Questions & Answers

Product Related Questions

Q: What is aromatherapy?

Q: How many types of Rose oil are produced in Bulgaria?

Q: Why is the Bulgarian Rose oil the best?

Q: What is the most expensive Bulgarian Rose oil?

Q: Why is the Bulgarian Rose oil so expensive?

Q: Is the Rose oil produced year-round?

Q: Which famous brands use Bulgarian Rose oil?

Q: How many kg of Rose oil are produced annually in Bulgaria?

Q: What is the difference between Bulgarian Rose Otto and Rose Absolute?

Q: What is the difference between Bulgarian Rose Otto and Rose Alba?

Q: Why does Bulgarian Rose Otto solidify?

Q: How long does the Bulgarian rose oil last?

Q: What are the standards for the Bulgarian Rose Otto and how is its quality guaranteed?

Q: Can I drink Rose Otto undiluted?

Q: Should I apply Rose Otto directly onto my skin?

Q: Why the scent of the Rose Otto produced in different countries is not the same?

Q: How Essential oils are produced

Q: What are Essential Oils?

Q: Why I can see many cheaper prices online for the Bulgarian Rose oil?

Q: How can I recognize 100% pure, undiluted, genuine Bulgarian Rose oil?

Q: Are there different grades for the Bulgarian rose oil?

Q: What are Organic products and what is their Certification process?

Q: What is "carrier oil"?

Q: How to store the essential oils?

 

Shipping, Policies & Procedures

Q: Do you ship internationally?


Answers

 Product Related Questions

 

Q: What is aromatherapy?

A: Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.

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Q: How many types of Rose oil are produced in Bulgaria?

A: There are 3 main Rose oils + one organic produced in Bulgaria:

- Rose Otto

- Rose Alba

- Rose Absolute

- Organic Rose Otto

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Q: Why is the Bulgarian Rose oil the best?

A: The Bulgarian steam distilled pure rose oil is number one in the world for several reasons. For centuries people in Bulgaria have been specializing in the extraction of Pure Rose Essential oil (Otto, Alba and Absolute). The climate in the Bulgarian Rose Valley is such that the rose petals do not over produce wax for protection from the rays of the sun. In other climates, harsh or too little sun will produce inferior rose petals that contain either too much or too little wax. Other environmental factors, such as soil and water combined with time honored cultivation techniques, ensure prime rose petals and rose oil production.

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Q: What is the most expensive Bulgarian Rose Oil?

A: Organic Rose Otto - very small quantities are produced every year and usually they are reserved long ahead.

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Q: Why is the Bulgarian Rose oil so expensive?

A: It takes approximately 3000 - 4000 kg of roses to produce 1 kilogram of pure steam distilled Rose Otto (Rosa Damascena) essential oil. In other words, you will need about 1,000,000 rose flowers to produce 1L of rose oil. On average, a person harvesting the petals can collect 50kg of roses a day and this is just the start of the process.

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Q: Is the Rose oil produced year-round?

A: No. Bulgarian Rose oil is produced only during the month of May-June, when the conditions are best for harvesting of the roses.

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Q: Which famous brands use Bulgarian Rose oil?

A: Most of the world top designer houses use Bulgarian Rose oil; below are just a few:

- CHANNEL (Chanel No5, CoCo)

- ESTEE LAUDER (White Linen Breeze, Tresor Elixir)

- KENZO (Flower)

- LANCOME (Magnifique, Magie Noire)

- ELIZABETH ARDEN (Brilliant White Diamonds)

- ANNA SUI (Anna Sui)

- JEAN PAUL GAUTIER (Classique)

- JACOMO (Silences)

- YVES SAINT LAURENT ( "Y" )

- DIOR (Addict)

- VERA WANG (Vera Wang Perfume)

- FABERGE (Faberge)

- RALPH LAUREN (Lauren)

- BULGARI (Green Tea)

- PACO RABANNE (Ultraviolet)

- CAROLINA HERRERA (Chic)

- CACHAREL (Gloria)

- JEAN PATOU (Joy, "1000")

- PALOMA PICASSO (Paloma Picasso)

- LALIQUE (Lalique)

- JIVAGO ( "24K" )

- GIORGIO BEVERLY HILLS (Red)

- HANAE MORI (Pink Butterfly)

- HERMES (Parfum d'Hermes)

- ROCHAS (Madame Rochas)

- FENDI (Fendi Perfume)

- BIJAN (Bijan Perfume)

- ISSEY MIYAKE (Le Feu d'Issey)

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Q: How many kg of Rose oil are produced annually in Bulgaria?

A: The amount of Rose oil produced in Bulgaria has varied trough the years. At present, Bulgaria produces only about 2,000kg of pure, natural Rose oil per year.

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Q: What is the difference between Bulgarian Rose Otto and Rose Absolute?

A: The Bulgarian Rose Otto is steam distilled and contains only the natural ingredients of the rose petals. Rose Absolute is extracted in a different way, which is called “solvent extraction.” The fragrance of the Rose Absolute is more of a true Rose than Rose Otto, though not as potent or as precious as the Rose Otto or Alba.

