The Rose Industry in Türkiye: From Isparta to Global Markets

The Rose Industry in Türkiye: From Isparta to Global Markets

From Rosa damascena Cultivation to Rose Oil, Rose Water, Extracts and High-Value Products

Throughout human history, the rose has been admired as a symbol of beauty and fragrance. Today, however, it is also an important industrial crop and a valuable raw material traded internationally.

Among the many cultivated rose species, the oil-bearing rose, Rosa damascena Mill., holds particular economic importance. Its flowers can be transformed into a wide range of products, including rose essential oil, rose water, rose distillates, rose concrete and rose absolute.

Türkiye is one of the world’s important producers of oil-bearing roses, supported by generations of cultivation experience, an established production infrastructure centred in Isparta, and the capacity to manufacture several categories of rose-derived products.

Yet the rose industry cannot be understood simply by measuring how many flowers are harvested.

The complete value chain includes cultivation, harvesting, transportation, distillation, extraction, laboratory analysis, quality standardization, packaging, branding, trade and export.

For this reason, the rose industry should be viewed as an integrated value chain that begins in the field and extends to the international perfume, cosmetics, personal care and natural-products industries.

What Is the Rose Industry?

The rose industry is much broader than rose cultivation alone.

Rose gardens form the agricultural foundation of the sector, but the value chain continues through numerous technical, industrial and commercial activities, including:

• Propagation of oil-bearing rose plants

• Establishment and maintenance of rose gardens

• Hand harvesting of flowers

• Transportation of freshly harvested roses to processing facilities

• Distillation and extraction

• Production of rose oil, rose water, rose distillates, concrete and absolute

• Physical, chemical and microbiological analysis

• Storage and packaging

• Formulation for perfume, cosmetics, personal care and food applications

• Domestic and international trade

• Branding

• Rose tourism and regional promotion

The rose industry is therefore a multidisciplinary economic field in which agriculture, chemistry, cosmetics, perfumery, international trade, tourism and cultural heritage intersect.

Rose Academy Note

The oil-bearing rose industry should not be confused with the cut-flower industry.

In floriculture, roses are primarily produced for their visual and decorative value. In the oil-bearing rose industry, by contrast, the flower is an industrial raw material used to produce essential oil, aromatic waters, extracts and other value-added products.

Oil-Bearing Rose Cultivation in Türkiye

Commercial oil-bearing rose production in Türkiye is based primarily on Rosa damascena Mill., commonly associated with the Isparta region.

The species is highly valued for its distinctive aromatic profile and has particular importance for the perfume and cosmetics industries.

Commercial cultivation is concentrated mainly in Türkiye’s Lakes Region, particularly in:

• Isparta

• Burdur

• Afyonkarahisar

• Denizli

Experimental or smaller-scale production has also occurred in other provinces at different times, but the principal industrial production centre remains the Lakes Region.

According to a study by Erbaş and Mutlucan based on Turkish Statistical Institute data, the area devoted to oil-bearing rose cultivation in the Lakes Region increased from 30,832 decares in 2012 to 41,668 decares in 2022.

In 2022, approximately:

• 82.3% of the production area was located in Isparta

• 8.7% in Burdur

• 6.4% in Afyonkarahisar

• The remaining area was largely located in Denizli

The same research reported total rose flower production of approximately 16,932 tonnes in 2022, with 85.2% of the flowers originating from Isparta.

These figures demonstrate that Isparta is not merely symbolically associated with the rose. It is also the agricultural centre of Türkiye’s oil-bearing rose industry.

However, these figures describe the 2022 production season. Cultivation area, flower yield and total production can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions, agricultural productivity, the age of plantations and economic factors.

Why Did Isparta Become a Centre of the Rose Industry?

Isparta’s importance cannot be explained by climate alone.

Its development as a specialized rose-producing region reflects the interaction of:

• Geography

• Agricultural knowledge

• Generations of producer experience

• Processing infrastructure

• Distillation expertise

• Research capacity

• Commercial networks

Climate and Soil Conditions

Oil-bearing roses are generally cultivated in well-aerated locations with adequate sunlight, suitable soil conditions and good drainage that prevents prolonged water accumulation around the root zone.

