Bulgarian Rose Oil is the essential oil extracted from the petals of one of the rarest flowers in the world, which is called the Rose Damascena. This special variety of roses is cultivated and harvested only in the region of the Rose Valley, also popular as the “Bulgarian Rose Valley”. The pure genuine Bulgarian Rose Oil is with no doubt one of the most precious essential oils in the world. Thanks to its amazing properties and multiple applications in skin care, it is widely used  in the medicine, in the aromatherapy and in the fine perfumery.

One kilogram of rose oil is usually produced from 3000 to 3500 kilograms of rose blossoms from the Damascena variety. It makes around one and a half million of petals. If you boil oil from the Alba variety, you will need 5000 kilograms of petals. And if you use some other varieties, you will need between 5000 and 10000 kilograms of petals.

Characteristics of the rose oil

About 283 components are found in the composition of the Bulgarian rose oil. They are divided into two types of substances. These are the carriers and fixatives of scent. The carriers of scent is the liquid part of the oil that is called elaeoptene. The fixatives of scent are solid at room temperature and odorless, but they fix the scent and make it durable. Out of the numerous components of the elaeoptene the ones with rose scent are citronellol, geraniol, nerol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, but the typical rose odour is formed by the presence of microelements.

There are numerous rose distilleries in the area of Kazanlak that produce different products based on the rose extract. In Our Rose Festival Tours we always include visits to rose distilleries, where before our eyes the petals turn into rose oil.

Did you know about the Bulgarian Rose Oil Interesting Facts

• The roses bloom only once a year. The harvest period is in late May, early June
• The rose petals have to be collected between 5 and 11 am
• After noon the concentration of rose oil evaporates from the petals and part of it goes down to the stem
• To produce one kilogram (1200 ml) of rose oil is necessary around 3500 kilograms. It makes one and a half million of petals
• The price of one kilogram of rose oil is between 6500 and 7000 euro
• Main buyers of Bulgarian rose oil are France, the USA and China
• The main role of the rose oil in the perfumes is to fix the smell on the skin

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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. Geologically, it consists of two river valleys, those of the Stryama to the west and the Tundzha to the east.

The Rose Valley of Kazanlak stretches for 10-12 kilometers and is 95 kilometers long with an average height of 350 meters and an area of 1895 square kilometers.

Respectively, the Kalofer Valley of Roses covers an area of 1387 square kilometers with a length of 55 kilometers and 16 kilometers width.[1]

The valley is famous for its rose-growing industry which have been cultivated there for centuries, and which produces close to half (1.7 tons) of the world’s rose oil.[2] The center of the rose oil industry is Kazanlak, while other towns of importance include Karlovo, Sopot, Kalofer and Pavel banya. Each year, festivals are held celebrating roses and rose oil.

The Location of the Rose Valley is perfect for the growth of the specific variety of rose Damascena. It lies between two mountain ranges that stop the cold winds in the winter. The land is slightly inclined and sandy which prevents the roots from freezing in the winter.  The picking season lasts from May to June. During this period, the area gives off a pleasant scent and is covered with multi-colored flowers. The gathering process, traditionally a woman’s task, requires great dexterity and patience. The flowers are carefully cut one by one and laid in willow-baskets which are then sent to the distilleries. Tourists are welcome to join the rose-picking process, usually on weekend mornings when special ritual reenactments are organized in villages around Kazanlak.[3]

In September 2014 the European Commission approved Bulgarian rose oil as a new Protected Geographical Indication.

Here you can see all my Rose Festival Tours

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1. Bulgaria is one of the oldest European countries established in 681 AD.
2. Since then Bulgaria is the only one who hasn’t change its name.

3. 

   Bulgaria ranks third in Europe for the number of its valuable archeological monuments after Italy and Greece.

4. Alexander Nevski is the oldest autocephalous Slavic orthodox church in the world.
5. The Bulgarian army has never lost a single flag in battle.
6. The Cyrillic alphabet became the third official alphabet of the EU after the accession of Bulgaria to the EU on January 1, 2007.
7. In Bulgaria was founded the oldest golden treasure. (3000 gold objects dating back more than 6000 years)
8. The ancient Bulgarian calendar was declared as the most accurate in the world by UNESCO in 1976.

9. 

