Greek candles that smell like a bakery on a Greek morning sound like a joke until you light one. That is exactly the idea behind IF Cosmetics, a Greek home fragrance brand from Athens that also ships to the UK, and a proud Greek List member. If you are already thinking about Christmas gifts for the family back home, or for the Greek friends you see in London every weekend, this one is worth a look.
IF Cosmetics was founded by Ifigenia Theodoropoulou, a pharmacist with a Master of Pharmacy from Kingston University London. She lived and studied in London for over ten years, so she knows very well what it feels like to miss the smells of home. The brand says it was created “from a pharmacist’s longing for the familiar scents of home”, and that longing runs through every product.
According to Greek City Times, the story began in 2021 on Hydra, when Ifigenia started a notebook titled “Thoughts and Dreams for Free”. Today it is her recipe book. She had been making scrubs since high school, her best friend told her to sell them, and the family pharmacy in Athens, where she works, sold them quickly. From there came candles, body creams and hand creams.
The name has a meaning too. On the brand site, “Ιφ” stands for strength and “γένος” for womanhood, both taken from the ancient Greek roots of Ifigenia. It is a small detail, but it shows how much Greek culture sits at the centre of the brand.
This is where IF Cosmetics stands out from the usual candle shelf. Many of the scents are named after things we grew up with. Greek City Times describes candles that smell of tsoureki bread, melomakarono biscuits and bougatsa pastries. The shop currently lists candles such as Elato, Xioni, Tzaki, Karydopita, Moustokoulouro and Theros, all in 300g size.
The island collection is just as personal. The same article mentions Tinos with notes of vanilla, Chios mastic, mandarin and orange, Andros with fresh lemons, and Hydra with almond sweets. Athens is captured through bakeries, freddo espresso, spanakopita on the go and clementine trees in bloom. If you have ever walked through Plaka in the morning, you will recognise it.
Candles are not the only products. The body creams (100ml) come in Tsoureki, Karamela, Bougatsa and Melomakarono, and the hand creams (50ml) include Kourabies and Melomakarono. The brand says its products are vegan, cruelty free and paraben free. Prices on the shop at the time of writing were around €35 for a candle, €26 for a body cream and €12 for a hand cream.
Good to know: IF Cosmetics is based in Athens. Its shipping page says it ships across Greece and to selected countries including the United Kingdom and the European Union, with courier partners such as ACS Courier, General Post and BoxNow. Check the shipping cost at checkout, and read the shipping page before you order.
One more reason people talk about the brand is its charity candle, Elpida. In 2024, 300 candles were gifted at the Chain of Hope Gala in London, and Greek City Times reports that €1 from each candle goes to the Rwanda Heart Centre. Ifigenia’s father, Dr Stergios Theodoropoulos, is a heart surgeon, which is the personal link behind this project.
Elle Greece also featured the brand in August 2025, so IF Cosmetics is no longer a secret in Greece. For Greeks in the UK, it is a nice way to support a small family brand from home.
Christmas is the season for gifts with a story, and nothing says Greek Christmas like melomakarono and kourabies. Instead of another box of sweets, you can give a candle or a hand cream that smells like them. It travels well, it does not need a fridge, and it works for a yiayia in London or a cousin in Manchester.
A few simple ideas: a Melomakarono hand cream as a small stocking filler, a Tsoureki body cream for a friend who misses Easter in Greece, or a 300g candle as a bigger present for a new home. Order early, because parcels from Greece can take a few days and the Christmas weeks are busy for every courier.
Where to find them: the shop is at ifcosmetics.gr, and the brand is on Instagram and Facebook as @if_cosmeticsgr. Their Greek List page is here.
If you are planning your December in London, take a look at our guide to Christmas markets in London for Greek stops along the way. And if you are looking for more Greek List members for gifts, food and services, the business directory is the best place to start.
Looking for something to do this month? Our events page has the most complete list of Greek events in the UK, and you can list your own event for free.
The businesses we feature, including IF Cosmetics, are Greek List members. More than 100,000 Greeks and Cypriots in the UK read us every month through the website, our newsletter and the Ellines sto Londino group, and member listings rank first on Google.
Have you tried Greek candles or creams from a small brand? Tell us in the Facebook group Ellines sto Londino and share this article with a friend who misses the smell of home.
