Perfume Shipping: Usps Restrictions And Alternatives

Shipping perfume and other fragrances via USPS is a complicated matter. While it is not illegal to ship perfume domestically within the US, it is considered a hazardous material due to its alcohol content, and therefore cannot be shipped by air. This means that perfumes cannot be shipped to Canada, Hawaii or internationally.

Shipping perfume by air is prohibited due to its alcohol content

However, it is possible to ship perfume domestically via surface transportation. According to one source, you can ship up to 16 oz of perfume by ground within the US. This is in line with USPS policies.

Online retailers are able to ship fragrances as they have a license to ship "dangerous goods". If you are shipping perfume, you may need to bring a print-out of USPS policies to your local post office to prove that it is not completely illegal to ship perfume within the US.

Perfume can be shipped domestically via surface transportation

Perfumes, colognes and fragrances cannot be shipped to Canada, Hawaii or internationally, due to a lack of ground transportation to these destinations.

According to the USPS website, perfumes are considered hazardous materials. However, it is not clear if they are prohibited by mail. Companies do mail perfumes using USPS, and some online retailers have a licence to ship "dangerous goods".

If you are shipping perfume, you can use Parcel Select as this is the most common method, since other mail classes such as Priority Mail and Express Mail involve transportation of packages by air.

Perfume cannot be shipped internationally via USPS

USPS does not allow the shipping of hazardous materials, and so perfumes cannot be sent to Canada, Hawaii or internationally. However, it is possible to ship perfume domestically via ground transportation, and some online retailers have a licence to ship these "dangerous goods".

If you are shipping perfume, Parcel Select is the most common method, as other mail classes such as Priority Mail and Express Mail involve transportation of packages by air. If you are shipping perfume via USPS, you can ship up to 16 oz of perfume by ground.

Online retailers can ship perfume because they have a license to ship dangerous goods

Perfumes, colognes and fragrances cannot be shipped to Canada, Hawaii or internationally, due to a lack of ground transportation to these destinations. However, it is possible to ship up to 16 oz of perfume domestically within the US, as long as it is done via surface transportation.

Some people have reported that their local post office employees have told them that shipping perfume is illegal within the US. However, this is not true, as online retailers are able to ship perfume with the correct license. If you encounter this issue, it is recommended to bring a printout of USPS policies on the matter.

Perfume can be shipped via Parcel Select

Perfume can be shipped domestically via surface transportation, and you can ship up to 16 oz of perfume by ground. However, it is not permitted to ship perfume internationally via USPS. This means that perfumes, colognes and fragrances cannot be shipped to Canada, Hawaii or anywhere else outside of the US.

If you are shipping perfume, you will be asked if you are sending anything perishable, fragile, or hazardous. You must not lie about this, as it is illegal to say no if you know you are shipping hazardous items. Retailers that ship perfume will have a license to ship "dangerous goods".

Frequently asked questions