When you think of your favorite aromas or fragrances, what do you imagine?
A good perfume can change your mood or take you back down memory lane. an attractive fragrance can be powerful, so it’s no wonder the fragrance industry continues to grow and exceed $72 billion by 2023.
The perfumes also appeal to a wide audience with markets all over the world. And, with the growth of e-commerce, customers are buying exclusive luxury or everyday perfumes online at prices more affordable than ever, making a reliable shipping experience even more important.
The perfumes vary according to the concentration of oil and the duration of the fragrance. The different types of perfumes that are shipped regularly include:
- perfume (parfum)
- perfume water (eau de parfum)
- eau de cologne
- eau de cologne
- fresh water
But regardless of the type of perfume you sell, shipping perfume can be a risky business. If you choose to sell perfume online, it’s important to understand shipping rules and regulations, packaging protocols, and additional handling fees.
To help you get started, this article provides an overview of shipping perfume, including challenges and best practices.
tips for packing perfume to keep it safe during shipping
You can offer a delicate scent as a perfume option, but the scent itself is not the only delicate part.
Perfume bottles are often made of glass (sometimes plastic if it’s a body spray) and perfumes are liquid-based, making perfume containers prone to breakage and spillage.
Shipping damage can sometimes be unavoidable, but when it comes to perfume, you need to think twice about how you package and ship products.
Here are some packing tips to ensure your perfume shipments are delivered safely and undamaged.
includes packaging materials to keep the perfume safe in transit
Most perfumes come in glass containers that can easily break during the last-mile delivery phase.
Therefore, when shipping perfume, you should use multiple layers of protection (either cardboard included at the manufacturing level and/or padding around the bottle to hold the perfume in place). Adding extra dunnage can also help keep your product from shifting during transit.
For added protection, be sure to fill any gaps in the box with materials like newspaper or bubble wrap. for an eco-friendly option, you can also use kraft paper or geami wrappak paper, which are recyclable and cost-effective.
Consider wrapping individually when shipping multiple perfumes
When shipping perfume, please ensure that each perfume container is wrapped separately with appropriate dunnage if storing as bare bottles. And if you’re shipping multiple perfume bottles, make sure they’re spaced apart with proper spacing and cushioning.
choose the correct shipping container or box
many carriers will require liquids to be in leak-proof containers. Whether or not this is a perfume shipping guideline mandated by your shipping partner, this is a good practice to follow.
The box or shipping container should be only slightly larger than the item you are shipping, and the closer it is, the better. make sure you have enough space for the dunnage to prevent products from shifting.
Choosing the right box or container is crucial, but can be challenging. If you outsource perfume shipping to a 3pl like shipbob, we make it easier by using box algorithms that choose the correct box size based on item dimensions and your stated packaging preferences.
If packages involve fragile items, we follow special requirements to ensure the type of product remains secure. Click here for information on shipbob’s fragile shipping process.
“shipbob gave us an in-depth analysis based on our order history and helped us understand what sizes of custom boxes we should stock in shipbob’s warehouses to help reduce our costs and eliminate empty space.”
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waveform lighting equipment
have your manufacturer package it in safe and protective product packaging
The most cost-effective option for protecting products is often done at the manufacturing level. Instead of receiving bottles without a box (which makes inventory shipments prone to damage in transit from your manufacturer’s facility to the next distribution point), have each bottle pre-packaged in a box with the product packaging that holds it in place.
best practices when sending perfume by mail
Establishing proper packaging processes can reduce risk during transit. When it comes to shipping fragile items, you have control over how you package each shipment. but what about once the package is in the hands of the carrier?
In addition to getting the packaging right, here are some best practices for shipping perfume so you’re ready for last-mile delivery.
check local laws and regulations
If your perfume or cologne contains alcohol, it is a Class 2 Hazardous Materials product (in the aerosol category). therefore, there are special considerations to be aware of, which vary by country.
for example, in the united states, you can only ship perfume bottles domestically via usps ground transportation. And in the UK, only 600 milliliters of perfume can be shipped at one time (something to keep in mind if you ship your inventory in bulk to a fulfillment center or sell B2B).