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Q: What is the difference between Bulgarian Rose Otto and Rose Alba?

A: Bulgarian Rose Otto is made from the petals of Rosa Damascena, which is usually light pink in color. Bulgarian Rose Alba oil, on the other hand, is produced using the petals of the white Rose Alba. Rose Alba oil is a very rare product. Its scent is similar, but milder, than that of Rose Otto. Very small quantities of Rose Alba oil are produced every year.

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Q: Why does Bulgarian Rose Otto solidify?

A: At around 20°C, the Bulgarian Rose Oil will start solidifying. This happens because it is 100% pure natural product and the waxes in the oil begin to set. Simply place the aromatherapy bottle between your hands to warm the rose oil.

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Q: How long does the Bulgarian rose oil last?

A: Bulgarian Rose Otto lasts for a very long time. Couple of years ago, a small container (called "concum") of Bulgarian Rose Otto produced in the 1940's was found. The Rose oil inside was in very good condition and today it is valued at over $US 20,000.

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Q: What are the standards for the Bulgarian Rose Otto and how is its quality guaranteed?

A: To ensure the top quality of the Bulgarian Rose Oil, the Bulgarian government has implemented a monitoring and certification program enforced by the designated Bulgarian State Laboratories and customs. The International ISO standard for the Bulgarian Rose Otto has been created, based on the Bulgarian National Rose oil standard. Both standards are used and are equal. The constant monitoring and implementation of these standards ensures the rose oil composition is always within required quality control parameters. In this way the source (Bulgaria) and the purity (100% steam distilled) is guaranteed.

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Q: Can I drink Rose Otto undiluted?

A: Rose Otto, like other essential oils, is a highly concentrated plant essence and should not be taken orally without a prescription. However, Rose oil sometimes is added to food items, including drinks in very small quantities. It is strongly recommended consulting a certified aromatherapy specialist before using any type of essential oil orally.

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Q: Should I apply Rose Otto directly onto my skin?

A: No. It is best to dilute Rose Otto with jojoba or another vegetable oil. Always apply Rose Otto (and all essential oils) sparingly on your wrist to check for any reaction. Wait for 12 to 24 hours to see if you have a reaction to it before using it on your body.

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Q: Why the scent of the Rose Otto produced in different countries is not the same?

A: Different growing practices, environmental and climate conditions produce a different scent. Not only is the scent of Rose Otto produced in different countries different, but the Bulgarian Rose Otto produced in different years can be different, as well. Just like with a good wine, highly trained and experienced professionals can determine the year of production, the region and in some cases even the distiller.

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Q: How Essential oils are produced?

A: There are 3 major ways to extract essential oils:

Distillation

Most pure essential oils are extracted from plants through steam distillation. Freshly picked plants are treated with boiling water steam. The steam pulls the oils out of the plant and then is rapidly cooled, causing it to condense back into water. Since water and essential oils do not mix, the two separate, and the essential oil is collected.

A byproduct of this distillation is the remaining water. Such waters are usually called “Flower waters” or “hydrosols.” In aromatherapy, hydrosols are used to moisturize skin.

Expression (cold press)

The most direct method of producing essential oils is pressing them from the plant's flesh, seeds and skins. This technique is used mostly with citrus peels, such as orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit, because the oil in their peels is easily pressed out.

Solvent extraction

The plant is dissolved in a solvent. The solvent, which has a low boiling point, is then evaporated off. The resulting oils are called "absolutes." A similar method uses paraffin waxes as the solvent, but does not evaporate them off. Instead, the remaining paraffin causes the final product to be solid, and thus it is called "concrete." This process is reserved for costly oils that cannot be distilled, such as jasmine or for rose essential oil, which is slightly less expensive when obtained through this process rather than through distillation.

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Q: What are Essential Oils?

A: Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic compounds produced by plants - the easily evaporated essences that give plants their wonderful scents. Essential oils are not really oily-feeling at all. Most essential oils are clear, but some oils such as Rose Oil, Patchouli, Orange and Lemongrass, are amber or yellow in color.

Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant and are highly concentrated - a little goes a long way. For example, Bulgarian rose essential oil has a beautiful, strong floral and sweet fragrance that is intoxicating and romantic. It takes thousands of flower petals to create the drops that are in a bottle of rose oil. It is said that a single drop of Bulgarian rose oil equals 100 roses.

Essential oils are not the same as perfume or fragrance oils and they are often confused with synthetic fragrance oils, which are chemical recreations of scents. While these fragrance oils may smell identical to their botanical counterparts, they do not offer the therapeutic benefits that essential oils offer. The chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide significant psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are usually achieved through methods including inhalation and application of the diluted oil to the skin.

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Q: Why I can see many cheaper prices online for the Bulgarian Rose oil?

A: Many irresponsible resellers and sometimes even producers temper with the Rose oil, mislead and even cheat their customers. There are many different ways used to deceive the customer, however they can be divided in two main groups: Dilution and Substitution.

