The Deeper Meaning Behind Olive Oil's Use as a Southern Italian Bridal Beauty Ritual

Vogue

22-05-2025

Photo: Carmine Romano
'Thanks to the constant use of olive oil, week after week, my skin appeared visibly smoother and brighter,' explains Roberta. 'Even my hair, which is naturally curly and difficult to untangle, has become much softer and easier to manage. I chose to be faithful to the traditions that my mother passed on to me through this natural but very effective beauty routine, and I also wore the tiara that she herself wore on her wedding day—a gesture full of meaning and a further good omen for my union.'
It turns out the use of olive oil as a cosmetic good-luck charm dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Their beauty routine, in fact, focused on ointments and oils extracted from olive trees, which were used to moisturize and perfume the face and body: Women would cleanse their skin with oil while bathing and then, once finished, reuse it to obtain even more hydration.
Olive oil also had pharmaceutical uses—and it was precisely its effectiveness on many fronts that made it almost magical in the eyes of these ancient populations. Athletes and gladiators were anointed with olive oil for its spiritual meaning, and eventually it also acquired an important role in wedding rituals, with spouses being blessed during ceremonies with the oil as a symbol of fertility. So it's only natural that Southern Italian brides continue to use it in their weddings. There's no modern product—however expensive or innovative—that could rival its unique blend of utility with a deeper meaning.