perfume is a lucrative industry. in fact, it’s estimated to be worth more than $72 billion over the next four years. (yes, that’s with a “b”). If you need to know how to ship perfume, whether it’s from your e-commerce marketplace to a customer, or just a personal shipment to a friend… it pays to understand the do’s and don’ts beforehand. otherwise, you risk losing a potentially expensive shipment entirely. Read on to learn the ins and outs of shipping perfume or colognes.
- Is perfume a dangerous good?
- considerations when shipping perfume by mail
- labeling requirements
- packaging tips
- requirements by carrier
perfume & colony: “dangerous goods”
Perfume, cologne and fragrances often have different levels of ethyl alcohol content, which itself is extremely flammable. this flammable component considers perfume to be what is known as “hazard class 3” in the shipping world.
But before you worry too much, you should also know that there is an exemption available for exactly this. Special Permit 9275 (SP9275) is popular with national cosmetic shippers because it allows some products with less than 70 percent ethyl alcohol to be exempt from other hazard class rules set by the Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and pipelines (phmsa), a branch of the department of transportation (dot).
considerations about sending perfumes
Even with sp9275, there are still rules and regulations for sending perfume through the mail. Understanding how to mail perfume based on the different considerations below will ensure timely deliveries so you can keep customers happy and avoid problems.
national shipments vs. international
Perhaps the biggest difference to keep in mind is that shipping perfumes domestically is very different from shipping them internationally. there is a possibility of encountering delays in customs clearance. Due to the flammable ethyl alcohol content, shipping perfume requires a TSA clearance and validation that the shipping company knows how to pack dangerous goods. This approval is something a carrier, like DHL or FedEx, can set up for your shipping account to make international shipping viable.
perfume volume
Shipping perfume may be restricted by volume. Since perfume is a liquid, there are restrictions on how much can be shipped at one time, as well as how large each bottle or container can be in a shipment. individual carriers may have different volume limits.
perfume regulations by country
It is clear that carriers may have different rules, but shipping perfume is not the only thing that may have different regulations. individual countries also have discrepancies when it comes to perfumes. For example, in the United States, U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees regulations and compliance in the cosmetic industry. In the EU, the European Union Commission Regulation (EC_ No. 1223/2009) governs finished cosmetics.
perfume labeling requirements
Labeling requirements for shipping perfumes may differ by carrier and location. Since it is considered a dangerous commodity, it is essential to know what to use and how to label packages containing perfume. Since carriers have specific instructions and guidelines that may differ from each other, be sure to check the exact requirements for the carrier you will be using.
for example, fedex has dangerous goods package labels that are designed specifically for different types of dangerous goods, such as dry ice or undeveloped film.
tips for packaging perfumes
Packaging your perfume correctly will reduce the chance of it spilling or breaking. there are several tips that will help you:
- use two boxes, one slightly smaller than the other
- wrap them with thin bubble wrap. and just in case, use an absorbent material that can soak up any potential rips and spills
- fill boxes with padding or padding such as shredded paper or peanuts
- tape with a good and strong adhesive tape
usps, ups, fedex & dhl requirements
- usps: Any fragrance or perfume that contains alcohol can be shipped domestically, but not internationally. perfumes cannot be shipped by air freight; must be shipped by ground.
- ups: ups may require a contract to ship dangerous goods such as perfume. Any product considered “dangerous goods” must be prepared in strict accordance with ADR standards. A UPS account executive is available to help you through the process to ensure you are aware of and comply with compliance regulations.
- Fedex: FedEx has specialists available to help you prepare dangerous goods packages according to your Requirements You must properly identify, classify, pack, mark, label, and document all shipments of dangerous goods, such as perfumes.
- dhl: dhl has dangerous goods experts who can guide you through your requirements and processes for shipping dangerous goods.
shipcalm can handle perfume & colony shipments!
shipcalm is the leading expert in the 3pl industry when it comes to understanding how to prepare and ship perfumes, colognes or other dangerous products. let us guide you so that your shipments arrive on time and intact. Call today for custom pricing.
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