Clove Oil, 60 ml

A clove oil sold under the El Nile Horas name. The front of the box calls it a natural premium oil, cold pressed, and gives the size, 60 ml. It comes in a black box lettered in gold, with the brand's triangle, a small plant sprig and the Eye of Horus at the top and a drawing of a heap of dried cloves with two green leaves above the name. Clove is a spice, the dried flower bud of a tree, not an oil seed: a cold-pressed clove oil is a base oil that carries the spice, and the front of the box does not say which base oil or how much clove it holds.

What it is for: the front of the box lists no uses, so these are the usual ways clove oil is used. It is a body and massage oil for dry skin, with the warm, spicy scent clove is known for; it softens dry feet and heels; and it is an oil to massage into the scalp before washing. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin and hair look and feel.

Use a little at a time. After a shower or for a massage, warm a few drops between your palms and smooth them over dry skin on the arms, legs or shoulders until they sink in. For dry feet and heels, rub in one or two drops in the evening. Before washing, part your hair, put a few drops on the scalp and massage them in with your fingertips for a few minutes; leave the oil for half an hour, then shampoo as usual. Keep it off the face, and wash your hands after use.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a brand name and a printed box with the name and size on the front. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over.

It is for external use only: it is not a cooking oil and not for the mouth, so do not swallow it. Try a drop on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely, because clove can tingle or irritate sensitive skin; if your skin stings or turns red, wash the oil off with soap and water. Do not put it on broken or irritated skin. The front of the box does not name the base oil, so if you have a nut allergy, read the label on the bottle before you use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a doctor first.

Close the cap after each use and keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat. Oil can mark fabric and towels and makes floors slippery, so wipe your hands before you touch clothes. At 60 ml it is under the 100 ml cabin limit and can fly in hand luggage inside the clear liquids bag; screw the cap down tight before you pack it, and in checked baggage seal it in a zip bag.

Who it suits: anyone who likes the warm, spicy scent of clove and wants one simple oil for massage, dry feet and heels and the scalp, and anyone looking for a small, useful present from Egypt that packs easily. Skip it if your skin is sensitive or you dislike scented oils.