YourTravelGuide🛩️

Hair Oil, Ghee, and Butter

!Conditional — Depends

Counts as liquid/gel. Cabin up to 100ml; checked baggage allowed with leak-proof packing.

Hair oil, ghee, butter, and similar semi-solid fats count as gels. Keep them under 100ml in cabin (inside the liquids pouch) and pack larger jars in checked baggage with screw-top lids, shrink wrap, and absorbent padding.

When allowed vs. when not

✅ When it's allowed

  • •Line jars with parchment before screwing lids to catch drips.
  • •Keep receipts when transporting artisanal food items for customs queries.
  • •Use stainless containers instead of glass to avoid breakage.

🚫 When it's NOT allowed

  • •Don’t carry unlabeled homemade oil in soda bottles—it will be confiscated.
  • •Don’t pack jars near electronics; leaks ruin laptops.
  • •Avoid carrying huge quantities without declaring; customs may treat it as commercial import.

Even if ghee is solid at room temperature, scanners treat it like a gel because it softens quickly. Officers swab opaque tins to check for explosive residue, so transparent containers speed things up.

Where each format fits

ProductCabinChecked
50ml hair oil✅✅
250ml ghee jar❌✅ With leakproof packing
Solid butter block❌✅ Keep chilled

Frequently asked questions

Can I carry coconut oil solidified under 24°C?+
If the container exceeds 100ml, it is still treated as a gel. Decant into smaller jars for cabin travel.
Are Ayurvedic oils treated differently?+
No. They follow the same LAG rules. Carry prescriptions if the oil is for medical therapy.
What about ghee in hand baggage for infants?+
If it’s essential baby food, declare it. Officers often allow slightly bigger quantities when the infant is present, but approval is discretionary.

Related guides

Liquids over 100mlFood & snacks policyBaby food exemptions

Related rules

Perfume / Deodorant

Cabin limit 100ml per bottle inside a 1L clear bag. Larger bottles go in checked baggage.

Sanitizer allowance

Cabin limit 100ml per container, same as any other liquid — the 350ml pandemic-era allowance ended. Checked baggage allows larger bottles if sealed.

Shampoo & lotions

Treat as liquids/gels. Cabin limit 100ml per container inside the 1L bag.

Makeup kit

Liquid or gel-based makeup counts toward the 100ml rule; compact powders are exempt.

Nail polish/remover

Allowed in cabin up to 100ml and in checked bags up to 0.5L per container.

Liquid bottles >100ml

Liquids above 100ml per container are banned from cabin unless exempt (baby food/medicines).

Official references

Last updated: 4 Dec 2025

DGCA guidelines — simplified

Verified on: 6 Dec 2025

Disclaimer: Aviation and security rules change frequently. Always confirm with your airline, airport help desk, or CISF officers before you travel.

#hair oil#ghee#butter#liquid