The Bulgarian oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is one of the country’s most valuable plant resources. Its economic importance has traditionally been associated with the production of rose oil and rose water—products with well-established applications in the perfumery and cosmetics industries.
Modern scientific and technological approaches, however, offer possibilities beyond the traditional use of rose petals. They help preserve the natural characteristics of products, improve production processes, and develop new ingredients from plant resources.
Of particular interest are the materials remaining after distillation. Residual plant biomass and process waters may contain valuable compounds, while modern extraction and microbiological technologies create opportunities for their further valorization.
In this way, traditional rose production can provide a foundation for new biotechnological solutions and value-added products.
Rose oil production begins with the harvesting of fresh flowers of Rosa damascena. Their chemical composition depends on growing conditions, harvest timing, and subsequent handling.
During traditional water-and-steam distillation, volatile aromatic compounds are carried by steam and then condensed to form a distillate. Depending on the processing method, rose oil and an aqueous fraction are separated from it. Conventional rose oil production may also involve an additional distillation step known as cohobation.
Rose oil and rose water have different chemical profiles, which determine their characteristic properties and applications.
Modern analytical methods make it possible to monitor the main aromatic components, the quality of individual batches, and the influence of processing parameters.
At the same time, technologies for processing and storing natural botanical distillates are being developed that can be used without adding ethyl alcohol. Suitable physical methods, controlled production conditions, and modern packaging solutions can help develop products that retain their desired characteristics.
For producers, these opportunities are important both for maintaining quality and for developing new product lines.
Producing rose oil and rose water does not mean that all valuable constituents of the plant material have been exhausted.
Distillation leaves behind solid plant biomass and various aqueous process streams, whose composition depends on the production method used.
Spent rose petals may contain non-volatile compounds, including phenolic substances and plant polysaccharides. Certain residual process waters may also provide a source of dissolved plant constituents.
Scientific studies have already demonstrated opportunities to recover polyphenols from such process streams and evaluate their biological activity.
Among the properties studied is the ability of certain phenolic fractions to influence enzymatic processes of interest for cosmetic applications.
These findings show that materials remaining after distillation can be regarded not only as production residues but also as potential secondary raw materials.
Their practical value, however, depends on the content of target substances, their extractability, and the properties of the products obtained.
One promising avenue for making fuller use of plant resources is their biotechnological processing through controlled fermentation.
During fermentation, microorganisms utilize available components of the plant substrate and can modify its chemical composition through their metabolic and enzymatic activities.
Depending on the microorganisms used and the process conditions, phenolic compounds may be transformed, specific plant constituents may be released, or new metabolites may be formed.
Scientific studies on wastewater from rose oil production have already demonstrated the potential for microbial biotransformation of the phenolic compounds it contains.
This provides an important basis for developing new biotechnological approaches in which a production residue serves as a substrate for controlled microbial processes.
The possibility of fermenting the solid plant biomass remaining after distillation is also of interest.
Such an approach could be aimed at obtaining fermented botanical extracts or fractions with modified chemical and technological properties.
To implement it, suitable microorganisms must be selected, the composition of the raw material assessed, and the properties and safety of the resulting products examined.
Fermentation broadens the opportunities for valorizing plant residues by enabling not only the extraction of existing constituents but also their biological transformation.
The opportunities for further processing of residual rose biomass can be explored in several directions.
One is the production of botanical extracts containing characterized phenolic compounds. Another is the extraction of polysaccharide fractions with potential technological applications.
Fermentation processes provide an additional opportunity to obtain ingredients with modified chemical profiles.
For cosmetic manufacturers, these approaches are particularly interesting because they create opportunities to develop new ingredients from plant materials already used in production.
Moving from a laboratory result to a commercial product, however, requires successive studies of chemical composition, biological activity, safety, stability, and technological compatibility.
It is also necessary to assess whether the selected process can be implemented at production scale and whether the resulting ingredient has genuine market potential.
The BIORESOURCES Centre of Competence brings together scientific expertise and specialized infrastructure in plant bioresources, analytical chemistry, microbiology, and innovative product development.
This interdisciplinary approach creates opportunities for collaboration with businesses seeking new applications for natural resources or ways to improve their products.
Depending on specific production needs, potential research activities may include:
Collaboration can begin with a specific production need—characterizing a raw material, investigating a residual stream, or assessing an idea for a new product.
In this way, scientific research can help producers select technological solutions and reduce uncertainty when investing in new developments.
Bulgarian rose production has an established international reputation, yet its potential for scientific and technological development continues to offer new opportunities.
Modern analytical methods support the quality of traditional products, while extraction and fermentation technologies expand the possible uses of plant materials remaining after distillation.
Combining chemical characterization with microbiological and biotechnological approaches is particularly promising and may contribute to the development of new products and more efficient resource use.
From fresh rose petals to finished products and potential new biobased ingredients, science creates opportunities to add value at every stage of production.
This connection between scientific expertise and the practical needs of industry lies at the heart of the BIORESOURCES Centre of Competence.
Do you work with oil-bearing roses, other essential-oil plants, or residual plant biomass?
Contact BIORESOURCES to discuss opportunities for scientific characterization, biotechnological processing, and the development of new products.
The residual plant material can be investigated as a source of phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and other constituents, as well as a potential substrate for biotechnological processing.
