WHERE  ARE WE ( Isparta )

Global known Damask Rose's been grown there are two main areas: Turkey's Isparta province and region of Kazanluk in Bulgaria.

Isparta is located in southwest Turkey and it is known as "City of Roses" at altitude of 1035m. Climatic features such as altitude, temperature, rainfall, humidity and sunlight create a favorable environment for growing the highest quality roses in the world.

Each year around 10 thousand tons of rose oil is produced on approximately 20 thousand acres of land. Damask Rose cultivation and harvesting are compatible with nature and provide a self-sufficient economy in the Isparta region. Here, about 10,000 families live with rose cultivation. As one of the most important rose oil production centers in the world, Isparta meets the raw material needs of famous brands of cosmetics and perfume industry. Isparta first rose oil drop was distilled in 1892, as a result of the efforts of Müftüzade İsmail Efendi. Isparta's first modern rose oil factory was established in 1935 with the directive of Atatürk.

 

HARVEST - Gathering the Rose Flower

The blooming season lasts only one month from mid-May to mid-June. For this reason, Damask rose is also known as May Rose. Workers wake up from early morning in harvesting period in May to reach the rose gardens at the first lights of the day. Hand harvested rose has been in this region for 130 years.

Rose for oil extraction are different from ornamental rose. Her care is different, never leaving this rose for decorative purpose and it is also necessary to collect them properly, without losing the scent.

Damask roses  however, give flowers only a month, which is in start  date May 8-10 - the end date june 10 -15 Collecting roses is usually done by women manually. The pick-up starts at 5:00am and ends at 11:00am at the latest. The rose flower should be collected in the morning when there is no strong sunlight. The sun rays decrease the rose's oil yield as the etheric essence of the flowers is faded.

Rose flowers should be collected daily. Usually the buds open at night. If it is not collected every morning, the opened roses will open more after a day and the color will bleed, the yield will fall once again.

Damask roses are only  collected by hand. The roses are kept in basked  sack urgenly transferred to taken to the boiler.

 

OUR  TRADITIONAL  ARTISAN METHOD  OF DISTILATION HYDROSOL PRODUCTION PROCESS

Our traditional artisan metod higher quality hydrosol annual production is only limited quantity (6000 - 7500 kg Hydrosol damask rose  and Lavender Hydrosol 2500 – 3000 kg)

Distillation is very important to obtain good hydrosol. Besides the influence of climate (rain, light, wind, sun...low and high phosphorus content of the soil),  the ability of the distillers is a crucial factor, especially fire management.

We have been using copper  boilers for 140 years in our traditional production . According to the size of the boiler, rose flower and water is added. For example, 25 kg of rose flower and 4 cans (or 50 liters of water) are placed in a 24 kg copper boiler. The lid of the boiler is closed , the mouth part is wrapped in by white clay. In the same way, the connection postion where the cooling pipe inside the pool and the pipe is connected is wrapped. This process is carried out to prevent steam from escaping.

The furnace is burned and the apple or cherry wood is used completely and the rose flowers in the boiler is boiled for at least 3 hours. (Here the mastery is very important, if high temparature burns the water and very bad odor will be come out as a result of low quality rose hydrosol)

The vapor condensing in the lid part of the vessel becomes liquid again when it goes through the pipe in the water-filled pool and flows into a container attached to the pipe outside the pool. As a result of the first boiling, 20-25 liters of high quality rose hydrosol is obtained, then the hydrosol is transferred to the resting tank and the distillation is completed.

(In our traditional distillation method, it is necessary to wait at least 3 to 5 months in the resting tank and infuse the rose

hydrosol.)

The boiled rose blossom pulp (cibre) in the boiler we rose organic rose as fertilizer in our garden.