Bulgarian rose oil is one of the world’s most sought-after high-quality essential oils. It is used in the perfumery, fine fragrances, cosmetics, medicine, aromatherapy, and the food industry. Bulgarian rose oil is highly valued for its specific rich aroma and durability. Durability is due to its well-balanced content of stearoptenes, higher alcohols, and microcomponents.
The Damascene Rose variety begins to bloom in Bulgaria at the end of May, with flowering lasting three to four days, depending on climatic conditions. The yield of rose oil is highly weather dependent for this short period. High temperatures can lead to a reduction or loss of yield. Rose picking takes place early in the morning before sunrise when the rose petals begin to dissolve. The process is manual, and the flowers must be picked before the oil evaporates in the sun.
The essential oil is a natural product extracted by two-step steam distillation of fresh flowers of oil-bearing roses. Its color is light yellow and has a rarer consistency than the rose absolute and rose concrete. High-quality undiluted rose oil hardens at temperatures below 20 degrees. Rose oil contains over 300 components, the main ones being citronellol, geraniol, nerol, and paraffins. It has a characteristic, rich, rose aroma with floral-sweet notes.
Despite the high efficiency of modern distillation facilities, between 3,500 and 4,500 kilograms of fresh rose blossom are needed to produce 1 kilogram of rose oil.
