It’s not hard to figure out why the fig has become popular. Long associated with being an aphrodisiac, the voluptuously shaped, honey-scented, seeded fruit has proven its longevity—it’s been around since 10,000 BC when it was first refined by humans. Rumor has it Cleopatra loved them.When she ended her life, they were part of her last meal.

Today, figs can be found in hair products, skin care treatments—even in candles and perfumes. Perhaps it’s because figs are incredibly healthy. They’re loaded with vitamins A and C, they contain antioxidants, all of which help fight the effects of aging. The seeds also make for a wonderful and natural exfoliant. No wonder the fig is suddenly everywhere.

Laura Mercier might be given kudos for kicking off the fig fetish in 2010 with her seven piece Fresh Fig-inspired collection; Crème Body Wash, Souffle Body Crème, Eau Gourmande perfume and a candle. Following in its fragrant footsteps is Space NK’s wildly popular Mediterranean Fig candle. In December, Rituals, the Amsterdam-based retailer of home, body and cosmetics, opened their first U.S. store in Soho and offered up the Under a Fig Tree candle, which combines fresh fig with copaiba. Another fig-inspired line comes from nyakio, a self-titled collection of products with African-based ingredients motivated by the creator’s Kenyan family. South African mongongo nut oil, antioxidant-rich fig extract, and myrothamnus flabellifolia leaf extract are some of what goes into their Giant Fig Body Scrub, Giant Fig Body Wash, and Giant Fig Body Cream, released at the end of last year.

“The fig definitely seems to be having a moment,” said founder Nyakio Kamoche Grieco, whose fig collection took five years to create. “In my quest to share the sophistication of Africa, I wanted to highlight another part of the continent. This is why I created the Giant Fig collection, which captures the essence of the rare Gabon Giant Fig.”

The Good Home Company has a fig-scented laundry detergent, while the skin care company Korres counters with a fig body butter and shower gel. Roger & Gallet, the well-known French perfume firm, founded in 1862, has a 24-hour fig lotion.Even mass marketers, such as Dove, stepped up to the fruit bar with go fresh Restore, a blue fig and orange blossom-inspired body bar, wash and deodorant. This month Garnier Fructis Style launches De-Constructed Sheer Textures, which offers up three products; Pixie Play Crafting Cream, Move It Manipulating Gel and Beach Chic Texturizing Spray, each containing black fig. “Fig has positive benefits for hair,” said Michelle Ryan, senior vice president of product development for Garnier. “It naturally detangles, restores suppleness and imparts natural silky shine.”

She went on to add that aside from its numerous health benefits and anti-aging properties, “The fig is on track to be the next big superfruit, similar to Acai a few years ago.”