The first bottle of olive oil, dating back to 79 AD, was found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is a more recent discovery within the archaeological site of the ancient Roman city but an important one—proving that the link between Southern Italy and this precious liquid has deep and distant roots.
Within the city of Naples, its significance derives from both its cosmetic benefits and popular beliefs. Historically, it was thought to drive away the evil eye and was used as part of a ritual performed by older women in the community. Even today, olive oil has a unique and special meaning for those from the Campania region, going far beyond gastronomy. Its various uses have been passed down from generation to generation, not only for the good luck it’s believed to bring but for its myriad skin-care benefits—a perfect combination when it comes to brides preparing for their weddings.
One Neapolitan bride, fashion stylist Roberta Astarita, embraced this tradition for her 2024 wedding at the city’s Duomo—even making it the central focus of her pre-wedding beauty routine. For this, she was assisted by her sister Angela Astarita, a facialist and makeup artist. “Every morning, Roberta washed her face with a bar of olive-oil soap, known for its highly hydrating properties,” Angela explains. “This choice was not only functional but also symbolic—it was passed down to us by our mother, who always taught us that oil represents purity, abundance, and blessing.” Olive oil was also used to help bring a lustrous shine to Roberta’s hair in the run-up to the wedding. “We chose an olive-oil shampoo that made her curls visibly more soft and defined,” says Angela.
Of course, it’s a tradition that any bride-to-be can try: Suitable for all skin types, you’re likely to see immediate results. Olive oil is rich in fatty acids (such as oleic and linoleic acid, phytosterols, and squalene) as well as oxidants and vitamins, meaning it has an emollient and regenerating action on the skin—not only nourishing it but keeping it elastic and serving as a protective layer. Its properties—in particular, vitamins A, D, E, and K—also make it effective against aging. For hair, it creates a similar protective barrier, thus reducing the risk of breakage and formation of split ends.
“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.
