Gettin' Figgy With It

Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves the in Garden of Eden. Since then, figs haven't been used much for beautification - except perhaps eating Fig Newtons as a diet food.

The fig was rediscovered as a beauty element in 1994, when L'Artisan Parfumeur launched a scent called "Premier Figuier" or "First Fig" - and indeed they were the first to explore this note in perfumery. Later, they launched the "extreme" version, now available in a gorgeous Flacon de Collection.

Now, we can find the earthy scent of fig in dozens of products. Here are some favorites, from body to home, inexpensive to spendy.

L'Occitane's extra gentle shea-butter soap pamper the skin with a delicious Fig scent.

Burn's Fig Leaf Candle has the touch of sweetness from ripe figs but is grounded with wood notes and crisped up by black currant leaf. Would make a nice addition to a bachelor pad!

Keep a bottle of Cucina's Fig & Fresh Herbs Purifying Hand Wash next to the kitchen sink for clean, moisturized and fresh-smelling hands.

Another figgy fragrance is Heeley's Eau de Figuier for those who are looking to capture the sparkling freshness and full-bodied ripeness of a fig at the height of its season.

Pacifica offers a Body Butter, Soy Candle and Bar Soap in its own Fig, which includes notes of palm, cyclamen, moss, and clove set in a base of woody sandalwood. The packages are beautiful and the trio would make a lovely hostess gift.

In makeup, "fig" is either an earthy-neutral shade or a rich, dusky purple. Check these out:

• Stila's Lip Glaze in Fig
• Chanel Glossimer in Barely Fig
• Clinique's Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in Fig
• Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Personnel Lipstick in #17 Sensual Fig
• Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in Fig
• Prescriptives Softlining Pencil in Fig
• Origins Lip Pencil in Fig