A hair treatment composition that includes an aqueous formulation of leleshwa. The aqueous formulation of leleshwa is obtained by subjecting leleshwa to a steam distillation process to remove essential oils therefrom. The aqueous condensate phase from the steam distillation process is recovered and used as the aqueous formulation of leleshwa according to the present invention. The aqueous formulation of leleshwa is used alone as a rinse to treat hair or combined with other ingredients to form hair treatment compositions that include rinses, conditioners, shampoos and combinations thereof.