Korres

Korres is a Greek beauty and fragrance brand founded in 1996 in Athens by pharmacist George (Georgios) Korres, building on his experience at Greece's oldest homeopathic pharmacy, which he took over in 1992. Together with co‑founder and chemical engineer Lena Philippou Korres, he created Korres Natural Products with a focus on clinically effective formulas rooted in Greek flora and homeopathic heritage. The first branded product, Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturising & Brightening Cream, became a best seller and remains a core reference point for the line.

From its early days in an Athenian pharmacy, Korres expanded internationally after an American buyer discovered the products in a pharmacy in Crete, leading to a broader global rollout in the early 2000s. The company has since developed over 400 natural and certified organic products across skincare, body care, haircare and fragrance. Milestones include the 2003 Yoghurt Cooling Gel, noted in brand and industry accounts as the first cosmetic formula globally to incorporate edible yogurt, and the establishment of Greece's first herbal extraction unit by 2009 to systematically map and utilize native Greek plants.

Korres entered fine fragrance in the mid‑2000s with eau de toilette and later eau de parfum lines for both men and women, often structured as simple, note-focused compositions using ingredients associated with the Mediterranean. The brand emphasizes high levels of natural-origin content, avoids polycyclic musks and phthalates in its fragrances, and highlights vegan and cruelty-free formulas in many launches. Scents such as Lefko, Sikinos and Philosia illustrate its approach: relatively streamlined blends that reference Greek landscapes, from powdery florals to bright citrus-aromatic woods.

Today, Korres operates as an international Greek brand with a presence across Europe, Asia and North America, supported by investments such as a 2017 growth partnership with Morgan Stanley to accelerate global distribution. While most widely known for skincare, its fragrance portfolio has grown steadily, typically offering approachable pricing and distribution through retailers like Sephora, Ulta and various pharmacy and beauty chains, positioning Korres as a natural-leaning alternative within the broader mass and masstige market.