“Isparta rose” or “pink oil rose” named Rosa damascena Mill. is a rose species that has the highest value for perfume, cosmetic, pharmacy and food industries among the other rose species with a sharp and intensive scent which is peculiar to itself.
In Isparta, first rose plantation was done in 1888 and first rose oil was produced in 1892 by “Muftuzade Ismail Efendi”. In early times, rose oil was produced in a simple way with imbik (distillery boiler) by Muftuzade Ismail Efendi that spreaded to whole Isparta City and continued in same method during years. Rural style rose oil production was abandoned to industrial production as a result of modern rose oil factory was found in 1935 with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk when he visited Isparta.
The most important rose gardens and the most beautiful roses are cultivated in Milas, Golcuk, Yakaoren, Gelincik Villages of Isparta City, Islamkoy Village of Atabey, Guneykent Town of Gonen, Senir Town and Kilic Villages of Keciborlu.
Rose oil which is the most important and expensive raw material of perfume and cosmetic industry, rose aroma in some food products, rose water that is used for cleaning make-up and body with its stretching feature on tissues, rose jam, rose flavored Turkish Delight, rose juice, rose soap, rose shampoo, rose cream and skin care products are produced from rose.