[marsh2]

Maybe there is something to the ancient practice of athletes/gladiators oiling themeselves, then scraping off the oil and sweat with a strigile. The oil was then sold to wealthy ladies.

[Moonmad27]

A prime part of a bath for all the well-to-do in ancient Rome was pouring olive oil on and scraping it off with a strigil. Knowing that the gladiators were the movie stars of their day, I can imagine the ladies getting that used oil (although it's a yucky idea). Apparently this theory about male sweat was already proven two thousand years ago! (I always wondered how that helped get people clean - then realized I had just bought a fancy soap, the main ingredient of which is olive oil.)