Mukhmariya Body Cream

A perfumed body cream sold under the Olympia name. Its label is in Arabic only: the brand name and the words “mukhmariya for the body”. A mukhmariya is usually a body cream scented in the style of khumra, a traditional perfume blend; the jar does not say what is in this one. It lists no ingredients and gives no size, maker or directions. It comes in a pink jar with two gold-coloured rings and a clear dome lid over a white inner cap.

What it is for: the jar lists no uses, so these are the usual ways a mukhmariya is used. It is a perfumed moisturiser for dry skin on the body; it softens dry hands, elbows and heels; and some people put a little on the wrists for its scent. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin looks and feels.

Use a little at a time. After a shower, take a small amount in your palm, warm it between your hands and smooth it over dry skin on the arms and legs until it sinks in. For dry hands, elbows and heels, rub in a little in the evening. For the scent, dab a little on each wrist. The label calls it a cream for the body, so keep it off the face and away from the eyes.

The difference from an unlabelled tub in a bazaar is what you can check for yourself: a brand name and a printed label. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over. When it arrives, look on the pack for the size, the ingredient list and the expiry date.

It is for external use only: do not swallow it. Try a little on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely, because perfumed creams can irritate sensitive skin. Do not put it on broken or irritated skin. It is perfumed, so skip it if you are allergic to perfume or fragrance. The jar lists no ingredients, so if you have other allergies, ask a doctor before you use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF, so in the Egyptian sun you still need one. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children.

Keep the lid closed and the jar out of direct sun and heat, and take the cream with clean, dry fingers so no water gets in. Creams count as liquids at airport security: a jar of 100 ml or less can fly in the cabin inside the clear liquids bag; a larger one goes in checked baggage. Tape the lid, seal the jar in a zip bag and wrap it in clothes in the middle of the case.

Who it suits: anyone with dry skin who likes a perfumed body cream, and anyone who would like a mukhmariya as a present to take home. Skip it if perfume irritates your skin, if you are allergic to fragrance, or if you have other allergies and need to read an ingredient list first.