The Bulgarian Post
2007-05-16 08:54:42

The rose-picking season started Wednesday in Bulgaria's Rose Valley, promising a record production of oil for the world's highest-grade perfume, officials said.

For the first time this season rose petals will be picked from a total of 3,500 hectare (8,750 acre) of gardens, said Nedko Nedkov, director of the Institute of the Rose in Kazanlak — the center of the Rose Valley.

"The government invested some €50 million (US$67 million) in the last five years to increase the rose plantations by 2,500 hectare (6,250 acre), and fueled almost the same amount in the creation of new rose oil distilleries," Nedkov said.

Picking the petals and extracting the rose oil is labor intensive and involves steam distillation from the rose blossom. The total production of rose oil this year could reach a record 2,500 kilogram (5,500 pounds), compared to 1,500 kilogram (3,300 pounds) last year, AP news agency reported.

Bulgarian rose oil is traditionally used for the highest-grade perfume in the world. Main buyers are the United States, France, Japan and Switzerland. The prices of rose oil on the global market reach some €4,000 (US$5,400) per kilogram.

It is generally accepted that there are more than 5,000 varieties of roses, yet only a few of them exhibit the fragrance prized by perfumers.

The Bulgarian oil-bearing rose has been cultivated in the Rose Valley for more than 300 years now.

Bulgaria is one the world's largest producers of rose oil along with Turkey, Morocco, France and Italy.

 Print This Article      Email This Article

 The Bulgarian Post: Contact Us | About Us | Advertise With Us | RSS