Luxury Brands Pay $15,000 For Little Bit of Bulgarian Roses

By Jill Brooke

I was amused that Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford spent up to $`15,000 for a little bit of Bulgarian rose oil. Literally two pounds of rose oil costs that much.

According to,  Bulgarian rose oil is the most valuable rose oil on the market. But to make the highest-quality Bulgarian rose oil, producers must spend the year cultivating fields that will only bloom for a few weeks. The petals are distilled the same hour they’re harvested, costing producers $8,000 for every two pounds for labor alone so it doesn’t lose its potency.

Luxury brands will pay top dollar to get their hands on these petals because they produce the scents we love.

In fact, Chanel purchased fields of jasmine in Grasse, France to protect its iconic Channel No. 5 perfume. Perfumers know quality matters and the better the flower, the better the perfume experience for the consumer.

What perfumes do you love? Tom Ford uses them for his “Rose Prick” perfume though I’m a big fan of Aerin’s “Rose de Grasse” “Lilac Patch” and Floral Street’s “Neon Rose.”

Bulgaria is known for having the perfect conditions for growing the oil-bearing rose. It’s called Rosa Damascena. The region is even called Rose Valley and production dates back to the 16th century, while in the 19th century, Bulgaria became the world leader in its manufacturing.

The roses are harvested in the morning which is the best time to retrieve their scent. This is true for your garden too – cut flowers in the morning for the best scents.

Referred to as “liquid gold”, for its unique properties and high price, the rose oil is a natural elixir with an uncountable list of benefits.  It contains minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, which have calming, anti-inflammatory and nourishing effects.  Aromatherapy with rose oil is said to reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and has a positive effect on depressive states, according to some reports.

I promise you flower lovers. Using perfume throughout the day is both healing and therapeutic. It definitely lifts my spirits. Especially now. What is your favorite?

Here’s a video on the process –