Shipping Perfume

[david]

I am hoping that any updates regarding new shipping regulations will be posted here.
I am interested to hear how the situation is in Spain, Germany, France, Italy etc., re sending perfumes internationaly by post.

Regardless of where you live, please let us all know here if you have had items confiscated.

It seems that the UK, US and Australia are adhering very strongly to the new regulations, whereas other countries are not taking it so seriously.

The spokesman I talked to from the International Civil Aviation Authorities told me that the issue of perfumes being classed as hazardous materials, (because of the high alcohol content) has been known and enforced for several years. He actually could not understand why the UK postal Service were now suddenly being so strict about it.
On the other hand he told me that the UK Postal Service, (Royal Mail) is fighting the new regulation, ( because they will now be losing a lot of revenue to other shipping firms.)
So, presumably the Univesal Postal Union is the body implementing this new rule.

Any new information any members can provide will be invauable to us all here on basenotes.
Please let us know the current situation in your country !
Thanks.

[chopwet]

I'm hoping that this doesn't affect mainland Europe, especially central and Western Europe! I'll find out soon enough, I'm going to buy something and have it sent from Italy.

[hednic]

I just received a large order from Bergamo, Italy two days ago delivered by DHL Express. Arrived in the States in two days - lightning fast. with no problems regarding customs. Cleared in one hour.

[david]

I just received a large order from Bergamo, Italy two days ago delivered by DHL Express. Arrived in the States in two days - lightning fast. with no problems regarding customs. Cleared in one hour.

Great to hear that ~ for your sake !
Thanks for letting us all know, seems that Italy is more relaxed on the issue.....business as usual, (thank god!)

[sjg3839]

There is going to be a real problem if this happens in the states.

[david]

There is going to be a real problem if this happens in the states.

I think, from what I have already heard from some US members ~ it is already happening there. Reports are coming back of people being grilled about the contents of their package and being told they can't send perfume with the US Post.

[döfä91]

In my country you may send and receive perfume via mail.

[voodoodanny]

I lost a new and sealed Etat Libre d'Orange fragrance that I was sending to another Basenotes user between the UK and USA. I was mightily annoyed. We're now being told that we can't even send perfumes domestically via the Royal Mail anymore - I really don't know what the hell we're supposed to do now! This is really going to harm the perfume trade in the UK and all but eradicate swaps and private sales!

[Andrè Moreau]

I wonder if you can send perfumes sealed in the envelopes, saying to officers: "it's body cream" or "beauty articles"....

[Matheau]

I don't understand why items with X amount of alcohol are suddenly being prohibited from being shipped abroad?

As far as I'm aware aircraft cargo aren't subjected to frequent high amounts of deliberate fire, how many planes have blown up as a result of there being fragrance on board?

I guess this means multinationals will be prohibited from shipping tens of thousands of alcohol based products too, or is it one rule for them and another for small retailers and individual sellers?

[sjg3839]

Making it hard for basenoters!

I think, from what I have already heard from some US members ~ it is already happening there. Reports are coming back of people being grilled about the contents of their package and being told they can't send perfume with the US Post.

[Possum-Pie]

In the USA it is hit-or-miss, My small post office has stated that they will not ship any perfume, cologne, etc internationally because of regulations...I live in a rural area, and they know me at the post office, they see my custom form stating "beauty products" and most workers look the other way, but the boss always asks me pointedly if it is liquid. I have quit sending overseas as she states that if it is found that I am sending "hazardous materials" I could be fined.

[voodoodanny]

I wonder if you can send perfumes sealed in the envelopes, saying to officers: "it's body cream" or "beauty articles"....

I told the Post Office employee it was "beauty products", she asked "is it perfume?" so I lied through my teeth and said no. That was enough to fool her, but for some reason it didn't fool the X-Ray machine that identified my package as containing prohibited goods on a routine scan.

[PalmBeach]

I think, from what I have already heard from some US members ~ it is already happening there. Reports are coming back of people being grilled about the contents of their package and being told they can't send perfume with the US Post.

Shipping within the US using the Postal Service is allowed for First Class Mail, since it travels by ground transport. Shipping Priority Mail or Express mail is not allowed, because it travels by air, but let's face it, just claim it as cosmetics, glassware or something benign and it goes.

