Watercress Oil, 60 ml

A natural watercress oil sold under the El Nile Horas name. The front of the box calls the oil natural and cold-pressed, gives its name in English and Arabic and the size, 60 ml. It comes in a black box printed in gold, with the brand's triangle and Eye of Horus at the top, a round cold-pressed seal and a heap of green leaves below the name. The Arabic name on the box is also the everyday Egyptian name for rocket (arugula), and the box gives no Latin name, so it does not settle which of the two plants the oil comes from.

What it is for: the front of the box lists no uses, so these are the usual ways watercress oil is used. It is an oil to massage into the scalp and smooth through dry hair before washing, and it adds shine and softness to dry ends. It is a cosmetic: it works on how hair looks and feels.

Use a little at a time. Before washing, part your hair, put a few drops on the scalp and massage them in with your fingertips for a few minutes, then smooth what is left on your palms through the lengths. Cover your hair with an old towel, leave the oil for half an hour, then shampoo as usual; a second shampoo may be needed to wash the oil out. For dry ends, one or two drops on dry hair are enough.

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 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, so do not swallow it. Try a drop on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely. Watercress and rocket both belong to the cabbage and mustard family, so do not use it if you are allergic to mustard. 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 with dry hair or dry ends who wants one simple oil for them, and anyone looking for a small, useful present from Egypt that packs easily. Skip it if oil weighs your hair down or you are allergic to mustard.