Rosa damascena is an important oil-bearing rose that has been cultivated for centuries for its fragrance, rose water and valuable essential oil. However, it is not easy to connect the beginning of its history to a single country, city or century. Roses have been cultivated since ancient times and carried across different regions through trade, migration and cultural exchange.

The history of the rose we now know as the “Isparta Rose” can be understood by bringing together botanical research, historical records and traditional accounts passed down from one generation to the next.

Rose Academy Note
Information supported by historical records is presented clearly in this article. Details that cannot be confirmed with certainty are described with expressions such as “it is believed,” “it is thought” or “according to a widely known account.”

The Origins of Rosa damascena

The exact place and time in which Rosa damascena first appeared are not known with certainty. The word “damascena” in its name is associated with Damascus. The rose is therefore recognized as having a strong historical and cultural connection with Damascus and the surrounding region.

However, its botanical name does not prove that the rose originated exclusively within the boundaries of the modern city of Damascus. Throughout history, the name “Damascus” was sometimes used to describe a cultural and geographical area broader than the present-day city.

It is thought that Rosa damascena developed or spread across a broad region that included the Middle East, Persia, Anatolia and Central Asia. For this reason, it would not be scientifically accurate to identify one modern country as its definite place of origin.

Genetic research also shows that Rosa damascena does not have a simple botanical origin. Research by Iwata, Kato and Ohno found that the Damask roses they examined had a complex hybrid origin associated with three different wild rose species. The study identified Rosa moschata, Rosa gallica and Rosa fedschenkoana as possible ancestral species (Iwata et al., 2000).

This finding teaches us something important: the history of Rosa damascena is not simply the story of one plant being carried from one city to another. It is also a long history of different rose species, cultivation knowledge and human selection.

Did You Know?
The name “Damask rose” reflects the plant’s historical relationship with Damascus and its surrounding cultural region. However, the name alone does not prove that its botanical origin was exclusively Damascus.

The Rose’s Arrival in Anatolia

The history of roses in Anatolia began long before commercial oil-rose cultivation developed in Isparta. Anatolia was an important meeting point for civilizations, including the Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman worlds. Plants, seeds, fragrances and production methods moved across this extensive network of trade and cultural exchange.

It would therefore be inaccurate to claim that roses or rose culture first arrived in Anatolia on one specific date or through one person. Different rose species are known to have been cultivated and used in Anatolia since ancient times.

Two separate historical developments should be distinguished:

1. The long-standing knowledge and use of roses, rose fragrance and rose water in Anatolia
2. The development of commercial oil-rose cultivation using Rosa damascena in Isparta during the late nineteenth century

These developments are not the same. Rose culture in Anatolia is ancient, while the commercial oil-rose industry now associated with Isparta has a more recent history.

The Rose in the Ottoman Period

During the Ottoman period, the rose was more than a beautiful and pleasantly scented flower. It held an important place in palace life, gardens, cuisine, personal-care traditions, literature, art and religious and cultural customs.

In different places and periods, rose water was used:

• In desserts and sherbet-style beverages
• To refresh the hands and face
• As part of hospitality and cleansing customs
• In traditional hammam culture
• To scent indoor spaces
• During ceremonies and special occasions
• In certain traditional personal-care practices

Special vessels called gülabdan were used to present or sprinkle rose water. The Ottoman Turkish word gülâb combines the Persian words for “rose” and “water.”

The widespread use of rose water in Ottoman society does not mean that every Ottoman rose water was made from the same botanical species or by the same production method. Different rose varieties and processing techniques may have been used in different regions.

Rose Academy Note
The statement “rose water was used in the Ottoman period” is not the same as claiming that “all Ottoman rose water was produced from Rosa damascena.” The second statement would require specific historical evidence identifying the product, period and region.

The Arrival of the Oil-Bearing Rose in Isparta

The commercial oil-rose industry known in Isparta today began to develop during the late nineteenth century. Some academic sources report that oil-bearing roses were brought to Anatolia by migrants from Bulgaria’s Kazanlak region following the Ottoman–Russian War of 1877–1878 (Gökdoğan & Demir, 2011).

Müftüzade İsmail Efendi’s personal efforts played a decisive role in establishing successful oil-rose cultivation in Isparta.

Historical accounts differ in some details regarding the precise route by which oil-rose plants reached Isparta. Instead of presenting uncertain details as established facts, it is more reliable to focus on documented information about the creation of the first successful commercial rose garden in the region.

İsmail Efendi’s Role in Isparta Rose Cultivation

Müftüzade İsmail Efendi of Yalvaç lived from 1840 to 1915 and is recognized as the pioneering figure of Isparta’s oil-rose industry.

