Heritage
A house, in its own words
MBR was founded in Seoul in 2015 by a collective of dermatologists and fragrance chemists who wanted to create products that treat the skin while engaging the senses. Early interviews with the founders describe a shared frustration with the market’s separation of skincare and perfume, prompting them to develop a hybrid approach. In 2016 the company released its first fragrance‑infused serum, Natural & Pure, which combined a light citrus accord with a peptide‑rich formula. By 2018 MBR entered the United States market through a partnership with a boutique distributor, making its line available in select concept stores in New York and Los Angeles. A 2020 collaboration with visual artist Ji‑Yoon Lee resulted in limited‑edition packaging that featured hand‑drawn botanical illustrations, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to art and nature. In 2022 MBR announced a shift to 100 % recycled glass for all bottle designs and introduced a refill program that reduces single‑use waste. The following year the brand opened a research facility in Busan, expanding its capacity for in‑house extraction of Korean herbs such as ginseng and lotus root. Throughout its growth, MBR has maintained a policy of publishing ingredient lists on its website, allowing consumers to verify the presence of botanical extracts, synthetic aroma molecules and skin‑care actives. While the brand’s public narrative emphasizes scientific rigor, third‑party coverage in Korean beauty journals confirms that MBR’s laboratory holds ISO‑9001 certification for quality management, a credential that supports its claim of consistent production standards. The creative vision at MBR rests on the idea that scent can be a functional part of skin health. The brand’s statements and interview excerpts suggest a belief that fragrance should not merely mask odor but should interact with the skin’s microbiome, offering soothing or energising effects. Core values include transparency, sustainability and a respect for traditional Korean botanical knowledge. MBR’s product development process begins with a brief that outlines a desired emotional state—calm, focus, vitality—and then selects aroma ingredients that have documented skin‑benefit properties, such as lavender for its anti‑inflammatory activity or citrus zest for its antioxidant capacity. The company also emphasizes a minimalist formulation philosophy: each ingredient must serve a dual purpose, either as a fragrance note or as a skin‑care actives, reducing unnecessary additives. Ethical sourcing is highlighted through partnerships with certified farms in Jeju Island for green tea extract and with Fair Trade cooperatives in India for sandalwood oil. MBR’s internal code requires that any synthetic molecule used be approved by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and pass dermatological safety testing before inclusion. This blend of scientific validation and sensory storytelling defines the brand’s approach to modern perfumery, positioning fragrance as an extension of wellness rather than a decorative afterthought.