If you’re going on holiday or traveling and know you’ll be going out for special occasions, you want to feel nice, and for many people, that includes bringing their favorite perfume with them. However, people are generally unsure of how to pack perfume, especially if you are only traveling with hand luggage.
There are strict rules around bringing perfume on a plane, as it is a liquid and will generally need to fit within your liquids allowance. Whilst each country has a fairly similar rule around liquids, there can be differences from place to place.
It’s also worth noting that if you do decide to buy perfume at duty free, as many do, that if you are catching a connecting flight, you may have to rescan your bag. If the perfume you’ve purchased is over 100ml and not in a clear, sealed plastic bag, you may be denied entry with it.
Whilst perfume is a fairly obvious, day to day item you would want to take in your luggage, if you get it wrong, there can be various reasons why you would be denied through security with it.
The bottle is larger than your liquids allowance. A lot of perfumes will naturally fall under the generally observed 100ml liquids allowance, however if you have a particularly large bottle of perfume or are using a body mist as opposed to a perfume, you may find that this is actually over 100ml, so it’s always worth checking this before you fly to make sure.
It doesn’t fit in your liquids bag. Similar to aerosols, toothpaste and make up, any liquid that you take with you in your hand luggage needs to fit within your liquids bag allowance. This is generally one 20x20cm plastic, sealable bag per person. If all of your liquids do not fit within this bag, and it can’t be sealed, then you will not be allowed to travel with your perfume.
They can be hazardous. Whilst perfumes aren’t usually considered a hazardous substance, they can be dangerous when traveling on a plane as they are classed as flammable. Because of this, you will likely find (depending on country of departure) that you are only allowed to bring a maximum of 1 liter of liquids with you in your liquids bag.
So, Can I Bring Perfume on a Plane as Carry-On Luggage?
Generally, the answer to the question of if you can bring perfume on a plane with you is yes, but it does come with restrictions. Below, we’ve outlined country by country what those restrictions are and if they differ to help you make the best decision for traveling with perfume on a flight.
USA – What Does the TSA Say About Perfume?
The TSA website lists perfume as an item that is allowed in your carry-on, but it has to be within the 100ml/3.4oz limit. You should generally follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule for flights from the United States. This means that you can carry up to 3.4oz or 100ml of liquid and is limited to 1 quart sized or 20x20cm see through plastic bag. Your perfume must fit into this bag, and it must be sealed or you will be denied entry with it.
If you decide to bring a solid perfume, this does not count within your liquids allowance.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/perfume
The UK – What Are the UK Government’s Regulations Concerning Perfume in Hand Luggage?
The gov.uk website clearly says that liquids are allowed in your carry-on baggage, but they need to be within a container that is no larger than 100ml. So naturally, liquid perfume falls into this category. You need to keep this in a small transparent plastic bag that can be sealed and should not be bigger than 20x20cm. This is limited to one per traveler.
If you have a container that was originally over 100ml but now contains under 100ml of liquid, you will not be able to travel with this. If you are traveling with solid perfume that is not a liquid, it will not fall within this allowance, and you would be fine to travel with this separately.
https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions
Europe – What Are the EU’s Guidelines Regarding Perfume?
The EU have similar rules to both the USA and UK when it comes to bringing perfume – so the answer is yes you can bring perfume on a plane in the EU. You will be subject to the same restrictions of 100ml of perfume in your hand luggage and it needs to fit into your 20x20cm clear plastic bag which must be able to seal shut.
https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-modes/air/aviation-security/information-air-travellers_en
Australia – Does the ABF Have Laws About Perfume?
If you’re wanting to bring perfume in your carry-on luggage in Australia, the ABF state, similar to other countries, that this will need to be no larger than 100ml (and the bottle containing can be no bigger than this). It will also need to be sealed in a clear plastic bag around 20x20cm in size.
However, if you are traveling domestically within Australia, there are no restrictions on the amount of liquids (such as perfume), aerosols, gels, and powders you can bring. Unless you are traveling out of an international terminal, such as T1 in Sydney or T2 in Melbourne, where you will need to adhere to the 100ml restrictions.
New Zealand – What Are the CAA of New Zealand’s Rules About Perfume?
According to the CAA, you will need to make sure that any perfume you bring in your carry-on is within a 100ml container. This must be sealed in a see-through plastic bag no larger than 20x20cm.
You are also not allowed to carry liquids in your carry-on that exceed 1 liter in total, and anything that exceeds this will not be allowed to travel with you.
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/passenger-information/what-can-i-bring/
Canada – What Does the CBSA Say About Perfume?
If traveling through Canada, the rules set out by the CBSA state that you are able to carry a small container of perfume, up to 100ml in your carry-on.
As with all liquids passing through Canada in your carry-on baggage, you’ll need to make sure it fits within a small, clear, sealable plastic bag around 20x20cm in size.
https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/what-can-bring/item/perfume
The Rest of the World
Generally, the rules around the world are similar in terms of carrying perfume – as most locations have a similar view on taking liquids in your carry-on luggage. If you adhere to the policy of 100ml that will fit into your clear plastic liquids bag, and is no larger than 20x20cm, you should be safe to travel. Though it is wise to just check your country of travel to make sure there are no adjustments or changes to this rule before you fly.