Variations in elevation around Isparta, together with differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures and regional spring conditions, can provide favourable conditions for oil-bearing rose cultivation.

Flowering can begin earlier at lower elevations and later at higher elevations.

As a result, the overall regional harvesting season may be extended, even though the period of intensive flowering within an individual rose garden remains relatively short.

This short harvest window makes careful coordination of labour and distillation capacity especially important.

A Historical Production Tradition

Academic sources trace commercial oil-bearing rose cultivation in Isparta to the late nineteenth century.

İsmail Efendi is reported to have begun cultivating oil-bearing roses in Isparta in 1888, producing rose oil using traditional techniques.

During the Republican period, the establishment of modern distillation systems, followed by the development of cooperatives and private companies, increased the region’s production capacity.

Over time, an extensive regional network developed that included:

• Rose growers

• Harvest workers

• Distillation specialists

• Cooperatives

• Processing facilities

• Laboratories

• Universities

• Export companies

The concentration of these activities in the same geographical region transformed Isparta from a rose-growing area into a specialized agricultural and industrial cluster.

Geographical Indication: Isparta Rose Oil

Isparta Gülyağı, or Isparta Rose Oil, was registered as a protected designation of origin by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on March 7, 2019.

The registration documentation defines elements such as:

• The geographical area

• Raw-material origin

• Production methods

• Product characteristics

• Inspection and verification procedures

The purpose of a geographical indication is not simply to protect a product name.

It also formally documents the relationship between a product and its geographical origin, traditional production knowledge and characteristic qualities.

From the Rose Field to an Industrial Product

Transforming a fresh rose flower into a commercially valuable product requires the successful management of several interconnected stages.

1. Cultivation

Establishing a rose garden requires:

• Suitable land

• Healthy planting material

• Appropriate planting design

• Long-term crop management

Pruning, irrigation, fertilization, soil management, weed control and integrated pest management may all influence flower yield and crop quality.

2. Harvesting

Oil-bearing rose flowers are generally harvested by hand during the early morning.

The objective is to collect the flowers before daytime temperatures rise significantly and while minimizing damage to the delicate floral material.

Because the flowering period is relatively short, large numbers of workers may be required within a limited period.

Manual labour is therefore an important factor affecting both the economics and long-term sustainability of the rose industry.

3. Transportation and Holding Time

Freshly harvested flowers should reach the processing facility as quickly as practicable.

Compression, heat accumulation and prolonged holding before processing can encourage fermentation and may alter the aromatic profile of the flowers.

For this reason, proximity between rose gardens and processing facilities can provide an important production advantage.

If harvesting volume exceeds available distillation capacity, flowers may need to wait before processing, potentially affecting the quality of the resulting material.

4. Distillation and Extraction

Rose flowers can be processed in different ways depending on the product being manufactured.

Distillation may produce:

• Rose essential oil

• Aromatic aqueous products

• Rose water

• Rose distillates

Extraction may produce:

• Rose concrete

Further processing of rose concrete may produce:

• Rose absolute

Different production methods lead to products with different chemical profiles, sensory characteristics, applications and commercial values.

For this reason, terms such as rose oil, rose water, rose distillate, rose concrete and rose absolute should not be treated as interchangeable.

5. Quality Control

Following production, several characteristics may need to be evaluated depending on the product and its intended application.

These include:

• Botanical identity

• Raw-material origin

• Physical characteristics

• Chemical composition

• Purity

• Microbiological quality

• Suitability for the intended application

Analytical evaluation is therefore an essential component of professional rose production.

6. Packaging, Storage and Trade

Light, temperature, oxygen exposure and packaging material can affect the stability of rose-derived products.

Products stored under appropriate conditions can subsequently enter domestic or international markets together with the relevant documentation and analytical results required for their intended use.

Major Products of the Rose Industry

These materials are not synonymous.

Rose water, rose distillate, rose essential oil, rose concrete and rose absolute differ in their production methods, composition and intended uses.

