SOMA: Founder, Elena Poulopoulou talks about the philosophy, vision and journey behind the brand

There are brands that are born from business planning. And there are brands that are born from internal need. The story of SOMA clearly belongs to the latter category.
Before it had a name, a logo and an international perspective, SOMA was a silent quest, a need for purity, simplicity and essence through the power of herbs. It began with soaps, books read over and over again, experiments in a home kitchen and the curiosity to discover what «care» really means.

A visit to a small soap-making workshop in Parga was the spark. But the real beginning came later, when an unexpected international collaboration proposal transformed a personal passion into a professional vision with global implications.
SOMA founder Elena Poulopoulou doesn't talk about products in marketing terms. She talks about balance, about energy, about the intention behind each composition. For her, beauty is not a fix, it's harmony. And self-care is not a luxury, it's a way of life.

In an era when clean beauty is often limited to labels and trends, SOMA chooses to bring the conversation back to where it belongs, to the body's relationship with nature, to the importance of raw materials, to the value of authenticity.
We spoke with her about the journey from the first hesitant experiments to the creation of a brand with an international perspective and how the "unknown" can ultimately become the greatest school.

TBP: Mrs. Poulopoulou, who was the personal journey that led you to SOMA;

OP: «"My personal journey to SOMA It started long before it had a name. It started from a deep love for natural products and especially for soaps. I have always been fascinated by the simplicity and purity of pure ingredients, the idea that something so everyday can be so caring and meaningful at the same time.

The defining moment came after a vacation in beautiful Parga. There, I visited a small soap workshop. The atmosphere, the aromas of the herbs, the saponification process, everything thrilled me. I left there with an excitement that I couldn't ignore.

A little later, I bought a book on how to make soap. I read it over and over again. I started my first experiments with simple ingredients, with a lot of care and creativity. Some of the first soaps were not perfect in appearance, but they were excellent to use, moisturizing, soft, with a natural scent. Others turned out to be unexpectedly successful from the start. Every failure was a lesson; every success, confirmation that I was on the right track.

Thus was born the SOMA from the Greek word for body. The name was designed by a friend, and it is no coincidence that each letter has its own symbolism:

S symbolizes Yin Yang, balance.

O is the falling raindrop, flow and renewal.

M captures female curves, femininity and care.

A reminds me of fish, water, purity, life.

Later, the brand evolved into SOMA and Botanicals (Somanbotanicals). The word Botanicals was not included by chance. It denotes the deep connection with botanicals, extracts, essential oils and the power of nature that lies at the heart of every creation.

OR SOMA "It's not just a brand. It's a journey from a small workshop in Parga, to the first hesitant experiments at home, to a conscious choice to create products with respect for nature and people."»

 

 

TBP: What was the moment or need that served as the starting point for this decision?;

OP: «"The moment that served as the starting point for me to make the decision to move forward more formally and professionally was completely unexpected.".

A young Iranian businesswoman tried my products through a mutual friend. Until then, I had been passionate about creating, but without having organized anything in a corporate form. But when I learned that she really liked them and wanted to collaborate, I felt for the first time that what I was doing had potential beyond my personal circle. She invited me to Tehran to discuss the prospect of collaboration in person. Her idea was to create a laboratory there that would produce my own recipes, based on her philosophy and quality. SOMA.

Shortly before this trip, I made a life decision. I founded the company. That invitation made me realize that vision could take shape. It was no longer just creative expression, it was responsibility, perspective, and an opening to the world.

My visit to Tehran was decisive. It made me see my work in a new light, not just as handmade natural products, but as a philosophy that can travel, inspire, and build bridges between different cultures.

This was the real beginning. Not just of the company, but of the belief that the SOMA it can stand internationally, maintaining its authenticity and botanical identity.

TBP: How have your personal experiences influenced the way you perceive beauty and self-care today?;

OP: My personal experiences have deeply shaped the way I perceive beauty and self-care today.

I started from a purely experiential relationship with natural products, out of curiosity, the first experiments, contact with herbs and textures. There I understood that beauty is not the result of "correction", but the result of balance. When a product is properly made, when it respects the skin, then the glow arises naturally.

The transition from personal vision to its creation SOMA It also taught me something more essential. Self-care is not a luxury. It is a way of life. It is the time we dedicate to ourselves, the intention with which we touch our bodies, the choice of clean and pure formulas that do not burden either us or the environment.

