Sığla Oil Production Started with Closed System in Muğla

In Köyceğiz district of Muğla, the 2026 season has started for the production of sığla oil, whose history dates back thousands of years. The oil obtained from the sığla tree, which grows in limited areas worldwide, stands out with its use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This year, the production of 1 ton of sığla oil and 3 tons of sığla incense is planned in the 50-hectare sığla forest in the Kavakarası region. The transition to a closed heating system in the production process this year has started a new era both in terms of efficiency and working conditions.

Sığla Oil Production Takes Place in a 50-Hectare Area in Köyceğiz

Production activities have begun in the 50-hectare sığla forest designated in the Kavakarası region of Köyceğiz. Teams from the Muğla Regional Forestry Directorate identify the trees to be harvested in the field. Afterwards, processes of bark reddening and bark peeling are applied. The process, starting in April, continues until October. The barks taken from the trees are brought to the production facility established in Kavakarası Neighborhood. Sığla oil is obtained here after boiling and pressing procedures. The barks from which oil is extracted are then evaluated as sığla incense.

Production Target for 2026: 1 Ton of Oil and 3 Tons of Incense

Mustafa Ülküdür, Regional Forestry Director of Muğla, announced that production of 1 ton of sığla oil and 3 tons of sığla incense is planned in Köyceğiz this year. Ülküdür stated that there are 1,408 hectares of sığla forest within the Muğla Regional Forestry Directorate. The sığla forests are concentrated especially around Köyceğiz, Fethiye, Dalaman, Marmaris, and Ula regions. Conducting production on areas designated by tender ensures both the protection of forest assets and the controlled evaluation of economic value.

The Price of Sığla Oil Reaches Up to 15 Thousand Lira Per Kilogram

Pure sığla oil is sold at high prices depending on purity, quality, and packaging. The product, which ranges from an average of 7,500 TL to 15,000 TL per kilogram, mostly finds buyers in small glass bottles on the market. Sığla oil sold in small bottles in herbalist shops reaches consumers at prices ranging from approximately 1,500 TL to 2,000 TL. The demand for the product especially in cosmetic, pharmaceutical industries, and traditional applications increases its market value.

More Modern Production Started with Closed Heating System

This year, a closed heating system started to be used in production in Kavakarası, Köyceğiz. Previously, the boiling process was carried out with an open fire in large cauldrons outdoors, but now it is performed with a new system established with the support of the Muğla Regional Forestry Directorate and the South Aegean Development Agency. With new equipment, production has become more controlled. The closed system is important both for occupational safety and for maintaining product quality. Regional Director Mustafa Ülküdür inspected the facility and received information about the processes of boiling the bark, pressing, and turning it into incense.

Sığla Oil Production Provides Income for Villagers

Villagers in Kavakarası and surrounding areas participate in every stage of sığla oil production. The process, extending from bark harvesting to processing in facilities, creates a seasonal source of income for the local community. Sığla oil sold in domestic and international markets contributes not only to the local economy but also to the national economy. The combination of traditional production knowledge with modern facilities carries Muğla’s sığla heritage to a more sustainable structure.