Quality key as Bulgaria snatches France's lavender crown

The thick scent of lavender fills the sultry air in Bulgaria's central Rose Valley where the flowering rows lose their purple hue under the nimble hands of the lavender pickers. Photo: CorbisIt's the busiest time of year for local distillers, who industry experts say have dethroned France as the world's top lavender oil producer. France itself now purchases between 80 and 90 percent of Bulgaria's lavender oil, with buyers including cosmetics firms as well as many distilleries who need it to

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