Since all International Mail to and from the US, outside of North America, no matter the mailing method is prohibited, again, since it travels by air, but like domestic priority or express services, claim something other than perfume or liquid.

The problem will occur if it is going to happen, once it arrives in the destination country. From what I see right now, the UK and a couple of other EU countries are cracking down real hard.

[30 Roses]

USPS First Class goes by air unless it is marked "ground"-- or unless it is local mail, obviously.

Parcel Post has just been renamed Standard Post. That goes by ground.

[mumsy]

The trouble is the more everyone tells fibs about what's in the parcel, the more stringent the checks are going to get so we will be scuppering it for ourselves in the long run. There must be a legitimate way to carry on. I just don't know what it can be yet.

I'm presuming we can all still send oil based frags and solid perfumes with impunity. I have asked this amongst many other questions to the UK RM and am awaiting a reply.

If one of the current delivery systems with a global network already in place will consider carrying perfumes, then the whole lot can be transferred from the mail system. The postal services in all countries will all be almightily sorry to lose all our business.

[david]

I don't understand why items with X amount of alcohol are suddenly being prohibited from being shipped abroad?

As far as I'm aware aircraft cargo aren't subjected to frequent high amounts of deliberate fire, how many planes have blown up as a result of there being fragrance on board?

I guess this means multinationals will be prohibited from shipping tens of thousands of alcohol based products too, or is it one rule for them and another for small retailers and individual sellers?

Sadly, the big multinationals get a much, much better deal than the smaller fry. A company that ships 2000 bottles of gin per day will get a completely different shipping rate than a small online fragrance firm shipping 50 fragrances per day ~ and the poor, (smaller) ebay sellar with his 2 bottles per day does not stand a chance.
I have until now heard rediculous quotes from carriers concerning "hazardous" materials ie, perfumes. For the individual customer......$200 to ship a bottle of fragrance......just not viable.

[Possum-Pie]

The trouble is the more everyone tells fibs about what's in the parcel, the more stringent the checks are going to get so we will be scuppering it for ourselves in the long run. There must be a legitimate way to carry on. I just don't know what it can be yet.

I'm presuming we can all still send oil based frags and solid perfumes with impunity. I have asked this amongst many other questions to the UK RM and am awaiting a reply.

If one of the current delivery systems with a global network already in place will consider carrying perfumes, then the whole lot can be transferred from the mail system. The postal services in all countries will all be almightily sorry to lose all our business.

Unfortunately, I have heard several people who have had Amouage Attars confiscated, and there is NO alcohol in them. They are entirely oil, and it is unfair that they were "destroyed" by British customs...

[mumsy]

Unfortunately, I have heard several people who have had Amouage Attars confiscated, and there is NO alcohol in them. They are entirely oil, and it is unfair that they were "destroyed" by British customs...

I think they should send the persons responsible an invoice then. Oils are not considered flammable goods are they? On the UK list, it quite clearly states flammable liquids, perfume, aftershave and EDT... here.

[david]

The trouble is the more everyone tells fibs about what's in the parcel, the more stringent the checks are going to get so we will be scuppering it for ourselves in the long run. There must be a legitimate way to carry on. I just don't know what it can be yet.

I'm presuming we can all still send oil based frags and solid perfumes with impunity. I have asked this amongst many other questions to the UK RM and am awaiting a reply.

If one of the current delivery systems with a global network already in place will consider carrying perfumes, then the whole lot can be transferred from the mail system. The postal services in all countries will all be almightily sorry to lose all our business.

There are companies that will ship hazardous goods without any problem......but the cost for individuals is just not viable.
By evading the true contents, you are running the risk that it will be controlled, (at the very least) confiscated, or worse ~ you will receive a heavy fine, (in this particular case up to $25,000.)

[PalmBeach]

USPS First Class goes by air unless it is marked "ground"-- or unless it is local mail, obviously.

Parcel Post has just been renamed Standard Post. That goes by ground.

As far as I know, First Class mail will go by rail, same as UPS ground shipments depending on destination. I could be wrong, but this is what I have been told by several people I know in the postal service.

