428 
Production  of  Attar  of  Roses. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1920. 
PRODUCTION  OF  ATTAR  OF  ROSES  IN  BULGARIA.* 
By  Consul  Graham  H.  Kemper, 
SOFIA. 
During  the  12  years  prior  to  the  first  Balkan  War,  that  is,  from 
1900  to  1 91 2,  the  manufacture  of  attar  of  roses  in  Bulgaria  attained 
its  highest  development.  During  that  period  a  large  number  of 
up-to-date  factories  equipped  with  modern  steam  stills  were  erec- 
ted. The  total  area  planted  to  roses  increased  to  more  than  20,000 
acres.  Owing  to  the  three  wars  in  which  Bulgaria  has  taken  part 
since  191 2,  the  industry  of  rose  culture  for  the  production  of  attar 
of  roses  has  experienced  a  decided  setback.  It  is  estimated  that 
the  present  acreage  planted  to  roses  is  not  more  than  15,000. 
The  average  annual  production  of  attar  of  roses  during  the  period 
from  1900  to  1 91 2  was  about  126,800  ounces.  The  production  fell 
to  85,000  ounces  in  191 7,  85,000  ounces  in  191 8,  and  52,000  ounces  in 
191 9,  and  it  is  predicted  that  the  present  year's  yield  will  show  a 
further  decrease. 
During  the  war,  owing  to  the  fact  that  Bulgaria  was  cut  off  from 
the  principal  markets — New  York,  London  and  Paris — the  stocks 
of  attar  of  roses  remaining  unsold  increased  until  they  reached  a  total 
of  about  275,000  ounces,  about  40  per  cent,  of  which  is  said  to  have 
been  of  inferior  quality.  About  one-third  of  this  total  available 
stock  was  sent  to  the  United  States  early  in  1 9 1 9  in  part  payment  for 
flour  imported  from  the  United  States;  also  some  17,000  ounces  were 
shipped  to  the  United  States  during  the  last  quarter  of  the  year. 
It  is  estimated  that  the  present  available  stock  in  Bulgaria  hardly 
exceeds  50,000  ounces,  worth  about  $500,000. 
It  is  stated  by  one  of  the  best-known  producers  that  under  exist- 
ing conditions  the  production  of  attar  of  roses  is  not  a  paying  indus- 
try. Owing  to  the  high  prices  for  other  farm  products,  at  least 
5,000  acres  of  rose  gardens  have  been  abandoned  and  the  land  planted 
to  more  remunerative  crops,  especially  tobacco.  Centralization, 
by  the  formation  of  a  syndicate  for  the  purpose  of  eliminating  un- 
necessary expenses,  is  spoken  of  as  the  only  course  that  will  save  the 
industry. 
*  From  Commerce  Reports,  March  6,  1920. 