- https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/travel-info/baggage/baggage-restrictions/
- https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/information/baggage-information/restricted-items
- https://www.latamairlines.com/gb/en/help-center/faq/baggage/restricted-articles/restricted%20items
- https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/en/fly/prepare-for-the-fly/baggage/carry-on-baggage
What’s the Best Advice for Travelling on a Plane with Perfume?
Perfume can be an expensive purchase, so making sure you can actually travel with it and not have to leave it at security is very important to avoid any nasty surprises.
Make sure it’s under 100ml. This is the biggest thing to keep in mind when traveling with perfume in your carry-on. Generally, a standard sized perfume will be below this amount, but you do need to check in advance.
Are you buying from duty free or similar and transferring to another flight? If you are, you will need to make sure you know the rules of your mid-point country. You may need to have your bags taken through the scanner again, and therefore, the perfume you’ve bought will need to fit into your clear plastic liquids bag.
If possible, travel with a solid perfume. Not only do they take up less space meaning you need to take less with you, but a solid perfume also doesn’t count within your liquids allowance and can therefore be carried separately.
Make sure your liquids bag closes. You will need to make sure everything in your liquids bag can close inside it when going through.
Make sure it can’t leak. Make sure any lids are fastened on securely and that it is packaged well inside your liquids bag, in your carry-on to avoid any leaking.
What Happens If Your Perfume Is Flagged by Airport Security?
If your perfume is flagged by security at the airport, it is important to stay calm. If your perfume is flagged by the scanner, there could be a good reason why. It is a good idea to stay as nice as possible as the security officer is just doing their job and they are there to help you and other passengers travel safely.
Of course, it can be frustrating, but practicing patience is the best thing here, but if you are running late for your flight, try to have a word with them and notify them of this. They may not be able to let you cut ahead but depending on wait times and whether the airport is busy, they may let you if there is a chance you’ll miss your flight otherwise.
One of the main reasons for having liquids flagged by security is if the plastic bag that you have put everything in isn’t of a standard size in line with that country’s restrictions, or if it won’t fasten. If you have used a bag from home which is too big, you will likely be asked to take everything out and repack in a standardized one. If this is the case, you may lose some of your liquids, so you should always make sure you’re using a 20x20cm bag in advance.
If you answer any questions and adhere, the security officer should have you on your way quickly without fuss, hopefully with your perfume intact.
How to Pack Perfume in Your Luggage
Nobody wants to arrive at their destination with their personal items ruined due to not packing as well as they could have. One of the worst items to have this happen with is perfume, as not only does it soil your items, but it’ll also have you smelling very strongly too – not nice especially if this is your outbound flight!
Packing Perfume in Carry-On Luggage
The first thing you need to do when packing your perfume in your carry-on luggage is to make sure that the lid fits well onto the bottle – this will prevent it from depressing in your liquids bag and causing it to leak. Not only can this mean you lose your perfume and spoil your personal items, but it can also be an expensive mistake.
You will also need to make sure that your perfume fits well into your 20x20cm clear plastic bag to take it through the airport scanner. You should make sure that you have easy access to this for when you need to take your items out to go through the x-ray machine.
Once you’ve been through security, you can of course unpack your liquids bag if this makes things easier, but it is always a good idea to make sure you don’t overpack your liquids bag to prevent anything from bursting our causing a problem.
Packing Perfume in Hold Luggage
There is much less in terms of restrictions when it comes to packing perfume in your hold luggage – and you can take a perfume of any size with you here.
The main thing to take into consideration is to make sure it is secure. If possible, and depending on if you have bought the perfume in destination, carry it in the box it came in. If not, it is just a good idea to make sure that the lid is securely fastened.
Generally, you’ll want to make sure you transport your perfume in a wash bag or a packing cube that is well stuffed. In your suitcase, you’ll want to make sure your wash bag or the bag containing your perfume is well packaged – this could be as simple as wrapping it in clothes, so it is not moving around.
What Are the Different Types of Perfume?
For traveling, there are two main different types of perfume.
Liquid perfume. This is generally the most used type of perfume you’ll see available for purchase and one that most manufacturers will offer. Because it is a liquid, it can be harder to transport through the airport, and you need to make sure that it is up to 100ml and no larger in size.
Solid perfume. This can be a great option to travel with – and because it doesn’t contain any water, it is not classed as a liquid. It is therefore not subject to the same restrictions as liquid perfume. It can also be a good option as the scent is likely to last longer, the tub longer in general as you need less and also because it can be put anywhere in your luggage so is less likely to leak.
Conclusion
Perfume is an item you are likely to want to bring with you when traveling, so it is important to understand how the rules around liquids will affect you when wanting to bring it with you in your carry-on luggage.
Generally speaking, most countries adopt the 100ml liquids in hand luggage rule, meaning that if you bring a liquid perfume with you, the container it is in will need to be up to or under 100ml in order to make it through security.
It is always a good idea to check in advance and don’t just assume that the perfume you want to bring is at this size, and if it isn’t, to decant it into a smaller bottle.
If you buy perfume at duty free or similar and you are to catch a connecting flight, you will also need to see if you need to recheck and rescan your bags at your intermediate airport, as this will have you subject to the 100ml hand luggage rule again.