According to Professor Hasan Baydar, İsmail Efendi established Isparta’s first oil-rose garden in 1888. After patiently cultivating the plants, he distilled their flowers in traditional stills and obtained rose essential oil in 1892 (Baydar, n.d.).

A publication by the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute also reports that İsmail Efendi took his rose oil to Istanbul and Europe to have it analysed, introduce it to potential buyers and find new markets.

İsmail Efendi’s importance is not limited to creating the first garden. He also:

• Adapted a new agricultural crop to Isparta’s growing conditions
• Continued his cultivation work with patience
• Produced rose essential oil from the flowers using traditional methods
• Sought chemical analysis of the resulting oil
• Searched for markets in which to promote and sell the product
• Provided an example for other farmers in the region

For these reasons, İsmail Efendi is recognized as the pioneer who helped oil-rose cultivation and rose-oil production develop together in Isparta.

Did You Know?
An oil-rose garden does not produce a high commercial yield immediately after it is established. The plants may require several years to develop and reach an economically productive stage. İsmail Efendi’s success therefore required patience and long-term effort.

From the First Rose Garden to Regional Production

İsmail Efendi’s results encouraged other farmers in Isparta to begin cultivating oil-bearing roses. New gardens were established over time, and rose cultivation spread to neighbouring districts.

The region’s climate, altitude, morning dew, soil characteristics and flowering-season temperatures were suitable for oil-rose cultivation. The growing and harvesting knowledge acquired by local families also contributed to the development of Isparta’s rose industry.

Isparta gradually developed not only an agricultural crop but an entire culture of production involving:

• Establishing rose gardens
• Pruning and annual care
• Harvesting flowers in the early morning
• Transporting flowers rapidly to processing facilities
• Distillation
• Producing rose essential oil and rose water
• Evaluating product quality
• Marketing and export

From Traditional Stills to Factory Production

During the early years of Isparta’s rose industry, rose essential oil was produced using small and relatively simple distillation vessels known as imbiks, or traditional stills. Rose flowers were heated with water, and the aromatic vapour was cooled and converted back into liquid form.

Traditional stills were essential to the beginning of Isparta’s rose industry. However, their size, heating conditions and operating practices could vary from one producer to another. These differences could affect the quantity and quality of the resulting rose essential oil.

The transition to factory-scale production made it possible to:

• Process larger quantities of flowers
• Control heating and distillation conditions more consistently
• Produce products with more standardized quality
• Manufacture rose oil in commercial quantities
• Strengthen production for international markets

This transition did not eliminate traditional knowledge. Instead, generations of practical experience were gradually transferred to larger and more controlled production systems.

Isparta’s First Rose-Oil Factory

Although oil-rose cultivation began in Isparta during the late nineteenth century, the transition from village-scale stills to modern factory production took place during the Turkish Republic.

Baydar reports that Isparta’s first rose-oil factory was established in 1935 under the direction of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (Baydar, n.d.).

According to the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, the factory began operating on September 30, 1935. One of its principal purposes was to reduce quality differences associated with small-scale traditional distillation and to establish a more consistent production system.

The factory represented a significant turning point in Isparta’s rose industry. The rose was no longer only a crop cultivated by individual families; it had also become an important industrial raw material processed in modern facilities.

The Establishment of Gülbirlik

The organization of Isparta’s rose growers was important to the expansion of the sector. Cooperatives could strengthen processing, marketing and sales opportunities that small producers might struggle to reach independently.

According to Professor Hasan Baydar and the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, GÜLBİRLİK was established in 1954 through the union of nine rose cooperatives.

Gülbirlik contributed to the sector by:

• Strengthening the organization of growers under a cooperative structure
• Enabling rose flowers to be processed on a larger scale
• Establishing rose-oil and rose-concrete facilities
• Increasing production capacity
• Developing marketing and export opportunities
• Supporting the diversification of rose-derived products

Baydar reports that Gülbirlik contributed significantly to factory-scale production through four rose-oil facilities and two rose-concrete plants (Baydar, n.d.).

Rose Academy Note
The year 1952 appears in some secondary sources discussing the development of the relevant factory and cooperative structure. However, Baydar’s study and the ministry publication identify 1954 as the year in which nine cooperatives united to establish Gülbirlik.

The Contribution of Scientific Research

Isparta’s rose industry did not develop solely through fields and factories. Universities, research centres and laboratories also conducted studies on rose cultivation and processing.

Research has examined subjects such as:

• The appropriate time for harvesting
• The waiting period between harvest and distillation
• Distillation duration and stages
• The chemical composition of rose essential oil
• The volatile aromatic composition of rose water
• Organic and conventional cultivation
• Cold storage and drying
• Plant diseases and pests
• Product quality and standards

The establishment of the Rose and Rose Products Research and Application Centre at Süleyman Demirel University in 2005 contributed to the advancement of rose-related scientific research within an institutional structure (Baydar, n.d.).

