The rose plant originates from Persia and the Persians called the rose “gul” which means flower. It’s no wonder the rose is called the Queen of flowers. Its rich vibrant colours and mesmerising aroma enchant the senses. The great physician Avicenna was one of the first to discover the healing and cosmetic properties of the roses. He praised the rose water stating that it enhanced memory and calmed the mind.
Rosa Damascena has been brought to Europe from Persia during the times of the crusaders and the Turkish invasion. Today the rose fields are situated in the Rose Valley near the town of Kazanluk - a place of high altitude and particular climate as well as soil conditions in which the plant has found its perfect environment. The Bulgarian rose oil is renowned for its outstanding quality and sophisticated fragrance. It is produced mainly for export and leading perfume houses and cosmetic manufacturers, such as Chanel and Lancôme, add it to their products.
This liquid gold as they call it is produced in an elaborate and effort-consuming manner. The rose petals are so delicate that they must be hand-picked only. The pickers go to the fields at 5 a.m. while it is still cool and work really fast till 9 a.m. After that, the fragrance loses its intensity as the temperature rises. After collecting the petals they are transported to the distillery where workers put them in giant containers full of heated water. The steam breaks down the oil sacks in the petals releasing the oil to the surface of the water. Then the oil flows separately to another tank but some of it remains in the water. This is the famous Bulgarian rose water. It takes about 100 roses for a 100 ml bottle of Rose Water.
So far more than 280 different compounds have been identified in the Bulgarian Rose Water. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, B3, C, D and E. Its skin benefits include:
- restored skin’s pH balance
- increased hydration
- calming effect on sensitive skin
- reduced oxidative stress caused by UV rays and urban pollution
- effective anti-ageing properties as it stimulates the regeneration of aged and damaged skin tissue
La Thea’s Bulgarian Rose Water is 100 % natural and free of synthetic ingredients. Its high quality and purity will work wonders on your skin.