Yes. Controlled microbial fermentation can be used to investigate changes in chemical composition and obtain products with different properties. Suitable conditions must be determined experimentally.
They can be investigated for such applications following appropriate characterization and testing for safety, stability, and functionality.
Through analytical, microbiological, and biotechnological research focused on evaluating raw materials, developing technologies, and exploring opportunities for new products.
Scientific References
The Institute for Research Support was established in 2023 as a non-profit association, with a mission to support scientific organisations, startups and organisations developing innovative ideas. It has a multidisciplinary team in the fields of science, marketing, finance, law, intellectual property and more, structuring the entire process of creating a new product or commercialising a scientific development.
The Institute of Polymers at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences specialises in the research and development of advanced polymeric materials and technologies with applications in medicine, pharmacy and industry. Within CC BIORESOURCES, its scientific potential contributes to the creation of innovative materials and high-technology solutions.
The Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy (FCP) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is a leading national centre for education and research in the fields of chemistry, pharmacy and materials science. Within CC BIORESOURCES, FCP participates with leading researchers and scientific infrastructure from the Departments of “Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Engineering” and “Analytical Chemistry”, who specialise in the development and characterisation of innovative products for the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Our research team has a strong orientation towards scientific research addressing fundamental and practical questions, working in active collaboration with researchers from Bulgaria and abroad.
Sofia University (SU) is the largest and most prestigious university in Bulgaria, with 16 faculties, 119 degree programmes and approximately 20,000 students.
The Faculty of Biology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” conducts scientific research in the fields of molecular biology, biotechnology, ecology and biodiversity. The Faculty’s expertise supports the development of sustainable solutions related to bioresources, human health and environmental protection.
Sofia University (SU) is the largest and most prestigious university in Bulgaria, with 16 faculties, 119 degree programmes and approximately 20,000 students.
The AgroBio Institute (ABI) at the Agricultural Academy is one of the leading research institutes in Bulgaria in the fields of plant biotechnology, molecular genetics, metabolomics and the sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources and agricultural by-products. Within CC BIORESOURCES, ABI contributes its scientific capacity and specialised laboratory infrastructure for the selection and accelerated breeding of medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as the development and implementation of innovative methods and technologies with applications in the bioindustry.
The Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IOCCP – BAS) is a leading scientific organisation in the fields of organic chemistry, phytochemistry and the development of bioactive compounds. The Institute conducts research aimed at the sustainable utilisation of natural resources and the transfer of innovations to business and society.
Институтът за изследователска подкрепа е създаден през 2023 г. като сдружение с нестопанска цел, чиято мисия е да подпомага научни организации, стартиращи компании и организации, развиващи иновативни идеи. Разполага с мултидисциплинарен екип в сферата на науката, маркетинга, финансите, правото, интелектуалната собственост и др., който да структурира цялостното създаване на нов продукт или комерсиализацията на научна разработка.
Институтът по полимери към Българска академия на науките е специализиран в изследванията и разработването на съвременни полимерни материали и технологии с приложение в медицината, фармацията и индустрията. В рамките на ЦК БИОРЕСУРСИ неговият научен потенциал допринася за създаването на иновативни материали и високотехнологични решения.
Факултетът по химия и фармация (ФХФ) към Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ е водещ национален център за обучение и изследвания в областта на химията, фармацията и материалознанието. В ЦК БИОРЕСУРСИ ФХФ участва с водещи изследователи и научна инфраструктура от катедрите „Инженерна химия и фармацевтично инженерство“ и „Аналитична химия“, които са специализирани в областта на разработването и охарактеризирането на иновационни продукти за козметичната, хранителната и фармацевтичната индустрии. Изследователският ни екип има силна ориентация към научни изследвания, свързани с решаването на фундаментални и практически въпроси, като работи в активно сътрудничество с изследователи от страната и чужбина.
Софийският университет (СУ) е най-големият и най-престижен университет в България с 16 факултета, 119 специалности и обучавани около 20 000 студенти.
Биологическият факултет към Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ развива научни изследвания в областта на молекулярната биология, биотехнологиите, екологията и биологичното разнообразие. Експертизата на факултета подпомага разработването на устойчиви решения, свързани с биоресурсите, човешкото здраве и опазването на околната среда.
Софийският университет (СУ) е най-големият и най-престижен университет в България с 16 факултета, 119 специалности и обучавани около 20 000 студенти.
АгроБиоИнститут (АБИ) към Селскостопанска академия е един от водещите научноизследователски институти в България в областта на растителните биотехнологии, молекулярната генетика, метаболомиката и устойчивото оползотворяване на растителни генетични ресурси и отпадни продукти от земеделието. В рамките на ЦК БИОРЕСУРСИ АБИ допринася със своя научен капацитет и специализирана лабораторна инфраструктура за отбор и ускорена селекция на медицински и ароматни растения, разработване и внедряване на иновативни методи и технологии с приложение в биоиндустрията.
Институтът по органична химия с център по фитохимия към Българска академия на науките (ИОХЦФ – БАН) е водеща научна организация в областта на органичната химия, фитохимията и разработването на биоактивни съединения. Институтът развива научни изследвания, насочени към устойчивото оползотворяване на природни ресурси и трансфера на иновации към бизнеса и обществото.