Roman Elites Bathed in Donkey Milk
A Roman noblewoman could order hundreds of donkeys milked every day—just to fill her bath.

Nicolas Poussin — "Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun" (1658), public domain
Fifty Donkeys, One Bath
A Roman noblewoman could order hundreds of donkeys milked just to fill her bath. The smell must have been intense—and only the richest could afford this ritual.
Beauty, Roman-Style
Pliny the Elder didn’t just note the practice—he named names. Poppaea Sabina, wife of Emperor Nero, famously insisted on daily donkey milk baths. Estates kept special herds for these luxury soaks, believed to keep the skin luminous and pale.
According to Pliny the Elder, high-status Roman women like Poppaea Sabina, Nero’s wife, bathed in donkey milk to keep their skin pale and soft. Estates kept entire herds just for this luxury. Pliny even claimed the best effect came from fifty animals or more, milked fresh for a single bath.