What's the best Moroccan gift for her?

The gift I see land most reliably for women is cosmetic argan oil and its cousin, prickly-pear (cactus) seed oil. Cosmetic argan is the real Moroccan beauty secret — buy it from a women's co-operative where the kernels are still cracked by hand, and a 50–100ml bottle costs 80–200 MAD ($8–20). Prickly-pear seed oil is the luxury version, genuinely expensive to produce, so a tiny 30ml bottle at 300–500 MAD is a proper treat. Pair either with a kessa exfoliating mitt and a tub of black soap and you have a whole hammam ritual in a gift bag for under 250 MAD.

Textiles are the next sure thing. A hand-woven scarf or wrap — soft wool for winter or shimmering sabra 'cactus silk' for evening — is light, packs flat, and suits almost everyone. Prices run 80–400 MAD depending on size and fibre; be aware that a lot of 'cactus silk' is actually viscose, so if true sabra matters, buy from a weaving co-op and expect to pay more. A Berber wedding blanket (handira) with its little metal sequins is the showpiece textile if you want something extraordinary.

For jewellery, Berber silver is the authentic choice — chunky tribal cuffs, enamelled Amazigh pendants, the hand-of-Fatima khamsa for protection. Real silver pieces are stamped and weighty; a lot of the cheap stall jewellery is nickel alloy, so buy from a reputable jeweller in the Marrakech Mellah (the old jewellery quarter) or a Fes specialist if you want the genuine article, where good pieces run 200–1,000 MAD and up.

My honest tip: if you are unsure of her taste, the spa bundle is the no-risk winner, because nobody dislikes good argan oil. If you know she loves textiles or jewellery, go to a co-operative or a trusted shop rather than a tourist stall — the quality gap is large, the story is better, and your money supports the women who actually made it. Essaouira and the co-ops on the Marrakech–Essaouira road are lovely, low-pressure places to buy all of the above.