Heritage
A house, in its own words
The house was founded in 2003 by Carla Royo-Villanova Urrestarazu, a Spanish author and entrepreneur who built the company around Bulgaria's prized rose cultivation. Royo-Villanova, who has written on travel, fashion, and lifestyle subjects, brought a literary and editorial perspective to a category often dominated by French houses. In 2007, she joined the founding committee of a Spanish initiative, signaling her growing engagement with cultural and industry circles beyond her own brand. The company's name itself reflects this dual heritage: 'Carla' for the founder, 'Bulgaria Roses' for the raw material at its core. A single fragrance, simply titled Carla, appeared in 2009, composed by perfumer Ana Corsini. The house has run continuously since its founding, with Royo-Villanova serving as creator, founder, partner, and president throughout its existence. Carla Bulgaria Roses Beauty approaches fragrance as an extension of personal narrative rather than a purely commercial product. The founder's background in writing and editorial work informs a philosophy that treats scent as a vehicle for place, memory, and identity. Rather than chasing trend cycles or building a sprawling catalog, the house has committed to a focused exploration of Bulgarian rose as a singular creative material. This restraint reflects a belief that depth of sourcing and storytelling matters more than volume. The brand also positions itself at a removeable boundary between Eastern European botanical tradition and Western European luxury conventions, seeking to honor the agricultural heritage of the Rose Valley while presenting it through a contemporary, cosmopolitan lens shaped by its Spanish founder's perspective.