The difficulties, the unknown, the need to learn a new world from scratch, made me understand that true beauty is connected to authenticity. To being in harmony with what you create and with what you stand for.

Today, I understand beauty as something holistic. It’s not just the image. It’s the energy, the care, the purity, the simplicity. And self-care is a calm, daily reminder that we deserve to be treated with the same respect and love that we show others.»

TBP: If you go back to the first steps, what was the most challenging part of this transition from vision to action?;

OP: «"If I go back to the first steps, the most challenging part of the transition from vision to action was the unknown. Everything was new to me.

I came from a completely different industry, so I had to learn from the ground up what it means to create products based on specifications, what the necessary certifications are, how the commercial activity works. It wasn't just the creation of the products that was the part I loved, but a whole framework of responsibilities and processes that I had to understand and manage.

Finding clients was also a big challenge. From creating for friends and acquaintances, I found myself presenting my work professionally, talking about the brand, explaining its philosophy, and claiming a place in the market. This required self-confidence and perseverance.

There were moments of doubt. But every small step, an approval, a certification, a new client confirmed that the vision could be turned into action. The transition was not just professional, it was personal development. I learned to step out of my comfort zone, to take risks, to persevere. And in the end, this «unknown» became the greatest school.»

TBP: OR SOMA is based on botanical and holistic principles. How does this philosophy translate into the creation of the products and the raw materials you choose?;

OP: «"The philosophy of SOMA is based on the idea that body care is not a superficial act, but a holistic experience. We do not treat the skin in isolation but see it as part of a whole: body, mind and nature in balance.

In practice, this translates first of all into the choice of raw materials. We give priority to cold-pressed vegetable oils, butters of natural origin and essential oils with an essential role in the composition, not just for aroma, but for their action and energy. Herbal extracts are selected based on their traditional properties but also on modern knowledge of their effectiveness.

The holistic approach also means simplicity. We avoid unnecessary ingredients and create balanced formulas, where each element has a reason for being. The composition of a product always starts with the question: «What need do we want to meet?» hydration, balancing, revitalization, soothing. Then, we «build» the formula around this intention.

At the same time, the botanical philosophy is also expressed in the production method, small batches, careful processing, respect for the maturation time, so as to preserve the natural properties of the materials as much as possible.

For us, Botanicals is not just a word. It is a commitment to plant-based formulas that respect the skin and the environment. It is the belief that nature already possesses the harmony we seek. We simply convey it, with care, within each product.»

TBP:  What audience is it primarily aimed at? SOMA and what do you think this audience is looking for from the brand?;

OP: «"OR SOMA It is mainly aimed at people who are looking for conscious care. To women and men who do not see care as a simple daily habit, but as a personal ritual.

Our audience is people who are interested in the composition of products, who read the ingredients, who value naturalness and transparency. They are those who choose quality over mass, who want to know the story behind a brand and feel a connection to its philosophy.

From the SOMA I believe they are looking for:

Authenticity, a brand with a personal story and pure intentions.

Quality raw materials, herbal, carefully selected compositions.

Safety and gentle care with products that respect the skin.

Aesthetic experience, aroma, texture and packaging that create emotion.

Connection with nature through the brand's botanical formulas and philosophy.

Above all, I believe they are looking for a slower, more meaningful way of caring. One that is not based on excess, but on balance.

And maybe ultimately, what they're really looking for is to feel like they're choosing something that's been created with intention, knowledge, and respect, not just another product on the shelf."»

TBP: What are the next steps for the SOMA;

OP: «"The next steps for the SOMA it is a natural evolution of the philosophy that already characterizes it, that is, constant development, without losing authenticity.

Our first goal is to strengthen the brand's presence in selected points of sale that align with our philosophy, concept stores, boutique hotels and wellness areas. We are not interested in mass distribution, but in the right partnerships, where the product can "touch" an audience that appreciates its botanical and holistic identity.

At the same time, we plan to expand the range with new botanical formulations, focusing on specialized skin needs. Research into plant extracts and essential oil combinations remains at the core of our creation.

Another important step is the strengthening of export activity. The experience of international contact has shown us that the philosophy of SOMA can travel and find response outside of Greece.

"The most important thing, however, is to maintain the core, which is quality, intention and respect. Growth only makes sense when it does not alter the soul of the brand."»

Discover more about SOMA on the brand's official website www.somanbotanicals.com