When shipping internationally, be sure to research the restrictions of different carriers and shipping destinations to avoid costly order delays and disappointment.
note: the united states department of transportation (us dot) requires training and certification before shipping hazardous materials. There are also penalties for non-compliance and possible legal action if you are found to have willfully disregarded the hazardous materials shipping regulations.
If you want to outsource the shipping and fulfillment of your perfume, Shipbob helps online retailers navigate and fulfill the US point of sale. uu. when shipping hazardous material products, including perfumes. Click here for information on how we manage inventory and ship hazardous materials items for our merchants.
get a tracking number to provide to your recipient
Perfumes are likely to be expensive shipments, in terms of the value of the products and shipping costs. But no matter what you’re selling, it’s always recommended to track perfume shipments to make sure they get delivered.
providing order tracking information for your customer gives them regular updates on delivery status, estimated delivery dates, tracking numbers, etc. extreme temperatures).
In the event of theft, damage, or other issues, it’s always a good idea to purchase shipping insurance to protect your shipments, especially if the value exceeds $100.
“When shipping glass bottles, especially in winter, the longer the transit time, the more likely they are to break. we see that our customers get their packages safer, with fewer frozen bottles that explode.”
lindsay louise, filmmaking & sales manager at synchro
weight factor in product cost
Don’t forget about carriers’ dimensional weight pricing, which charges you for whichever is greater: product weight or size. and perfumes can be heavier for their size.
To calculate dimensional weight (dim), multiply the length, width, and height of a package, using the longest point on each side. then divide the cubic package size in inches by the dim divisor to calculate the dimensional weight in pounds.
check between different operators to find the best prices
Negotiating shipping rates with carriers is a challenge for small businesses. this is why many perfume brands turn to a 3 pl shipbob that has established partnerships with carriers and can always ship products in the most optimal way, following regulations.
shipbob negotiates volume discount shipping rates, allowing you to offer better shipping incentives for your customers.
“As we began to reach that first growth inflection point, it became clear that we needed to look for a 3PL that could help us expand geographically into the US. uu. and also reduce shipping costs and expenses.”
michael peters, vice president of ecommerce operations at tb12
sell perfume online? shipbob can help with that
Are you considering expanding your perfumery business online? shipbob offers luxury goods fulfillment services, from warehousing to automated shipping.
The delivery of perfumes, fragrances and aromas is a more complex process compared to the sale of other types of products. we make it easy by taking care of everything from storage to safely packing items and preparing them for shipping.
For perfumes, a shipping strategy that ensures products are delivered as quickly as possible is important, as you want to minimize the time perfume shipments are in transit (as well as reduce shipping costs) . some fragrances are also temperamental at extreme temperatures.
Affordable two-day shipping can be offered by distributing inventory. Through shipbob’s growing logistics network, you can split inventory across multiple fulfillment centers to offer faster ground shipping instead of using a single location.
Our distribution center network is powered by our own warehouse management system that provides real-time inventory management tools as well as advanced data reporting and analytics.
With full visibility and transparency, you can track your logistics operations from one dashboard, forecast demand, manage inventory, view orders by status, and much more.
shipbob testimonials
There is a lot of growth and competition in the fragrance industry. shipbob has helped global fragrance brands stand out by turning their logistics strategy into a competitive advantage.
perfume and fragrance brand dossier that sells vegan and cruelty-free fragrances and knows that logistics is something you never think about until it stops working, and they’ve never gotten to that point with shipbob.
with shipbob, everything works:
“we have a shopify store but we don’t use shopify to track inventory. In terms of inventory tracking, we use shipbob for everything: so we can keep track of every bottle of perfume, what we have left, and what we’ve shipped, while getting a lot more information about each order.”
ines guien, vice president of dossier operations
fragranced hand sanitizer brand touchland has been working with shipbob since 2018 and there are several reasons why shipbob has been the perfect partner for them, including their speed to scale and quick pick, pack and ship process has been flawless as their business grew 1200% in a couple of weeks as well as their locations around the world.
“touchland sells flammable products that need to be shipped by ground, so shipbob has been a great ally, as they have fulfillment centers all over the united states, facilitating a 2-3 day delivery time for any customer in the United States.”
andrea lisbona, founder & CEO of touchland
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frequently asked questions about shipping perfumes
These are the main questions answered about shipping perfumes.