[Birdboy48]

Unfortunately I had an experience with international shipping that highlighted the fact that there actually could be problems with shipping frags by air.

Basically I got a *lot* of leakage from a large decant a fellow shipped to me. So he shipped to me a second time and there was even more leakage the second time. When I opened the second decant and screwed the sprayer off, there was literally not one single drop left inside. It had all leaked out. Or more to the point...been pushed out from inside.

The problem seemed to be changes in cabin pressure in air flights. The fluid itself does not expand and contract, but the air inside the bottle does, and if the sprayers are not what they could be, the expanding and contracting air inside basically pushes all the liquid out. Bottles that are full to the top have less air inside, and leakage is minimal, but bottles which a less full, and have a lot of air inside can pump all the fluid out, depending how many times the plane lands and takes off.

Having a bunch of alcohol vapors floating around in the cargo bay might not be something I'd be happy about. Not that one bottle of frag would cause that sort of problem, but if there were a bunch of packages with various other liquids leaking at the same time, I can see where it might cause some worry.

Sprayers that seal in ways that resist air pressure changes would seem to be the answer, as in my instance air seemed able to enter the bottle through the spray mechanism as external air pressures increased , and the fluid would then get pushed out by that same high-pressure air ( if the bottle was not sitting upright) as outer pressures decreased.

Good sprayers seem able to resist such changes, but crappy ones do indeed allow processes which will promote significant leakage. And increasingly so when there are large air spaces in the bottles.

[hednic]

Shipping Priority Mail or Express mail is not allowed, because it travels by air, but let's face it, just claim it as cosmetics, glassware or something benign and it goes.

Within the States in the last two weeks I have received 10 USPS Priority packages filled with fragrances from a variety of companies, Ebay individuals etc. with no problems whatsoever.

[badarun]

Looks like all other countries are joining the Canada bandwagon with rgds to shipping perfumes...Poor us
I lost an Amouage Gold 2 months back - confiscated and destroyed by Customs, luckily, the shipper agreed to send another and even more luckily, I recvd it without it being confiscated again!!!

[portugal]

myself i have 3 bad news to give regarding lost shippings:

1st shipping from cheapsmells.com (uk store) to Malta. Shipped out on the 25th january and never arrived >( in the meantime they simply cancelled all international shippings of perfumes

2nd feelunique.com - actually it was 2 items: 1 shampoo and 1 spray for her hair - shipped out on the 29th also never arrived

3rd case some perfumes from a seller in the US - item left USA on the 7th and never arrived.... usually would arrive within a week

so basically 3 out of 3 lost packages... hope you can be luckier than me

[LloydLlewellyn]

I just received some bottles of Arabic oils shipped from London to Belgium - no problem.
I guess it is hit-and-miss.

[portugal]

I just received some bottles of Arabic oils shipped from London to Belgium - no problem.
I guess it is hit-and-miss.

Hummm lucky you the thing is Oils dont have alcohol so maybe thats why it didnt get lost

[trex57]

I've been sending out packages overseas, the US and Taiwan. Everything arrived safely. I've received packages from all over the place(US, Europe and Taiwan) andeverything was fine.

[dougczar]

The problem seemed to be changes in cabin pressure in air flights. The fluid itself does not expand and contract, but the air inside the bottle does, and if the sprayers are not what they could be, the expanding and contracting air inside basically pushes all the liquid out. Bottles that are full to the top have less air inside, and leakage is minimal, but bottles which a less full, and have a lot of air inside can pump all the fluid out, depending how many times the plane lands and takes off.

Having a bunch of alcohol vapors floating around in the cargo bay might not be something I'd be happy about. Not that one bottle of frag would cause that sort of problem, but if there were a bunch of packages with various other liquids leaking at the same time, I can see where it might cause some worry.

I'm sure this is why you are allowed to carry a bottle with you on a flight, but you cannot send one. If it is in your possession, it will be in a pressurized cabin.

[LloydLlewellyn]

I'm sure this is why you are allowed to carry a bottle with you on a flight, but you cannot send one. If it is in your possession, it will be in a pressurized cabin.

Does checked baggage also travel in a pressurized compartment? Because you are allowed to put perfume inside your checked luggage...