By-Product or Waste?

Distillation produces more than the principal commercial product.

Plant biomass and process water remaining after production may become waste if no suitable recovery or utilization system is available.

However, these materials may potentially be converted into useful by-products through approaches such as:

• Controlled composting

• Recovery of plant-derived compounds

• Development of new materials

• Research into alternative industrial applications

This represents an important area of future research within the circular economy.

The challenge is therefore not simply how to produce rose-derived materials, but also how to use the entire production stream more efficiently.

How Is the Quality of Rose Products Evaluated?

The quality of a natural rose product cannot be determined by aroma alone.

Botanical authentication, production documentation, laboratory analysis and traceability should be considered together.

Depending on the product category and intended application, quality evaluation may include:

• Botanical species and raw-material source

• Production location

• Harvest date

• Batch number

• Distillation or extraction method

• Density

• Refractive index

• Optical rotation

• Acid value

• Ester value

• Chemical profiling by GC-FID or GC-MS

• Microbiological quality

• Pesticide residues

• Heavy metals

• Allergen information

• Appropriate storage conditions

Rose essential oil contains compounds such as citronellol, geraniol, nerol and linalool, together with numerous constituents present at much lower concentrations that may nevertheless contribute significantly to the overall aroma.

The concentration of any single compound should not be used in isolation to classify an oil as either “good” or “bad.”

The chemical profile should be interpreted as a whole and, where applicable, assessed in relation to appropriate specifications and standards.

It is also important to recognize that a perfumery raw material, a cosmetic ingredient and a food-grade product are not necessarily governed by the same regulatory requirements.

The intended use of a rose-derived material determines which analyses, specifications and documentation may be required.

Türkiye’s Rose-Product Exports

Rose oil, rose concrete, rose absolute and other aromatic materials produced in Türkiye are exported for use primarily in:

• Perfumery

• Cosmetics

• Personal care

• Aromatic raw-material applications

A 2023 study by Erbaş and Mutlucan reported that, for the 2020 production period, Türkiye produced approximately:

• 2,250 kg of rose oil

• 13 tonnes of rose concrete

• 3.5 tonnes of rose absolute

• 1.1 tonnes of phenethyl alcohol

The same study reported an export value of approximately US$19.4 million for rose-based products in 2020.

These figures relate specifically to the period examined in that study and should not automatically be presented as current production or trade values.

A Critical Note on Interpreting International Trade Data

Measuring rose-product exports is more complicated than it may first appear.

Some international customs classifications combine several essential oils and aromatic extracts within the same product code.

For example, World Bank WITS data under HS 330129 cover a broad category of “other essential oils,” including certain concretes and absolutes.

Under this category, Türkiye’s exports in 2024 were recorded at approximately:

US$44.84 million

with a reported quantity of approximately:

352,567 kg

The leading destinations by export value included approximately:

However, these figures must not be interpreted as rose oil exports alone.

HS 330129 may include other essential oils, concretes and absolutes.

Rose Academy Data Note

It would therefore be incorrect to state:

“Türkiye exported US$44.84 million worth of rose oil in 2024.”

A more accurate statement is:

In 2024, Türkiye exported approximately US$44.84 million in products classified under HS 330129, a broad category covering other essential oils and certain concretes and absolutes. The total does not represent rose products alone.

A rose-specific export figure would require examination of more detailed national customs classifications, product declarations and official trade records for the relevant period.

This distinction is essential when presenting commercial statistics in an academic or professional context.

Why Are European Markets Important for Turkish Rose Products?

European countries such as France, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom have significant industries in:

• Fine fragrance

• Fragrance ingredients

• Cosmetics

• Personal care

• Aromatic raw-material trading

Natural aromatic materials produced in Türkiye may therefore enter these markets for use in:

• Perfume compositions

• Cosmetic formulations

• Fragrance blends

• Personal-care products

• Aromatic raw-material processing and trade

France is particularly significant because of its established position within the global fragrance and perfumery industry.

However, the destination listed in international trade statistics is not always the country where the product is ultimately consumed.

