Begins Industrial Turkish-Origin Galbanum Resin Harvest from Its Controlled High-Altitude Fields in Eastern Türkiye

A pioneering step in Turkish-origin Galbanum and Asafoetida sourcing, responsible Ferula cultivation, local training, environmental protection, and full traceability

Galbanum Oil Fragrance is proud to announce the beginning of a new and important chapter in the sourcing of rare Ferula-based natural materials: the start of our industrial Turkish-origin Galbanum resin harvest from controlled high-altitude fields established by our team in Eastern Türkiye.

After years of field development, technical monitoring, local training, and patient work with sensitive Ferula plants, our Galbanum fields in Türkiye have now reached the maturity required for industrial resin collection.

To the best of our knowledge, Galbanum Oil Fragrance is the first company to establish and bring to industrial harvest a controlled Turkish-origin Galbanum production program in Türkiye. This achievement represents years of investment in a highly challenging plant, a non-traditional cultivation environment within Türkiye, and a long-term vision for a cleaner, more traceable, and more responsible supply chain.

This project is not only a production milestone for our company. It is also a new sourcing model for Galbanum and Asafoetida materials: Turkish origin, controlled harvest, trained local teams, no child labor, respect for women and local communities, reduced plastic contact, full traceability, and responsible field management from source to factory.

A long-term project for sensitive Ferula plants

Galbanum is not an ordinary agricultural crop.

Unlike cultivated aromatic plants such as lavender, mint, rosemary, or thyme, Galbanum belongs to a group of sensitive Ferula plants that require several years to reach proper maturity before any responsible resin collection can begin.

The plant must be observed over several seasons. The field conditions must be evaluated carefully. The resin flow must be studied. The tapping method must be adapted to the plant’s natural development. Most importantly, the collection must be carried out without damaging the long-term life of the plant.

For this reason, Galbanum Oil Fragrance began this project years ago with a clear objective: to develop a responsible Turkish-origin Galbanum and Asafoetida supply chain outside uncontrolled and non-transparent harvesting channels.

Our aim was not simply to collect resin. Our aim was to create a traceable, supervised, and field-based production model in Türkiye.

Eastern Türkiye: high-altitude fields and controlled harvest

Approximately seven years ago, Galbanum Oil Fragrance started developing controlled Galbanum and Asafoetida cultivation and collection areas in selected high-altitude regions of Eastern Türkiye.

These areas were selected after long-term observation of climate, soil structure, plant adaptation, altitude, resin development, and field accessibility. The objective was to create a controlled Turkish-origin source with responsible harvesting, local training, and full traceability from field to factory.

The fields were developed gradually. The plants were monitored season after season. Growth behavior, maturity, resin response, environmental conditions, and harvesting methods were all evaluated before moving toward industrial collection.

This year, after reaching the necessary level of maturity, our Galbanum fields in Eastern Türkiye are ready for industrial resin harvest.

From pilot harvest to industrial harvest

Last year, Galbanum Oil Fragrance carried out a limited pilot harvest of approximately 100 kg of Galbanum resin from these Turkish fields.

This pilot phase was a necessary technical step. It allowed our team to evaluate plant response, resin flow, tapping depth, local working conditions, resin cleanliness, temporary field storage, transportation methods, and post-harvest handling.

The pilot harvest also helped us improve the practical details of our traceability system, including how the resin is collected, coded, transported, and transferred to our production facility.

Following this successful pilot stage, this year marks the beginning of our industrial Turkish-origin Galbanum resin harvest.

Our current harvesting period is expected to continue over the next three months, depending on climate conditions, resin flow, field accessibility, plant response, and quality evaluation.

Because Galbanum is a sensitive plant, our harvest plan is not based only on quantity. It is based on plant maturity, technical field judgment, and long-term protection of the source.

For Galbanum Oil Fragrance, sustainable production begins with protecting the plant.

Training local people in responsible resin collection

One of the most important parts of this project has been the training of local people in Eastern Türkiye.

Resin collection from Galbanum and Asafoetida plants is a technical process. It cannot be treated as simple wild collection. Incorrect tapping can damage the plant, reduce future resin yield, weaken the root system, and harm the long-term sustainability of the field.

For this reason, our team has invested significant time in training local workers and field groups on responsible collection methods.

Correct plant identification

Understanding plant maturity before tapping

Responsible cutting and tapping techniques

Controlled resin collection

Avoiding damage to roots and growing points

Protecting young and immature plants

Field hygiene and clean resin handling

Separation of foreign materials

Correct temporary storage before transport

Respect for the natural growth cycle of the plant

This local training process is part of our wider commitment to local development, local knowledge, and responsible sourcing in Türkiye.

Our objective is to build not only a supply chain, but also a skilled local network around Galbanum and Asafoetida resin harvesting.

No child labor, no forced labor, and respect for women in the supply chain

Galbanum Oil Fragrance applies a strict no-child-labor and no-forced-labor policy across its field, collection, transportation, and production activities.

The harvesting of Galbanum and Asafoetida resin is a technical task and must only be performed by trained adults under controlled and supervised conditions.

We believe responsible sourcing must protect both the plant and the people involved in the supply chain.

For this reason, our field operations are organized around adult trained workers, internal supervision, clear working standards, and a strict prohibition on child labor.

We also pay special attention to the role and protection of women in local communities. Any participation of women in our supply chain must be based on adult, voluntary, safe, and respectful working conditions. Women and men involved in our activities are expected to work under the same principles of dignity, safety, fair treatment, and supervision.

