Sixty percent of the world’s rose oil produced in Isparta

Excerpts from TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES, ISPARTA.Much of the world’s rose oil, the main ingredient in women’s perfumes, is extracted from roses grown in Isparta. Gardeners in the region grow 7,000 tons of roses each year -- 60 percent of the world’s roses.

Mutfuzade Ismail Efendi first brought the rose to Isparta from Bulgaria in the 1870s. He planted the first rose seed in the Gülcü neighborhood, and the first rose oil was produced in 1892. In 1935, the first modern rose oil workshop was set up in Isparta.Rose oil, primarily extracted from the Rosa Damascena or Damask rose, is still manufactured in the region. Although roses are also grown in China, Iran, Morocco and the Caucasus, these flowers do not have the same quality as the flowers grown in Isparta and Bulgaria. Seven thousand tons of roses are grown each year on a 10,000-hectare field between Isparta and Burdur. Gülbirlik Cooperative General Manager Bolat Tamer said Isparta had taken important steps in rose cultivation in recent years. Founded in 1954 by nine cooperatives, today Gülbirlik is a partner with 8,000 growers and has two rose oil factories and two rose syrup facilities. Tamer noted that 300 tons of roses are processed in these facilities each day to manufacture rose oil, syrup and 100 percent pure rose water -- in accordance with world standards. Rose oil is used to give scent to perfumes but also functions as an adhesive between the skin and the perfume. The most expensive essential oil in the perfume industry is rose oil, “Today, one kilogram of oil is sold for about $4,000 and is extracted from around 3,500 kilograms of rose petals,” Tamer said. “Rose petals can also be processed to make rose syrup, which is thick rose oil, and also used for perfumes and cosmetic products. Since it is relatively cheaper than rose oil, the demand for it increases each year,” Tamer said, adding that one kilogram of rose syrup can be sold for around $400 and is extracted from 350 kilograms of rose petals. Rose water is a byproduct of the rose and is absolutely pure, making it popular for use in facial cleansing products and some sweets. Explaining that they place the rose petals in a modern steam distillation system to make rose water, Tamer highlighted that rose water was an essential ingredient for the perfume and cosmetics industry. There are 10,000 farmers who grow roses in Isparta. While 5,000 of these farmers sell their products to Gülbirlik, the others sell their products to other companies in the region, in particular three French firms. Rose oil Noting that the global perfume and cosmetic industry needs 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms of rose oil each year, Tamer said: “Supply and demand impact the price. Gülbirlik supplies 40 percent of the global rose oil demand while Bulgaria provides another 40 percent. The annual export figure for Gülbirlik is around $4 million. The regional export figure is around $10 million. At least 40,000 people work in this sector.” Rose syrup Noting that the average annual demand for rose syrup in the perfume and cosmetic sector is eight tons, Tamer said: “Morocco supplies around one, Bulgaria two and Turkey supplies nearly four tons of this demand. Gülbirlik produces one ton of rose syrup each year. Other local and foreign companies combined produce three tons.” Tamer’s company began manufacturing custom-made cosmetics in the 1980s. Between 1998 and 2002, they produced eight different cosmetic products, including creams, lotions, shampoo and custom-made soaps. Increasing their product selection to 85, Tamer said they expect their revenue to reach YTL 6 million in the cosmetic sector this year. He highlighted that Gülbirlik has become the leading company in rose oil and syrup production but warned that the increasing rose production in China could eventually pose a threat to the rose production in Isparta.