Certain countries also function as processing, trading and re-export centres.

The Global Rose-Products Market

The oil-bearing rose is not an ordinary agricultural crop that can be produced commercially at the same scale in every region.

Successful production depends on the interaction of:

• Suitable plant material

• Climate

• Labour availability

• Harvest organization

• Processing infrastructure

• Technical expertise

Countries and regions associated with commercial rose production include:

• Türkiye

• Bulgaria

• Iran

• Morocco

• India

• China

However, the rose species cultivated, production volumes, processing methods and final products are not identical across these countries.

Türkiye and Bulgaria are particularly well known for Rosa damascena-based rose essential oil production.

Iran also has a major tradition of rose water production and use.

Morocco has regional rose-production systems, while India has its own traditions involving different rose species and attar production.

For this reason, comparisons between producing countries should consider much more than the question:

“Which country produces the most roses?”

A meaningful comparison should also evaluate:

• Species and cultivar

• Flower production volume

• Essential-oil yield

• Production method

• Chemical profile

• Purity

• Traceability

• Organic certification

• Labour costs

• Product diversity

• Branding

• Target markets

Türkiye’s Position in the Global Market

In their assessment of the 2020 period, Erbaş and Mutlucan estimated global rose oil production at approximately 6–6.5 tonnes and rose concrete production at approximately 12–14 tonnes.

In the same study, Türkiye’s share was estimated at approximately:

• 30% of global rose oil production

• 90% of rose concrete production

These figures are significant, but they represent estimates for a particular period and source.

There is no single publicly available global database that consistently collects production figures from every producer using exactly the same methodology each year.

Consequently, these percentages should not be presented as permanent values applicable to every harvest year.

A more academically appropriate conclusion is:

Türkiye is one of the world’s major producers and suppliers of Rosa damascena-based rose oil, rose concrete and other rose-derived products. Its share of the global market varies according to the product category, harvest year, production volume and data source used.

What Determines the Price of Rose Products?

There is no single universal price for one kilogram of rose oil or rose absolute.

Price is influenced by multiple variables extending from agricultural production to laboratory evaluation and global demand.

Agricultural Factors

• Winter and spring conditions

• Frost

• Hail

• Excessive rainfall

• Drought

• Age and management of rose plantations

• Flower yield

• Pests and plant diseases

• Harvest labour costs

Production Factors

• Time of harvesting

• Time between harvest and processing

• Distillation or extraction method

• Energy consumption

• Water consumption

• Product yield

• Storage conditions

Quality Factors

• Botanical authenticity

• Chemical profile

• Purity

• Residue testing

• Organic certification

• Geographical indication

• Batch traceability

• Buyer-specific quality requirements

Commercial Factors

• Global perfume and cosmetics demand

• Currency exchange rates

• Labour costs

• Energy costs

• Order volume

• Logistics costs

• Whether the material is sold as a raw ingredient or transformed into a branded finished product

For these reasons, statements such as:

“One kilogram of rose oil costs X dollars”

can be misleading if they are presented without a date, quality specification, production origin and commercial context.

Strengths of Türkiye’s Rose Industry

Türkiye has several important advantages in the international rose sector:

• Generations of oil-bearing rose cultivation experience

• A specialized production infrastructure centred in Isparta

• Experienced growers and distillation facilities

• Production at different elevations within the same region

• Capacity to manufacture rose oil, concrete, absolute and aromatic aqueous products

• Geographic proximity to European and Middle Eastern markets

• Collaboration between universities, laboratories and industry

• The Isparta Rose Oil geographical indication

• A strong regional rose culture

• Rose tourism

• Potential for the development of high-value cosmetic products

However, being a major producing country does not mean that every product automatically has the same quality.

Quality must be verified at the level of the individual producer, product and batch through appropriate analytical and documentation systems.

Major Challenges Facing the Sector

An academic assessment must consider the challenges of the rose industry as well as its strengths.

Climate Change and Water Management

Changes in temperature, irregular rainfall, drought, late frost and extreme weather events may influence flowering time and crop yield.