Substitution - Rose oil is produced in many countries around the world including Iran, China and India. The rose oils produced in these countries is much cheaper. For example, the Indian Rose oil is about 9-10 times cheaper than the Bulgarian Rose oil. Some irresponsible sellers' substitutes part of the Bulgarian rose oil or just directly sell entirely different Rose oil as Bulgarian Rose oil. They hope that the inexperienced customer will not be able to distinguish between the genuine Bulgarian Rose oil and any other cheaper oils.

Dilution - Bulgarian Rose oil has an extremely strong scent, and even diluted with 60-70% of base oils, is still very strong. Irresponsible sellers' dilute the Bulgarian rose oil with carrier oils, geranium essential oil and other similar products. Even good base oils are about 300 times (three hundred times!) cheaper than the Bulgarian Rose oil. They hope that the inexperienced customer will not be able to distinguish between the genuine Bulgarian Rose oil and the diluted one.

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Q: How can I recognize 100% pure, undiluted, genuine Bulgarian Rose oil?

A: This is not an easy task and there is no magic formula, unless the oil is tested. However, there are several indirect ways that can help you determine if the rose oil is genuine Bulgarian Rose oil. These are: certificates, distribution licenses, company credentials, Website pictures, price, products appearance, Website look and content and seller physical address.

Certificates – look at what certificates are available, and do they show the company name or have they been tampered with? Usually, a genuine company will have a lot of certificates and they will proudly display them; in addition, their name will be clearly visible on these documents. Not all Bulgarian rose oil is qualified for export; the certified ones will have either the Bulgarian National Rose Laboratory in Sofia or Kazanluk certificate.

Distribution license – very few sellers are actually official distributers. The ones who are distributors will have a distribution license and will most probably display it.

Price – the Bulgarian Rose oil price varies every year depending on the harvest, as well as the quality of the oil. The prices in every country around the world are different, as well, due to the transportation costs, import duties and value added taxes, etc. However, usually the retail price for a pure, export grade Bulgarian Rose oil is between 25 USD to 55 USD per 1 ml and if you find it for a lot less, then chances are you are not getting the real oil.

Company credentials – look for official government and legal documents, letters of recommendations, distributor certificates, online reviews, etc. Website pictures – are they different from other similar websites or they are just standard pictures easily obtainable from the web? Do the pictures show specific moments; include company staff and other famous people, in other words pictures, which can not be used by other companies? Are they good quality or have been copied and tempered with?

Website pictures – are they different from other similar websites or are they just standard pictures easily obtainable from the web? Do the pictures show specific moments or include company staff and famous people? In other words, are they genuine or have been copied from the web and even tampered with?

Products appearance – The Bulgarian Rose oil is not a cheap product and is usually well packaged. Many Rose oil producers seal their products with red wax in order to prevent tampering with the product. If there is no original wax seal or any other tampering protection available, probably you do not want to buy this Rose Oil.

Website feel, look and content – is it a very simple and standard, or well thought out and written? Is it full of useful information, explaining all sides of the products, their usage and showing a lot of certificates and other documentation?

Seller physical address – look for the seller physical address; if it is not available, you should probably avoid buying anything form this seller.

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Q: Are there different grades for the Bulgarian rose oil?

A: Yes there are. Not all Rose oils produced in Bulgaria are of the same quality. The quality depends on several factors: most importantly, the maturity of the rose fields (they should be at least 5 years old to yield high grade Rose oil); the speed the rose petals are processed (usually within 12 hours of being picked); and, of course, the growing region, with Rose “valley of the Roses” being the best of all. There are other factors influencing the Rose oil quality, and ultimately the grade is determined by the Bulgarian State Laboratories.

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Q: What are Organic products and what is their Certification process?

A: Organic production in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan and some other countries is a heavily regulated industry. Organic products are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs (such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers), do not contain genetically modified organisms and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents or chemical food additives. Other requirements include: use of farmland that has been free from synthetic chemicals for a three or more years; maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products; undergoing periodic on-site (usually twice a year) inspections of soil, water and production facilities.

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Q: What is "carrier oil?

A: Carrier oils are also referred to as vegetable oils and base oils. They have extensive applications in Aromatherapy because they are used to dilute Essential oils or absolutes for application. They are also used in the manufacturing of cold-process soaps and for massages. Each carrier oil has different properties and the choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought.

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Q: How to store the essential oils?

A: Essential oils are best kept in dark glass bottles with screw tops. They should be kept in a cool, dry space and out of the direct sunlight.

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Shipping, Policy & Procedures

 

Q: Do you ship internationally?

A: In accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association, all dangerous articles such as perfumery, essential oils and other liquid products are not admissible for posting by air. As AromaNation.com must abide to the Dangerous Goods Safety Regulations, currently orders can only be carried by land and sea. This makes individual orders delivery too slow and impossible to track. We are currently working on solving this issue; in the meantime we can accept wholesale orders only.

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