Traveling to Turkey? Don’t Miss These Powerful Local Essential Oils Posted on October 11, 2018December 20, 2025 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... There is certainly a long-standing history of aromatherapy and essential oils in Turkey. Aromatherapy is the practice of using extracted natural oils from the flowers, stems, leaves, and roots of plants. And their ability to affect well-being can be both psychological and physical. Therefore, it makes perfect “scents” to buy essential oils while on vacation. Aromatherapy and Essential Oils in Turkey History of Essential Oils First of all, the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians were all known to have used aromatic oils. But in Turkey, aromatherapy and essential oils– using plants and their special properties have survived countless generations. And Turkey is a global producer for a wide range of essential oils, including rose, lavender, citrus, laurel leaf, origanum, myrtle, fennel, anise, sage, rosemary, Melissa, and juniper oils. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils distilled from plants whose aromas can be inhaled, and their oils absorbed through the skin. However, all essential oils are not equal. And for the purpose of this article, I am not referring to therapeutic-grade essential oils. Essential Oils as Travel Souvenirs Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Aroma and memory are closely related. Inhaling the aroma of essential oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function and memory. And shopping for essential oils as a souvenir of my travels has become a passion. Essential oils are an amazing way to transport me back to exotic places when I’m back home or not traveling. I’ve shopped for them in exotic places like Indonesia, Thailand, and Hawaii. But none of those experiences will ever compare to shopping for them in Mısır Carsısı, aka the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul. Spice Bazaar in Istanbul And the Spice Bazaar is undoubtedly the best place to shop for spices, aromatherapy and essential oils in the city. Consequently, you can while away the day smelling and testing the immense array of essential oils. And each one has its own properties. Where to Buy Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Ucuzcular Founded in 1886, is one of the oldest spice shops in the bazaar. Arifoğlu No. 59, Spice Bazaar. The guy’s name is Teslim. His email is teslims@hotmail.com. Ottoman Spice Center No. 69, Spice Bazaar. Ask for Sabit Kaya. His email is sabit1984@hotmail.com. Aktar Due to the Turks’ long history of utilizing nature’s bounty in home remedies, Turkey has a specific type of shop referred to as “Aktar,” in other words, “herbalist” or the seller of medicinal herbs, spices, and essential oils. Nearly every neighborhood in Turkey has one and they make for an excellent stop to learn all about which plant helps which ailment and from which region they are harvested in. Besiktas There are many natural foods, oils, and other products in this very lovely and lively local market. For example, Kirk Ambar is a well-known shop, and Furkan is another. They sell foodstuffs, bath products, oils, loofahs, etc all naturally produced. There are hundreds of shops in this lovely area, the other side of the road from the Besiktas ferry terminals, a maze of streets full of interesting shops and a fish market. No tourists = good prices. Popular Floral Oils to Buy in Turkey If you love floral scents, Turkey is a great place to shop for essential oils. You’ll find these in local markets and aktar shops all over the country. They smell amazing and make great souvenirs or gifts to bring back home. Rose – Grown in Isparta, it has a deep, sweet scent and is one of the most popular oils in Turkey. Jasmine – Soft and romantic, it’s known for lifting your mood. Lavender – Calming and fresh, perfect for relaxing after a long day. Melissa (Lemon Balm) – Light and floral with a hint of citrus, often used for stress or sleep. Myrtle – A gentle, slightly sweet floral scent that’s used in traditional Turkish remedies. Linden – A soft, honey-like smell that people use to relax and unwind. You can smell each one before you buy, and most shops are happy to let you test them. Like it. Pin it. I love sharing stories, lessons from abroad, and tips for curious travelers. If my work has inspired you or made you smile, please buy me a coffee. Your support helps me keep the blog running—at no cost to you. My articles are available as mobile apps for offline reading and GPS-assisted directions. Download my articles on GPSMyCity. This post contains sponsored and/or affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission. CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES ASIAessential oilsEUROPETurkiye
The use and existence of essential oils is very important. They can be used for essence fragance, massages, aromatherapy! Reply
When I was in Turkey few years ago, I didnt know about the Aromatherapy and Essential Oils so I didnt get any home. I didnt know they have great stuff like this. I usually use essential oils during my bath to have a better relaxation. Reply
Thanks for sharing more on oils in this post. I have yet to try them but it’s been something I’ve been considering Reply
Start with something like an aromatic– lemon, peppermint, lavender, orange or grapefruit all smell delicious. Reply
Oh wow! I have never been to Turkey, but would like to go someday. I also have never thought about buying essential oils as a souvenir. I think thats a great idea! Reply
Thankksss. I am planning to visit turkey by end of year. I will try essential oils you have mentioned here. Reply
I heard Turkey is another place to source genuine and expensive essential oils. Having them as souvenir would be a such a good delight. Reply
Oh wow! this is such a great place to buy essentials oils! Indeed a heaven for people who loves to collect different scents. Reply
I am regular user of essential oils I love to try new home made essential oils. Good to see your post about Turkey Homemade essential oils. Reply
Essential oils have been flooding my facebook lately. I was even asked by someone to try its benefits. Well I would say there must be some truth to what they claim it does. Reply
I have heard quite a lot about essential oils in turkey. they are more homemade and organic. A friend uses them too! lovely article 🙂 Reply
I really enjoyed shopping in the market in Istanbul but picked up a lot of sweets rather than oils! Reply
I love essential oils! I’ve never been to Turkey but if I go I’ll be sure to bring essential oils back home! Reply
I love learning about essential oils and aromatherapy. It’s so interesting yet not surprising to know Turkish people have been using oils for generations. Reply
i didnt know essential oils was a thing to be collected when traveling! thats pretty interesting! Reply
I’ve never heard of this essentials oil before, but it sounds like something I would use regularly due to the wonderful ingredients Reply
first of all i always wanted to Visit Turkey , and i love anything essential oils so your guide is very helpful Reply
I love essential oils! I’d love to visit Turkey to buy some. I bet the quality is amazing! xoxo Annie Reply
I would love to see this in person. I love all of this kind of stuff. My oil collection is out of hand! Reply
This is really interesting I have to admit I do like essential oils and try and diffuse them around the home. I need to look into them a little more though and all the ways they can be utilised. Reply
I’ve also heard that aroma and memory are closely related, and have applied that in our stores as well. Those images of all the oils lined up in that shop was GORGEOUS. Reply
I had no idea that Turkey was such a big market of essential oils and aromatherapy. If I’ll go to Istanbul I will make sure to go to the Grand Bazaar and buy some. I do like exotic aromas. Reply
Aromatherapy and essential oils, my fave two things in the world! Thanks a lot for this awesome post! Reply
Interesting! I bet Turkey is one of those places that does essential oils really well and properly Reply
I’ve wanted to start getting into essential oils! Also, the way the glass bottles of oil are arranged is so beautiful! They really showcase the variations beautifully Reply
Essential oils are little wonders– beneficial in just about every facet of life. The display is for decorative purposes. Most of the shop owners let me test oils they had stored away from view. You can only do this here because of the temperature and lack of direct sunlight. Otherwise essential oil are stored n dark, small glass bottles. Reply
I just recently started using essential oils so this is really a great post for me,happy to learn more about oils and their uses. Reply
Hi Joan. Eos are amazing, with multiple uses in every day life. Which essential oil uses are you most interested in– health, beauty, cleaning, aromatherapy, etc… Reply
What a fascinating post! Firstly, I have always wanted to visit Turkey. I also have a real obsession with both essential oils and aromatherapy. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 Reply