Efficient water management is therefore likely to become increasingly important for the future of the industry.

Labour Availability

Rose flowers are harvested during a short seasonal window and are still largely collected by hand.

This creates a high demand for labour over a limited period.

Declining rural populations and increasing labour costs may make harvest organization more difficult in the future.

Delays Before Processing

When harvest volume exceeds the available processing capacity, flowers may remain unprocessed for extended periods.

Inappropriate or prolonged holding conditions can contribute to fermentation and changes in the relative proportions of volatile compounds.

Matching harvesting capacity with processing capacity is therefore an important quality-management issue.

Variability in Quality and Standardization

Producers may differ in their approaches to:

• Raw-material acceptance

• Distillation conditions

• Storage

• Laboratory analysis

• Documentation

• Traceability

Strengthening shared quality principles and standardized production practices may help reinforce Türkiye’s position in international markets.

Exporting Raw Materials Versus Creating Added Value

Exporting high-value raw materials such as rose oil and rose concrete creates important economic activity.

However, even greater added value may be generated when natural raw materials are transformed into:

• Branded cosmetics

• Finished personal-care products

• Fine fragrance

• Scientifically characterized botanical ingredients

• Innovative formulations

For this reason, Türkiye’s long-term opportunity is not limited to being a supplier of raw materials.

Scientific research, product development, formulation technology and international brand building can significantly expand the economic value created from the rose.

Adulteration and Imitation Products

High-value natural products may be vulnerable to adulteration.

Potential problems can include:

• Dilution with less expensive oils

• Addition of synthetic components

• Misleading labelling

• False statements regarding botanical or geographic origin

Laboratory analysis, traceability and reliable supply-chain documentation are therefore critical components of quality assurance.

Natural origin alone should never be accepted as a substitute for analytical verification.

Rose Tourism and the Regional Economy

In Isparta, the rose is more than an agricultural crop.

It has become part of the region’s cultural identity.

During the harvest season, activities such as:

• Rose-garden visits

• Photography tours

• Festivals

• Cultural events

• Local-product experiences

can contribute to rural tourism.

Rose tourism may help:

• Connect growers directly with consumers

• Increase awareness of regional products

• Support accommodation and food-service businesses

• Preserve the visibility of traditional harvesting practices

• Strengthen Isparta’s international identity as a rose-producing region

However, rose fields should not be presented merely as visual attractions.

Responsible rose tourism should also communicate the realities behind production, including:

• Harvest labour

• Agricultural management

• Water use

• Biodiversity

• Rural livelihoods

• The economic contribution of local communities

In this way, tourism can help visitors understand not only the beauty of the rose field, but also the agricultural system behind it.

The Future of the Rose Industry

The future of Türkiye’s rose industry will not depend solely on producing more flowers.

The greater opportunity lies in transforming existing agricultural resources into higher-value products through science, technology, traceability and brand development.

Priority Areas for Future Development

Key areas include:

• Water efficiency

• Energy efficiency

• Climate-adaptive cultivation practices

• Integrated and organic pest-management strategies

• Protection of soil health

• Batch-level traceability

• Standardized production protocols

• Advanced chemical analysis

• New distillation technologies

• New extraction technologies

• Utilization of spent rose biomass

• Utilization of process water

• Planned development of organic production

• University-industry collaboration

• Export of branded finished products

• International promotion of geographical indications

• Sustainable development of rose tourism

From Raw-Material Export to Knowledge Export

There is a fundamental difference between selling rose flowers, rose oil or rose concrete and developing proprietary technologies, analytical methods, formulations and internationally recognized brands.

The future value of the rose industry will not be measured only by the amount of essential oil in a bottle.

Value will increasingly be created through:

• Scientific characterization of the product

• Documentation of production methods

• Chemical analysis

• Traceability of origin

• Development of innovative formulations

• Quality assurance

• Intellectual and technological know-how

• International branding

This represents a transition from exporting raw materials to exporting knowledge, technology and finished products.

