Egyptian natural oils make small, practical gifts from Sharm El Sheikh. Choose each oil to suit the person, check the label, and pack bottles over 100 ml in your checked suitcase.
At Apteka Sharm we stock Lotus natural oils, made by TNG, a cosmetics company founded in Egypt. We also carry Emami 7 Oils in One for hair. We sell these oils for cosmetic and traditional use on skin and hair, not to treat illness. You can see the whole range on our Egyptian natural oils page.
Which oil suits which person?
| Gift for | Oil | Why it suits them, and what to know |
|---|---|---|
| Someone who loves hair care | Argan oil | Made from the kernels of the argan tree, and traditionally used in cooking and in skin and hair care. |
| A friend who likes a ready-made hair oil | Emami 7 Oils in One | A non-sticky hair oil with argan, walnut, almond, coconut, amla, olive and jojoba oils. It contains nut oils and a mild fragrance. |
| Someone with dry skin | Coconut oil | A rich body moisturiser and lip balm. It can clog pores, so it is not a good face oil, especially for people who get spots. |
| A friend who loves old traditions | Black seed oil | Black seed (Nigella sativa), also called black cumin, has been used since ancient times in traditional remedies and in cooking. |
| Someone with skin that feels dry after the sun | Aloe vera oil | Aloe has been used on the skin since ancient times, including in Egypt. The oil suits dry skin once the heat of a sunburn has gone, not fresh sunburn. |
| A lover of perfume | Jasmine oil | Egypt’s Nile Delta grows royal jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) for the world’s perfume industry. |
| Someone who enjoys herbs | Marjoram oil | Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) is a Mediterranean herb, also grown in Egypt, with a long history in folk medicine. |
| A friend who loves food | Pumpkin seed oil | In Austria, Styrian pumpkin seed oil is known for its nutty aroma and dark green colour. Only use a bottle in food if its label says it is for food use. |
Traditional use does not prove that an oil works. Give these oils as cosmetics, not as medicines. Our stock changes, so send us your list on WhatsApp before you visit.
Choose with care for these people
Natural does not mean safe for everyone. Natural oils can cause allergies, like any skin product. Take extra care, or choose a different gift, for:
- Babies and young children. Ask a pharmacist or doctor before using any oil on a child.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The person should ask their doctor before using a new oil.
- Sensitive skin or many allergies. Choose a single oil without added fragrance. Fragrance is one of the most common causes of skin allergy.
- Nut allergy. Emami 7 Oils in One contains almond and walnut oils.
- Aloe or lily allergy. Avoid aloe vera oil for anyone allergic to aloe, or to lily-family plants such as lilies and tulips.
How to read the label
A clear label tells you what is in the bottle. Look for:
- The plant’s Latin name, such as Argania spinosa for argan oil.
- The ingredients list. One ingredient means a single oil. Several ingredients mean a blend, sometimes with added fragrance.
- The volume in ml. It decides whether a bottle can go in your hand luggage.
- The expiry date and batch number. Some labels also show an open-jar symbol with a number, such as 12M. This means the product keeps for 12 months after opening.
- Directions and warnings, such as “for external use only”.
- Food use. Only swallow an oil if its label says it is for food use.
- An unbroken seal.
Oils and other cosmetics may not carry a printed official price. Ask us on WhatsApp for today’s price before you buy.
How to store the oils
- Keep the caps closed, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sun. A hotel balcony or a hot car is too warm.
- Once a bottle is open, air slowly changes the oil. If it smells sour, or its colour or texture changes, stop using it.
- Coconut oil turns solid and white in a cool room and melts when it is warm. This is normal.
- Keep all oils out of reach of children.
How to pack oils for the flight home
Hand luggage
Oils count as liquids at airport security, like creams and lotions. At most UK airports, each container in hand luggage must hold 100 ml or less, even if it is only part full. From airports in the EU, containers over 100 ml must go in checked baggage. Smaller ones go in one transparent bag of up to 1 litre.
Some UK airports now accept larger containers, so the rules differ. Check the rules for every airport on your route, including Sharm El Sheikh and any airport where you change planes.
Several Lotus oils we stock come in 125 ml bottles, so pack these in your checked suitcase.
Checked suitcase
- Tighten every cap.
- Seal each bottle in its own plastic bag.
- Keep the bottles in their boxes.
- Wrap them in soft clothes and place them in the middle of the case, away from the sides.
