Whether you can take perfume on an airplane: from volume restrictions and safe packaging rules to the conditions for transporting perfume from the duty-free zone

Packing a suitcase is one of the most exciting and time-consuming parts of organizing a trip. Especially if you're not sure which items you can put in your carry-on or luggage, and which ones you may be forced to get rid of at the security check. Airline regulations control everything you can take on board, from food and personal items to toiletries, to ensure your trip goes smoothly at the airport. Among the frequently asked questions is whether you can take perfume on an airplane.

We will try to explain in detail everything about this item in your luggage. This guide will answer the questions whether perfume is allowed in airplane luggage, where and how much you can take it, how to pack it and more.

Can you take perfume in carry-on luggage?

As you know, hand luggage is called a small bag or suitcase that a passenger can take with him in the cabin of the airplane. There are strict requirements for its filling in order to prevent safety violations on board.

When it comes to whether it is possible to carry perfume on an airplane in hand luggage, in most cases the answer is positive. But at the same time, there are a number of restrictions on the volume of perfume. The same applies to all liquids, aerosols and gels.

What is the permissible volume of perfume for hand luggage?

A passenger can carry a bottle of perfume (gel, aerosol or other liquid) in carry-on luggage that does not exceed a maximum of 100 ml or 3.4 ounces. This restriction is better known as the 3-1-1 liquid rule established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States. Over time, it has been chosen to be followed by most airports in the world.

Is perfume allowed in checked baggage?

This question can be answered in the affirmative, but as with carry-on luggage, there are also important restrictions for transporting perfume in checked baggage on an airplane.

The passenger checks the luggage in at the check-in counter for transportation in the cargo hold. In this case, the restrictions are often less demanding than for hand luggage, but a number of factors must be observed by the passenger without fail. This concerns the limit on flammable liquids, which includes perfumes.

What is the allowable volume of perfume for checked baggage?

Usually, you can take a larger bottle of perfume in your luggage than in your hand luggage. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) rules, which are followed worldwide, allow a container of perfume and similar items in checked baggage up to 500 ml or 17 ounces.

To avoid delays at the checkpoint or possible confiscation, it's worth checking your airline's guidelines, which can be found on their official website, for up-to-date information on whether perfume is allowed on the plane and how much you can carry in your checked baggage.

How much perfume can you take on an airplane?

Depending on where a passenger intends to carry perfume, they can take different amounts of perfume on board.

Perfume in hand luggage

The general rules regarding the carriage of perfume in hand luggage correspond to the 3-1-1 formula already mentioned above. It allows you to carry containers with liquids, aerosols and gels, the capacity of each of which does not exceed the allowed volume of 100 ml (3.4 ounces). Each container must be placed in a clear, zip-lock plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter (1 quart).

Each passenger may only take 1 plastic resealable bag. Therefore, the total amount of perfume allowed in carry-on baggage is limited to 100 ml (3.4 oz).

Perfume in checked baggage

IATA regulates the transportation of dangerous goods (DGR), including whether perfume can be taken on an airplane. According to these regulations, perfume can be carried in checked baggage under certain conditions. First, as with carry-on luggage, there is a volume limit: each container cannot exceed 500 ml (17 ounces). Second, the total amount of perfume cannot exceed 2 liters or 2 kg. This includes all toiletries, including perfumes, colognes and similar products.

A maximum limit of 2 liters for products such as perfumes and similar accessories that are classified as dangerous goods is used internationally. Since the IATA safety guidelines are used by most airlines in the world, the limit for such products is usually similar across airlines. But if you have doubts and fear that perfume may be confiscated, consult with the airline if you should put perfume in your hand luggage or suitcase.

How should you pack perfume for a flight?

On the road with perfume can be unpleasant situations: they can spill, the mechanism for atomization can break or the bottle itself can be damaged. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to how to pack perfume for transportation in the airplane, so as not to damage them and not to violate the rules of aviation security.

As already mentioned, for hand luggage, a container with perfume of no more than 100 ml should be placed in a plastic transparent bag with a clasp with a capacity of 1 liter. In addition, it is a good idea to protect the container additionally, for example, by wrapping it with a towel, some clothes or bubble wrap. Naturally, before packing the perfume, make sure that the bottle is tightly closed.

If you do not know how to carry perfume in checked luggage, then apply similar precautions, with the only difference being that the allowable volume should not exceed 500 ml. With suitcases in your luggage, bumps, shakes and more can happen during the flight, so in addition to bubble wrap, a layer of clothing and a bag, reinsure yourself in one more way. Place the perfume in the center of your suitcase so that it is surrounded on all sides by other items, thus providing the necessary cushioning. This way you will have a better chance that the bottle will not break on the road.

Can you carry duty-free perfume on an airplane?

Perfume purchased in the duty-free zone can be taken on board. However, there are restrictions in this case as well.

Duty-free goods are those purchased from duty-free stores located at international airports. Perfumes that are available for sale in these stores can be taken on the plane, as they comply with the security measures established by airports and airlines.

In addition, when you buy perfume from a duty-free store, the consultant or salesperson will pack your goods in a bag that has a tamper evident bag - STEB (Secure Tamper Evident Bag). It will demonstrate whether the purchase has been opened after closing. The seller will then issue a receipt for the purchase. This must be kept as you will have to show it at checkpoints to confirm that you have purchased these items from duty-free stores within the last 48 hours.

The rule of carrying liquids not exceeding 100 ml or 3.4 ounces by volume in yourhand luggage does not apply to duty-free goods, including perfume. But if you have a connecting flight ahead in another country where different rules may apply, you may have to move them to your checked baggage.

Why can't you take larger bottles on an airplane?

The factor that limits the volume of perfume in both carry-on and checked baggage is the safety of the airplane and its passengers. Cabin pressure changes during the flight, and in this situation, large volumes of liquid in large bottles and vials can potentially leak or spill. It is also believed that large bottles can be used as weapons, which is why the rules about volume are so strict.

Why are liquids restricted on an airplane?

After several attempts to carry out terrorist attacks using liquid explosives, restrictions on whether or not perfume can be carried on an airplane have become stricter for security reasons. One of the most notable cases occurred in 2006, when a terrorist attempt to detonate liquid explosives carried from the UK to Canada and the US in carry-on luggage was thwarted.

In response to this incident, aviation security authorities around the world have introduced new rules to limit the amount of liquids each passenger can take on an airplane. There are some exceptions to these rules. These include baby food, medicines and certain essentials.