Conclusion: A Value Chain Extending from Isparta to the World

Türkiye is one of the major centres of the global oil-bearing rose industry, particularly through the production culture that has developed in Isparta and the surrounding Lakes Region.

Isparta’s importance is not based on climate and soil alone.

Its strength lies in the concentration of:

• Experienced growers

• Harvest knowledge

• Distillation facilities

• Laboratories

• Universities

• Commercial expertise

• Export networks

within the same production region.

Yet production volume alone is not sufficient for long-term success in international markets.

Quality, standardization, traceability, sustainability, scientific research, product diversification and brand development must progress together.

The major opportunity for Türkiye is therefore not simply to export the Isparta rose as a valuable raw material.

The greater opportunity is to transform it into scientifically characterized, innovative, high-value and trusted finished products.

The future of the rose industry will be shaped at the point where traditional production knowledge meets modern science, technology and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are oil-bearing roses mainly grown in Türkiye?

Oil-bearing rose production in Türkiye is concentrated primarily in Isparta. Burdur, Afyonkarahisar and Denizli are also important production areas within the Lakes Region.

According to 2022 data cited in the source study, approximately 82.3% of the regional production area was located in Isparta.

Why is Isparta important for rose production?

Isparta has developed into a specialized rose-industry centre because of the combination of suitable growing conditions, generations of producer experience, processing facilities, cooperatives, laboratories, research institutions and established commercial infrastructure.

What percentage of the world’s rose oil does Türkiye produce?

There is no single percentage that remains valid every year.

An academic study evaluating the 2020 period estimated Türkiye’s share of global rose oil production at approximately 30%.

This figure should be understood as an estimate for a particular period rather than a permanent market share.

How much does Türkiye export in rose products?

A study using 2020 data reported rose-based product exports of approximately US$19.4 million.

Separately, international trade data recorded approximately US$44.84 million of exports in 2024 under HS 330129.

However, HS 330129 is a broader category that includes products beyond roses. The US$44.84 million figure must therefore not be presented as Türkiye’s rose-product exports alone.

Which markets are important for rose-derived products from Türkiye?

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and the United States are among the significant markets for natural aromatic materials.

However, rankings vary according to product category, customs classification and year.

Are rose oil and rose concrete the same product?

No.

Rose essential oil is obtained through distillation, whereas rose concrete is produced through an appropriate extraction process.

They differ in their production methods, composition, aromatic characteristics and applications.

Does Isparta Rose Oil have a geographical indication?

Yes.

Isparta Rose Oil was registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office as a protected designation of origin on March 7, 2019.

What will shape the future of the rose industry?

Important areas include:

• Sustainable agriculture

• Climate-change adaptation

• Water and energy efficiency

• Traceability

• Scientific analysis

• New production technologies

• By-product utilization

• Standardization

• University-industry cooperation

• Development and export of branded finished products

The future of the industry will depend increasingly on how effectively traditional knowledge can be integrated with modern science, technology and responsible production.

References

Batı Akdeniz Kalkınma Ajansı. (2021). Yağ gülü tarımı ve endüstrisi [Oil-bearing rose cultivation and industry].

Baydar, H., & Erbaş, S. (2018). Ülkemizin dünya yağ gülü (Rosa damascena Mill.) pazarındaki yeri [Türkiye’s position in the global oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) market]. TÜRKTOB Dergisi, 26, 14–20.

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

Erbaş, S., & Baydar, H. (2016). Variation in scent compounds of oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) produced by headspace solid-phase microextraction, hydrodistillation and solvent extraction. Records of Natural Products, 10(5), 555–565.

Erbaş, S., & Mutlucan, M. (2023, May 11–12). Oil bearing rose (Rosa damascena Miller) farming and production of rose-based products in Turkey. International Flower Conference, Baku, Azerbaijan.

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. (2019). Isparta Gülyağı: Geographical indication registration certificate No. 421.

Turkish Statistical Institute. (2025). Crop Production Statistics, 2024.

World Bank. (2026). Turkey exports of essential oils, including concretes and absolutes, HS 330129, 2024. World Integrated Trade Solution.