From Ancient Egypt to Classical Greece, from Rome to Anatolia, the fig tree has been regarded as sacred in many cultures; references to figs can also be found in both the Bible and the Qur’an. Whether it is because the fig leaf became the first symbol of shame in the story of Adam and Eve, its tiny seeds were long overlooked. Yet today we know that those tiny seeds scattered throughout the flesh of this fruit of abundance hold a unique treasure of oil that modern science has only recently begun to uncover.

You may have heard the Ancient Greek myth in which Dionysus, the god of wine, transforms a nymph he loves into a fig tree during a moment of drunken passion. While turning into a tree may be easy in mythology, separating the hundreds of seeds inside the fruit and extracting their oil is quite laborious.

From 25 kg of dried figs, we obtain roughly 1 kg of seeds, and from this amount, only about 200 ml of oil can be produced. To preserve the oil’s beneficial components, the cold-press method must be used; thermal or chemical processing may increase yield but reduces quality. The result is an aromatic, golden-yellow to amber-colored oil with high nutritional value.

Cold-pressed fig seed oil contains high levels of linolenic acid (omega‑3, ~40%), linoleic acid (omega‑6, ~30%), and oleic acid (omega‑9, ~20%). It is also particularly rich in gamma‑tocopherol, a form of vitamin E (1).

According to a study conducted in 2024, cold-pressed fig seed oil was found to provide significant protection against the adverse effects of Fluorouracil (5‑FU), a chemotherapeutic drug frequently used in tumor treatment (2).
 

Beyond internal use, cold-pressed fig seed oil also demonstrates highly impressive properties in external applications such as skin and hair care. In skincare, two primary benefits stand out: deep hydration and anti‑aging protection.​ Despite its rich consistency, the oil has a light texture that is quickly absorbed by the skin. Thanks to its fine structure, it does not leave a greasy layer on the surface, making it suitable for all skin types—dry, oily, combination, and sensitive.

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Its high omega‑3 and omega‑6 content plays an essential role in strengthening the skin barrier. These essential fatty acids enhance the skin’s moisture‑retention capacity, providing deep hydration and preventing dryness and flakiness (3).

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Linoleic acid (omega‑6) in particular forms part of the ceramide structure between skin cells, reducing transepidermal water loss and helping the skin remain soft. As a result, when fig seed oil is used regularly, it may help the skin appear plumper, more elastic, and more hydrated.

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The vitamin E (γ‑tocopherol) and other antioxidant components present in the oil provide anti‑aging effects in skincare (4).