.
According to Wikipedia, Bulgarian rose oil is generally characterized by a differs in the quantitative content of its ingredients. About 283 components have been identified in the composition of Bulgarian rose oil. They are divided into two groups of substances. It takes a large amount of rose petals to distill a small amount of essential oil. Depending on the extraction method and plant species, the typical yield can be approximately 1:3,000.
Bulgarian Rose Oil
Bulgarian rose oil was recognized in the world market for its superior quality and the cultivation and processing of roses developed as the first Bulgarian industry. In 2014 the European Commission, which promotes and protects the names of quality agricultural products, approved Bulgarian rose oil as a new Protected Geographical Indication.
Bulgarian Rose Oil has been distilled for over 300 years as the first rose plantations appeared around the city of Kazanlak around the 16th century. Because the climatic and soil conditions proved to be more favorable than any other geographic location in the world, the rose plantations grew over the years occupying a large area in central Bulgaria later known as the Valley of Roses.
Bulgaria is the world’s leading exporters of rose oil, producing more than half of the world’s output. There are over 2,000 rose producers in the country.
After a decline, the rose cultivation for essential oil production continues to grow and as of 2014 over 6,000 tons per year were produced and 95% of that amount is exported. Bulgaria produces both rose otto and rose absolute from the Damaskrose, as the price of wholesale rose oil is continuing to rise.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a National Plan for the Development of Organic Farming until 2027. The goal is to establish this country as a leader in a number of organic products. The sustainability of small organic farms will be promoted through their cooperation. Opportunities for free counseling and professional training for organic farmers are being launched.
From 26,662 hectares in 2011, organically certified areas in Bulgaria increased to 162,332 ha in 2018. This country is among the leaders in Europe according to the number of hives, meeting the requirements for organic farming, and is the largest manufacturer of organic rose and lavender oils in the world. Production of essential oil from Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has also been growing.
According to BNR, in 2016, about 17,000 tons of rose petals were collected at an average yield of 450 kilograms per decare.
