HIMANI NAVRATNA HAIR OIL HERBAL COOL, 200 ML

Most products need introducing. This one does not. The Navratna bottle has been in Pakistani households for decades, kept for the afternoons when the fan is not enough and for the headache that builds after too many hours in front of a screen.

The cooling comes from a blend of nine ayurvedic herbs: amla, mentha leaves, vetiver, rosemary, hibiscus, ylang ylang, thyme gratiola, musk mallow and spiked ginger lily. Worked into the scalp with the fingertips, it gives that unmistakable thanda pull across the head within about a minute. Emami's own claim for a daily massage is relief from headache, fatigue, tension and sleeplessness.

It is not only a head oil, which is the part people often miss. The same bottle goes across the shoulders and the back of the neck after a long shift, or onto the temples when a headache is starting. For the scalp itself Emami points to premature hairfall, dandruff and itching; amla and hibiscus are the traditional hair ingredients carrying that side of the formula.

Suits: all hair types, men and women alike, and anyone who works through a Pakistani summer. It is also the bottle to keep in the bag during exam season.

Worth knowing: the cooling is strong. That is the whole point of it, but if you have not used a cooling oil before, start with a small amount. The herbal scent is distinctive and settles after a while. At 100ml this is the compact bottle, easy to keep at a desk or in a bag rather than only at home.