The Oil From King Tut's Tomb

When archaeologists opened Tutankhamun's tomb, they found the things a young king would need for eternity: gold, furniture, chariots. And seeds of Nigella sativa, black seed. That is how precious this little seed has been along the Nile for thousands of years.

Go deeper. The chemistry, step-by-step rituals, storage and pro tips are in the Black Seed Oil Deep Dive in our Ingredient Library. Ready to try it? Shop Black Seed.

That's me, with a bottle of our Black Seed, in King Tut's tomb. I couldn't resist.

Where ours grows

Our black seed comes from small farms south of Aswan in Upper Egypt, along the Nile. The tiny black seeds are cold-pressed by Amr, our oil maker, and his team, then bottled in hand-blown glass.

Why it smells the way it does

Black seed oil smells strong: earthy, herbal, a little peppery. Many brands deodorize or perfume it so it smells like nothing. We never do. The compounds that give black seed its scent, like thymoquinone, are part of what makes it so prized. If the scent is a lot for you, mix a drop with Hoba.

Who it's for

Black seed is our go-to for oily, blemish-prone and easily stressed skin. It calms the look of redness and blemishes and helps balance oily skin, without anything harsh. It is also lovely massaged into a dry, itchy-feeling scalp before washing.

How to use it

1. After cleansing, mist Géran, or splash warm water.
2. Press 2-3 drops into warm, damp skin, focusing on oily or blemish-prone areas.
3. At night, dab a drop on any blemish.
4. Once skin feels calm, many customers switch back to Hoba or Rubi for everyday care.

Pair it with a weekly Argil masque, and you have the oldest clear-skin ritual I know.

Go deeper. The chemistry, step-by-step rituals, storage and pro tips are in the Black Seed Oil Deep Dive in our Ingredient Library. Ready to try it? Shop Black Seed.

~ Kate