Travel: Liquid Rose Gold: Bulgarian_Rose_006

Yonko Yonkov, 65, wears a rose garland he makes for guests to the garden while picking roses in his rose gardens in Osetenovo, Bulgaria on May 29, 2018. He says rose-picking usually starts at sunrise and wraps up before noon. The rose flower is very sensitive, and its oil resides in the top layers of the flower, so it evaporates easily with rising temperatures. Cold dew drops in the morning hinder the evaporation of oil, and the moist air preserves the plant’s moisture, turgor and oil content, which is why farmers usually pick the flowers so early.Photo by: Yana Paskova for National Geographic Traveler

Yonko Yonkov, 65, wears a rose garland he makes for guests to the garden while picking roses in his rose gardens in Osetenovo, Bulgaria on May 29, 2018. He says rose-picking usually starts at sunrise and wraps up before noon. The rose flower is very sensitive, and its oil resides in the top layers of the flower, so it evaporates easily with rising temperatures. Cold dew drops in the morning hinder the evaporation of oil, and the moist air preserves the plant’s moisture, turgor and oil content, which is why farmers usually pick the flowers so early.

Photo by: Yana Paskova for National Geographic Traveler