The Geographical Indication Process

A geographical indication protects the connection between a product’s recognized name and its geographical area. A product does not qualify merely because it is famous. Its region-related characteristics, production boundaries and applicable rules must also be defined.

Baydar reports that the Isparta Rose received a geographical indication registration certificate from the Turkish Patent Institute on May 6, 2006 (Baydar, n.d.).

However, geographical indications for the rose flower and for products obtained from it should be considered separately. For example, Isparta Rose Oil was registered as a designation of origin on March 7, 2019, following an application by the Isparta Commodity Exchange. Its protection dates back to the application date of January 10, 2018.

The registration document defines the geographical boundaries, the Rosa damascena flowers used, product characteristics, production method and inspection requirements (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office: Isparta Rose Oil registration).

The geographical indication system helps to:

• Protect the geographical origin of a product
• Document defined production practices
• Establish inspection requirements
• Preserve the relationship between Isparta and its rose products
• Provide clearer information to consumers

Türkiye’s Position Today

Türkiye is one of the world’s leading producers of Rosa damascena flowers and rose essential oil. Production is concentrated mainly in the Lakes Region, particularly in and around Isparta. Bulgaria is another major centre of global oil-rose production.

According to data published by a research institute affiliated with Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the country had reached a significant level of oil-rose cultivation and flower production by the end of the 2010s. Most of the rose essential oil produced was exported. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, Japan and several Gulf countries were identified among the export markets (Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute).

Because these figures relate to a particular period, annual production levels may change. Climate conditions, flower prices, cultivation areas, export demand and production costs can all affect the results of each harvest.

It is therefore more reliable to use the following statement instead of claiming that Türkiye always supplies a fixed percentage of global production:

Türkiye, particularly through production in Isparta and the surrounding region, is one of the world’s leading producers of Rosa damascena, rose essential oil and other rose-derived products.

Türkiye’s strength in the sector is not based solely on production volume. It is also supported by:

• Isparta’s favourable cultivation conditions
• Agricultural knowledge passed down through generations
• Hand harvesting during the early morning
• Extensive distillation experience
• Investments by cooperatives and private companies
• Scientific research
• Laboratory analysis
• Experience in international trade

A Brief Timeline

Let Us Remember

• The exact place of origin of Rosa damascena is not known.
• Damascus, Persia, Anatolia and neighbouring regions form part of its broad historical and cultural geography.
• Rose culture in Anatolia is older than commercial oil-rose production in Isparta.
• Commercial oil-rose cultivation in Isparta developed during the late nineteenth century.
• İsmail Efendi established the first oil-rose garden in 1888 and produced rose essential oil in 1892.
• Isparta’s first modern rose-oil factory opened in 1935.
• Gülbirlik was established through the union of nine cooperatives in 1954.
• Geographical indications protect the relationship between Isparta and its defined rose products.
• Türkiye is one of the leading countries in the international oil-rose and rose-products sector.

What Did We Learn in This Section?

We learned that the history of Rosa damascena is too old and extensive to be explained through a single city or country.

We distinguished between Anatolia’s long-standing rose culture and the more recent development of commercial oil-rose cultivation in Isparta. We also examined how the initiative of İsmail Efendi grew through factory production, cooperatives, scientific research and geographical indication protection.

The present-day value of the Isparta Rose comes not only from its history but also from the combined contributions of agriculture, production knowledge, science and human labour.

Continue Your Journey with Akita Rose Academy

Passing Isparta’s rose heritage to future generations through accurate and accessible information is one of the central purposes of Akita Rose Academy.

In the next section, explore the botanical characteristics of Rosa damascena and learn more about its flowers, leaves, stems, prickles, fruits and reproductive structure.

References

Baydar, H. (n.d.). Oil-bearing rose cultivation and industry [Yağ gülü tarımı ve endüstrisi]. Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops.
Note: The uploaded PDF does not provide a publication date; therefore, “n.d.” is used in accordance with APA style.

Baydar, H. (2006). Oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) cultivation and rose oil industry in Turkey. Euro Cosmetics, 14, 13–17.

Baydar, H., & Kazaz, S. (2013). Oil-bearing rose and rose cultivation in Isparta [Yağ gülü ve Isparta gülcülüğü]. Gülbirlik Publications.

Gökdoğan, O., & Demir, F. (2011). Agricultural structure of rose farms in the Isparta region. Adnan Menderes University Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, 8(2), 29–34. Access the article

Iwata, H., Kato, T., & Ohno, S. (2000). Triparental origin of Damask roses. Gene, 259(1–2), 53–59. Article record

Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute. (2022). Oil-bearing rose cultivation: Rosa damascena Mill.Access the publication

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. (2019). Isparta Rose Oil: Designation of origin registration certificate No. 421. Access the registration document