The genuine attar of roses is costly and it is frequently adulterated.
It contains breweries, tanneries, sugar, tobacco, cloth, and silk factories, and exports skins, cloth, cocoons, cereals, attar of roses, "dried fruit, &c. Sofia forms the centre of a railway system radiating to Constantinople (300 m.), Belgrade (206 m.) and central Europe, Varna, Rustchuk and the Danube, and Kiustendil near the Macedonian frontier.
Attar of roses is produced in large quantities both in European and Asiatic Turkey, and to aid in furthering the industry numerous rose plants are distributed gratuitously.
Besides dates the principal articles of export are wool, horses, liquorice, gum and attar of roses.
In the same district bamboos, ramie-fibre and attar (otto) of roses are cultivated.