For Galbanum Oil Fragrance, responsible sourcing is not only about origin and quality. It also includes respect for people, local families, women, workers, and the communities connected to our fields.

Environmental protection and rangeland responsibility

In every market and every region where Galbanum Oil Fragrance is active, environmental protection is one of our main educational, operational, and sourcing principles.

For sensitive Ferula plants, protecting the surrounding environment is essential. These plants are directly connected to the health of the soil, the rangeland, the local ecosystem, and the natural balance of the area.

Our field training and operational procedures therefore include not only resin collection techniques, but also broader environmental awareness.

Our teams are trained to respect:

The natural growth cycle of the plant

Soil structure and root protection

Rangeland protection

Avoidance of overharvesting

Protection of immature plants

Clean field practices

Responsible movement within collection areas

Prevention of unnecessary damage to surrounding vegetation

Responsible waste handling during field activity

All field activities are carried out in line with applicable local land-use, harvesting, biodiversity protection, and documentation requirements.

To protect the collection areas and prevent uncontrolled harvesting, exact field locations are not disclosed publicly. However, detailed traceability information can be provided confidentially to customers for compliance review.

Our goal is to ensure that commercial production does not come at the cost of plant destruction, rangeland degradation, or irresponsible pressure on local ecosystems.

Cleaner handling from field to factory

Based on our previous experience with natural resins and essential oils, Galbanum Oil Fragrance has also improved its handling and transportation system from field to factory.

Traditional resin collection often relies on plastic bags, plastic buckets, or unsuitable plastic containers during field handling and transportation. However, our quality experience has shown that unsuitable plastic contact may become a source of unwanted migration compounds, including phthalates and other plastic-related contaminants.

For this reason, we have reduced plastic contact wherever technically possible during resin collection, temporary storage, and transportation from field to factory.

Our current handling system focuses on:

Cleaner resin collection in the field

Reduced plastic contact

Controlled temporary storage

Sealed and coded transport containers

Cleaner transfer from field to factory

Better batch traceability

Improved protection of resin quality

Lower use of single-use plastic materials

This approach supports both quality improvement and environmental responsibility.

By reducing unsuitable plastic contact, we aim to better preserve the natural integrity of the resin and minimize contamination risks before processing.

Turkish-origin resin with full traceability

The resin collected under this program is intended to be supplied as Turkish-origin Galbanum resin, collected and processed in Türkiye under our internal traceability and quality control system.

For international customers requiring technical and compliance support, Galbanum Oil Fragrance can provide documentation such as:

Batch traceability information

Collection area information

Harvest period details

Production and processing records

COA

SDS

TDS

Certificate of Origin

Customer-specific declarations when required

Internal quality control documentation

Our goal is to provide customers with a reliable and transparent source of Turkish-origin Galbanum, supported by responsible harvesting, proper documentation, and long-term field planning.

Why this project matters

Galbanum is one of the most distinctive natural aromatic materials in perfumery.

Its green, resinous, bitter, earthy, and powerful olfactive profile has made it an important ingredient in both classical and modern fragrance creation. However, behind this unique material there is also a complex and sensitive supply chain.

Uncontrolled collection can damage plant populations. Untrained harvesting can reduce future availability. Poor handling can affect quality. Unsuitable packaging can increase contamination risks. Lack of traceability can create uncertainty for international customers.

This is why Galbanum Oil Fragrance decided to invest in a controlled Turkish-origin field project.

Our project is built on:

Turkish-origin production

Controlled high-altitude fields in Eastern Türkiye

Responsible resin harvesting

Trained local workers

No child labor

No forced labor

Respectful and safe working conditions for women and men

Environmental and rangeland protection

Reduced plastic contact

Cleaner field-to-factory handling

Batch-level traceability

Professional documentation

Long-term sustainability

A new chapter for Turkish-origin Galbanum

The beginning of industrial harvesting from our Eastern Türkiye fields is a major milestone for Galbanum Oil Fragrance.

It reflects years of effort, patience, field learning, technical development, and investment in a plant that cannot be rushed.

We believe this project opens a new chapter for Turkish-origin Galbanum in the global fragrance, flavor, cosmetics, natural ingredient, and specialty raw material markets.

As a company based in İstanbul, Türkiye, Galbanum Oil Fragrance remains committed to developing natural aromatic ingredients with clear origin, responsible sourcing, professional quality control, and transparent customer support.

Looking ahead

Over the next three months, our team will continue the industrial Galbanum resin harvest under field supervision and quality control.

Following collection, the resin will be transferred to our production facility for processing, evaluation, batch documentation, and customer-specific technical support.

We welcome technical, quality, sourcing, and compliance discussions with partners who require traceable Turkish-origin Galbanum materials.

Galbanum Oil Fragrance will continue working to strengthen Türkiye’s position as an important source of natural aromatic ingredients through responsible production, local training, environmental protection, clean handling, and long-term cooperation with international customers.

This article was researched and prepared by Galbanum Oil Fragrance – QC & Research Team.

Reuse is permitted with citation of the source.

This article was researched and prepared by Galbanum Oil Fragrance.

Reuse is permitted with citation of the source.

📩 Get in Touch

📧 Email: info@Galbanum.co

🌐 Website: www.galbanum.co

Location: Cevizli, Tugay Yolu Cd. 69-C, 34846 Maltepe/İstanbul