Heritage
A house, in its own words
The story begins in the late 1980s, when Georgios Korres, a pharmacist from the island of Naxos, took a position at the oldest homeopathic pharmacy in Athens. Through this work, he developed a deep appreciation for Greek herbs and their medicinal properties. In 1996, word-of-mouth demand for his handmade preparations led to the founding of KORRES as a natural products company. Co-founder Lena Filipou Korres brought her own expertise in applied research and transparent communication about natural percentages. Together, they built a vertically integrated operation, controlling every step from seed selection through extraction and formulation. The company began expanding internationally in the 2000s, opening stores in New York's Nolita neighborhood and Paris's Le Marais district. A partnership with the Agricultural University of Athens enabled systematic mapping of Greece's endemic flora. This scientific grounding supported product innovation, earning KORRES 87 global awards for innovation, entrepreneurship, and design. The brand also established Greece's first fully green and zero-waste extraction unit, reinforcing its environmental commitment. Today, KORRES products reach consumers in 50 countries, while maintaining partnerships with local farmers across the Greek countryside. KORRES approaches fragrance as an extension of its core ethos: simplicity, purity, and connection to nature. The brand rejects synthetic ingredients, instead building fragrances around botanical sources that reflect the landscapes of Greece. Each perfume tells a story about place, drawing on ingredients like Santorini grapes, Kozani saffron, and Olympus mountain tea. The founders view responsibility as non-negotiable. KORRES takes ownership of its entire supply chain, from working with organic farmers to conducting in-house extraction and formulation. Every formula undergoes 500 safety and efficacy tests before release, a standard that reflects the precision of its pharmacy origins. This meticulous approach extends to transparency. Lena Korres championed clear communication about natural percentages in products, building consumer trust through honesty rather than marketing language. The result is a brand that feels both scientific and soulful, grounded in rigorous research yet inspired by ancient traditions and wild landscapes.