Olive Oil, 1 L

An olive oil sold under the Sorage name. Olive oil is pressed from olives, the fruit of the olive tree. The label names it olive oil in Arabic and English and repeats the name in Italian, German and Russian; it says, in Arabic and English, that it is for external use only, and gives the size, 1 litre. It does not say which grade of olive oil it is or how it was pressed. It comes in a clear plastic bottle with the brand's Arabic name moulded into the shoulder and a white label with the Sorage name in gold and drawings of olives and olive branches; the cap is sealed under a band printed with the brand's Arabic name.

What it is for: the label lists no uses, so these are the usual ways olive oil is used on skin and hair. It is a body and massage oil for dry skin; it softens dry hands, elbows and heels; it is an oil to smooth through dry hair before washing; and it adds softness and shine to dry hair ends. 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 hands, elbows and heels, rub in one or two drops in the evening. Before washing, warm a few drops between your palms and smooth them through dry hair from the middle to the ends; cover your hair with an old towel, leave the oil for half an hour, then shampoo as usual. For dry ends, one or two drops on dry hair are enough. From a bottle this size, it is easiest to pour a little into a small bottle for everyday use.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a brand name and a printed label 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: do not swallow it. This bottle is sold as a cosmetic, not as a cooking oil. Try a drop on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely, and do not put it on broken or irritated skin. If you are allergic to olives, do not use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF: it does not protect the skin from the sun, so do not use it for sunbathing. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children.

Close the cap after each use and keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat. It can turn cloudy or thicken in the cold; it clears again at room temperature. Oil can mark fabric and towels and makes floors slippery, so wipe your hands before you touch clothes. At 1 litre it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the cap screwed down tight and the bottle sealed in a zip bag, standing upright and wrapped in clothes. A full litre bottle weighs about a kilo, so allow for it in your baggage allowance.

Who it suits: anyone with dry skin, dry hands and heels or dry hair ends who wants one simple oil for them, in a large bottle that lasts. Skip it if you are allergic to olives, dislike the feel of oil on your skin, or travel with hand luggage only.