Bulgaria is known as the land of roses, where the tradition of rose harvesting takes place in the Valley of Roses each June at dawn when rose oil concentrations are highest. Bulgaria is the world's biggest producer of rose oil, which is extracted from Rosa Damascena, a species that thrives in Bulgaria's climate. Products made from roses include perfume, rose essential oil, and rose jam.

1. Bulgaria is known
as The land of
roses

2. The legend
Greek mythology says that white roses
were born with Aphrodite to challenge
her beauty. One day Eros, playing in
the gardens of Mount Olympus, was
stung by bees while gathering the
flowers. His blood colored the
blossoms. Then Aphrodite in her
eagerness to heal him dropped a
bottle of perfume, which gave its
fragrance to the roses.

3. Bulgarian roses are produced in a valley
called ”The Valley of Roses”. This is
region located between the Balkan
Mountains, to the north, and Sredna
Gora Mountain, to the south.

4. June is the time for the traditional ritual of rose
petal picking in the Valley of Rose. Rose petals
are collected at dawn, before the flowers
have blossomed. It is believed that at that
time of day the concentration of rose oil is
at its highest. A little before sunrise, the
rose-pickers enter the rose fields singing and
jesting, and begin picking the fragile rose

5. Bulgaria is the biggest producer
of rose oil in the world.

6. Rose essential oil is produced from Rose
Damascena, which is the species
cultivated to produce rose oil for the
fragrance industry. Rose Damascena
cannot be cultivated everywhere as it
needs a gentle temperature and humid
air during the flowering time to get a
good yield of oil.

7. What can be produced from
roses?
perfume
Rose Essential Oil
Rose Jam

8. Bulgaria is well known as the
country of roses and as in
one song it is said: “Take
one Bulgarian rose when you
leave Bulgaria and it will
always remind you with its
scent of this lovely country
and the hospitality of its
people.