Love French Pharmacy? Meet the Greek Brand Doing It Even Better

April 3 | 4 minute read

Words by Izzy Wight

To the in-the-know set, French pharmacies – with their pristine lab-coated salespeople and no-frills approach to skincare – are as important a tourist destination as the Lourve or the Arc de Triomphe.

Jump on the three-hour flight over to Greece, and you’ll find those same beauty aficionados flocking to a palatial stone facade in the heart of Athens. With its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, shiny tiled walls, sprawling green ‘botanicals bar’ and science lab-esque details (beakers, bottled tinctures and all), you’d think it was a building that held ancient beauty and wellness secrets – and you’d be exactly right.

Founded by brothers Yorgos and Andonis Korres (yes, like that Korres), The Naxos Apothecary is inspired by Greece’s oldest homeopathic pharmacy, Mr. Tzivandidis. Once located behind the historic Panathenaic Stadium, Mr. Tzivandidis was an under-the-radar wellness hotspot for Athenians back in 1989; now known for pioneering a unique blend of homeopathy remedies, phytotherapy products and herbal cosmetics.

Sharing Mr. Tzivandidis's love for plant-based beauty, Yorgos and Andonis named The Naxos Apothecary after their birthplace of the Aegan Islands. Extending outside of their Athens pharmacy location, The Naxos Apothecary range comprises luxurious natural fragrances, skin and body care made with herbal ingredients sourced from the lush surroundings of the Cyclades.

The Naxos Apothecary range is now available exclusively at MECCA, so you can transport yourself right to the picturesque Aegan islands without the 24 hours of travel time.

Chora EDP

Described as ‘the perfume of the island’s capital’ Chora is the brand’s pièce de résistance – an homage to late summer afternoon walks, sun-bleached seaside cities and orange sunsets by the Temple of Apollo. It’s as fruity and floral as you’d expect, but with a smoky complexity: notes of pomelo, blackcurrant, peony, vetiver and patchouli.

Chalki EDP

Refreshing, brisk and bright, Chalki smells like the sun coming through the clouds on an early spring day. On first spritz, Chalki wakes up your senses with a trio of citrus – mandarin, orange and lemon – before settling into its slightly smokier, incense-y, woody notes of cedar, patchouli, petitgrain and neroli. The fragrance equivalent of day-to-night, with a scent that lasts.

Koronos Soap Bar

Creamy, floral and just the right amount of spicy, Koronos is named after one of the oldest settlements in northeastern Naxos. Made from opuntia fius-indica seed oil – extracted from Naxian prickly pears – the hydrating soap bar gently purifies the skin, leaving the lingering scent of frankincense, ginger, honey and orange blossom.

Amitis Body Oil

In addition to the calming properties of Naxian hypericum perforatum oil (better known as St John’s Wort), The Naxos Apothecary Body Oils are enriched with shea butter and a blend of five ultra-moisturising oils for softer, smoother, glowing skin. Inspired by the desolate Amitis beach on the western side of Naxos, this particular scent is a soothing mix of sea foam, sandalwood and spearmint.

Eggares Candle

Made with rare essential oils, this scent evokes feelings of tranquility, coziness and calm. Strike a match and let the Eggares scent, named after a small Naxian farming village, wash over you. Sandalwood, cashmere and amber are creamy and slightly sweet, while cinnamon, bergamot and clove add warming spice.