   Plovdiv is Europe’s oldest inhabited city.

10. Bulgaria is fourth in the world in per capita university education.
11. The Bulgarian folk song “Izlel e Delyu Haydutin” was sent in space on the board of the US Space Probe Voyager I.
12. Almost one-third of Bulgaria is cover in forests.
13. The Bulgarian Air Force developed the first air-dropped bomb in military history. That was during the First Balkan War, the bomb was used on 16 October 1912.
14. The first woman in the world who participated in a military flight was the Bulgarian Rayna Kasabova.
15. The highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula is Musala peak. It’s located in Rila Mountain, Bulgaria, rising at 2925m above the sea level.

16. 

    Bulgaria was the home of the Thracians, the certain hero called Spartacus was born in Bulgaria.

17. Bulgaria produced as much as 85% of the world’s rose oil. The roses are grown in Bulgaria’s Rose Valley (Kazanlak) are an essential ingredient in the perfumes production.
18. The bagpipe (known as ‘’gaida’’ in Bulgaria) is a traditional Bulgarian instrument. The other nations that use the bagpipe as an instrument are Ireland and Scotland.
19. Bulgarian yogurt is the best in the world, trust me. The Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which gives the unique taste of yogurt can be found only in Bulgaria.
20. Bulgaria is the second country in Europe with the highest number of natural mineral springs. Bulgaria is heaven for SPA.
21. Bulgarians nod for no and shake their heads for yes.
22. ‘’Name Days’’ are celebrated in addition to birthdays and even more valued by some people.
23. Bulgarian welcome the spring with Baba Marta. Every

    

    year on 1 March Bulgarian give a Martenitsa ( white and red bracelets) to each of their friends to congratulate them on the beginning of the spring and for health. The Martenitsa is wearing until you see a stork or a blossoming tree.

24. Bulgarians are spilling water in front of the door for success. When a member of the family leaves home for a special event like the first day of school, prom, before an exam, at weddings, etc. the other members of the family are spilling water in front of the door before he leaves with the word ‘’may your success flows like water’’.
25. Bulgarian celebrating Trifon Zarezan instead of Valentine’s Day. 14 February is a Wine-growers Day and people celebrate the love for wine.
26. World’s first digital wristwatch was developed by the Bulgarian, Peter Petroff.
27. The first electronic computer was invented by John Vincent Atanasoff who has a Bulgarian origin.
28. The Bulgarian national football team finished fourth

    

    in the 1994 World Cup.

29. The Bulgarian Dan Kolov is the first wrestler in the world with 1500 wins and 2 lost matches.
30. For 29 years so far no woman has managed to beat the record of the Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova for the high jump of the World Championships in Rome with sensational 2.09 meters.
31. Bulgaria is one of the biggest wine exporting countries in the world. Wine production has a long history dating back to Thracian times.
32. Bulgaria ranks third in Europe in biodiversity, with a number of rare and endemic species.
33. The Bulgarian flag consists three colors: white, green and red, laid horizontally from top to bottom. The white is a symbol of hope, the green is a symbol for the wonderful nature, and the red is a symbol of the blood soaked into our lands.
34. For more than 700 years, Bulgaria was twice its

    

    current size, reaching three seas – the Aegean, Adriatic and Black sea.

35. There are 142 resorts in Bulgaria – 26 marine resorts, 56 mountain resorts, and 58 balneological resorts.
36. There are 9 UNESCO sites in Bulgaria. 7 cultural sites (Rila Monastery, Boyana Church, Ancient City of Nessebar, Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, Madara Rider and the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo) and 2 natural sites (Pirin National Park and Srebarna Nature Reserve).
37. Bulgaria has one of the fastest internets in Europe.
38. Sofia is one of the most affordable European capitals to visit.
39. Bulgarian women have been ranked among the most beautiful in the world.
40. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria is situated just 15 minutes away from Vitosha Mountain.

I collected the above 40 Interesting Facts About Bulgaria in order to give you some idea about how magnificent country Bulgaria is.

In fact, there are many more than just 40 Interesting Facts About Bulgaria. You are very welcome to visit it in person and to get persuaded. I invite you to come on spot and live this magic.

If you already plan to Visit Bulgaria, contact me today and I will assist you to start planning your tour.

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