- Pack them upright if you can.
- Keep the receipts with your travel documents.
In the UK, gifts count towards your personal allowance, the amount of goods you can bring in without paying tax or duty. If you buy a lot, check the customs allowance for your home country.
Add a note for the person who receives the gift
A short card with these tips helps your friend use the oil safely:
- Test it first. Put a little oil on the inside of the elbow, on the same spot, for 7 to 10 days. If there is no reaction, it can go on the face. A rash can take several days to appear.
- Keep it away from the eyes.
- Not on fresh sunburn. Oil can trap heat in newly burnt skin. Wait until the heat and swelling have gone.
- Ask a pharmacist or doctor first in pregnancy, before using it on a child, or before taking any oil by mouth.
- Stop if a rash or itching starts, and wash the oil off.
See a doctor urgently if: the lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell after using an oil. Get help at once if the person struggles to breathe or swallow, or suddenly becomes very dizzy, confused or faint. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction. In Egypt, call 123 for an ambulance. See a doctor soon if a rash spreads, blisters, or affects the eyes or mouth.
Order your gift oils
Send us the names of the oils you want on WhatsApp, and we will confirm stock and prices. Free hotel delivery is available on orders from $30, so you can pack everything at your hotel.
Need help in Sharm?
WhatsApp us or call +20 120 344 2201 to check which oils are in stock today. Our pharmacists speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian, and can help you choose. Hotel delivery is free on orders from $30.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Which Egyptian oils make good gifts?
Good choices include Lotus argan oil for hair care, coconut oil for dry skin, black seed oil for its long tradition and jasmine oil for its scent. Emami 7 Oils in One suits people who like a ready-made hair oil. Match the oil to the person, and ask about allergies before you choose.
Can I take Egyptian oils in my hand luggage?
Oils count as liquids at airport security. At most UK airports, and at airports in the EU, each container in hand luggage must hold 100 ml or less. Several Lotus bottles hold 125 ml, so pack them in your checked suitcase. Rules differ, so check every airport on your route, including Sharm El Sheikh.
How do I stop oil bottles leaking in my suitcase?
Tighten each cap, then seal every bottle in its own plastic bag. Keep the bottles in their boxes, wrap them in soft clothes and place them in the middle of the suitcase, away from the sides. Pack them upright if you can, so any leak stays inside the bag.
Should the person who receives the oil do a patch test?
Yes. Natural oils can cause allergic skin reactions. Apply a little to the inside of the elbow, on the same spot, for 7 to 10 days before using it on the face, because a rash can take several days to appear. If redness or itching starts, wash the oil off and stop using it.
How should I store natural oils?
Keep the bottles tightly closed in a cool, dark place, away from direct sun and heat. Check the expiry date, and look for an open-jar symbol such as 12M, which shows how many months the oil keeps after opening. If the oil smells sour or changes colour, stop using it.
Sources and further reading (17)
- About us: TNG Cosmetics, maker of Lotus Natural Oils
- 7 Oils in One — Emami
- Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils (argan and coconut oil) — Int J Mol Sci (2017)
- Nigella sativa: A Comprehensive Review of Its Therapeutic Potential, Pharmacological Properties, and Clinical Applications — Int J Mol Sci (2024)
- Should You Use Coconut Oil on Your Skin? — Cleveland Clinic
- Aloe vera and the skin — DermNet
- Tips for Treating a Peeling Sunburn — Cleveland Clinic
- Egypt's blossoming trade in fragrant jasmine flowers — Ahram Online
- Sweet Marjoram: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities — J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med (2017)
- Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca Seeds: Deep Insights into Polar Lipid Profile — Foods (2026)
- Could You Be Allergic to Your Skin Care Products? — Cleveland Clinic
- When Does Your Makeup Expire? (open-jar symbol and signs a product has gone off) — Cleveland Clinic
- Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: Liquids — GOV.UK
- Luggage restrictions — Your Europe (European Union)
- Bringing goods into the UK for personal use — GOV.UK
- Anaphylaxis — NHS
- Getting help: Egypt travel advice — GOV.UK (FCDO)
Last updated 8 October 2026. General information, not a diagnosis: always read the leaflet and ask a pharmacist or doctor.
Apteka Sharm
5 pharmacies across Sharm El Sheikh, with pharmacists who speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian. Questions about a product? Ask us on WhatsApp.
