Can You Bring Perfume On A Plane? (Read Before Travelling!)

Written By Nazia Haque

I know long-hour flights can be exhausting, leaving us with a tired face. And who wants to get off the plane looking all dull and gloomy?

So, wouldn’t it be nice to apply a few sprays of your perfume to get a refreshing feel?

But it is not as simple as it sounds; there are specific protocols that you must follow before getting on a plane.

Keep reading till the end as I have covered all the necessary information to help you out.

Can You Bring Perfume On A Plane? (Read Before Travelling)

Can You Bring Perfume On A Plane?

According to the TSA (Transport Security Administration), perfume and cologne are allowed on airplanes. But, there is a quantity and luggage type restriction on fragrances. Since perfumes have alcohol in them, it makes them flammable, so such precautions are for our safety.

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How Many Perfumes Can I Take On A Plane?

Since perfume also falls under TSA’s toiletries regulations, the rules are applicable to your fragrances as well.

TSA is very strict on the amount of fragrance you are allowed to take with you. So, it will be difficult for you if you plan on taking a large amount or too many bottles of perfumes.

So here’s the deal, you can bring your perfume both in your hand luggage and checked luggage.

For your hand luggage, you can carry from 7 to 12 3.4oz (100ml) bottles of perfumes in your single quart-size bag. Here is the regulation of how you can bring your fragrance:

  • The container must not hold more than 3.4 oz (100ml)
  • The container must be in a single, transparent, and resealable plastic bag containing no more than a liter.
  • Contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed.
  • The bag must not be knotted or tied at the top.
  • You are limited to one plastic bag per person.
  • You must show the bag at the airport security checkpoint.

However, there is no limit set for the number of fragrances you can carry on checked luggage. So, that should mean that you can take as many perfumes as you like.

But that is not the case, and if you take too many perfumes with you on a plane, you may have to pay the additional duty tax.

Regardless of whether your perfume is duty-free or not, that tax is inevitable if you go above and beyond with your perfume spree.

Decant, or sample-size perfumes are enough to get you covered, even for long flights.

However, it is always better to refrain from the overuse of perfumes since it can irritate other passengers. Being compassionate and considerate goes a long way!

What Size Of Perfume Can You Bring On A Plane?

Travelling comes with baggage, which also refers to restrictions and regulations.

The good news is that you can carry perfume with you on a plane.

However, there is a strict limit on the size of perfume you can bring on a plane, and you must abide by it.

So, here’s the catch you can carry a perfume bottle both in carry-on bags and checked bags. But the regulations vary.

For carry-on bags, the TSA rule applies, so you can only bring a perfume bottle that is smaller than 100ml (3.4 oz).

Also, if your perfume bottle is bigger but contains perfume around the 100 ml mark still, you will not be allowed to carry it.

Since you need to carry your perfume bottles in a quart-sized toiletry bag, the space is minimal. Hence, you can only fit around 6 to 7 bottles.

Plus, you can always use atomizers to carry your perfumes because they take very little space than large bottles.

Nevertheless, if you wish to bring perfume that’s more than 100 ml, you can always opt for checked bags but with proper packaging.

To sum it up, if you want to bring perfume on a plane, first check the amount and then choose carry-on or checked luggage, whichever is suitable.

Can I Take 3.4 Oz Perfume On Plane?

Yes, according to the TSA rule, you can take 3.4oz perfume on a plane. The amount is limited to carry-on luggage only. Since fragrances are flammable and considered hazardous, their quantity is limited to secure passengers’ safety. For a journey, 3.4oz is enough to smell great.

As per the TSA 3-1-1 rule, all carry-on liquids like fragrances, creams, and gels must all be in a 3.4oz container.

Furthermore, all these items need to be in a quart-sized clear plastic zip-close bag.

Each passenger is limited to one such bag, so you need to fit all your liquid items in that bag.

To carry a small amount of liquids, it is always better to bring them in travel-size containers because that saves a lot of space.

However, if you want to bring more than 3.4oz of fragrance, you need to pack it in the checked luggage.

The TSA is very strict about the amount you pack on your carry-on, so you have to make sure it is no more than 3.4 oz.

How Many Oz Of Perfume Can I Take On A Plane?

You can carry perfume both in your carry-on luggage and checked luggage.

However, the amount varies for both because they are carried on different areas of a plane.

For checked luggage, the amount is not limited but must be appropriately packaged to avoid any spill.

However, the TSA 3-1-1 travel rule applies to carry-on luggage. The 3-1-1 is derived from:

  • 3 – Liquid, gels, and lotions must all be in 3.4oz (100ml) or less.
  • 1 – All of your items should fit in a 1-quarter clear, plastic zip-top bag.
  • 1 – Each passenger is allowed one bag.

You can carry as much 3.4oz of bottles of perfumes as you can fit in your quarter-clear plastic bag.

Also, the quarter-sized bag you carry on your carry-on needs to be passed through the screening machine.

However, there is an exception that lets you carry a greater quantity. The exceptions are:

  1. Baby Formula
  2. Baby Food
  3. Breast Milk
  4. Medications

However, there is a way to get off the hook of the TSA rule. If you purchase duty-free perfume, then you can carry it with you regardless of the quantity.

But the duty-free must be packaged by the retailer in a secure, tamper-evident bag.

Also, you need to show a receipt to confirm that you purchased the item within the last 48 hours.

How Much Perfume Can I Take In Checked Luggage?

For checked-in luggage, the amount of perfume to carry is not explicitly mentioned.

So, most people carry large perfume bottles in checked luggage.

So, the perfumes must be adequately packed so they don’t spill or break or damage neighboring items. Here are some packaging tips:

  • First, ensure that your perfume bottle is appropriately sealed.
  • Wrap the bottle with clothes or bubble wrap and place it near soft objects in your luggage.
  • Avoid placing the wrapped perfume bottles near the wall.

Regardless of any specific limitation, you cannot bring as many perfume bottles as you want.

Since most perfumes have alcohol, they are explosive, which makes them hazardous.

So, you can always check with the helpline to get a clear idea of the amount you can take on checked luggage.

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Can I Take Glass Perfume Bottle On A Plane?

Yes, you can take a glass perfume bottle on a plane, but there are occasions where it might be refused at the checkpoint. In carry-on luggage, the bottle limit must be 3.4oz or less. For large ones, carry them in checked baggage. Also, you can bring large empty bottles in a carry-on.

You can bring a glass perfume bottle both in carry-on luggage and checked luggage.

However, the TSA rule for liquids is still applicable. Here are some of the rules for carry-on:

  1. The glass bottle cannot be sharp or heavy.
  2. Glass bottles cannot be extremely heavy to ensure it doesn’t hit anyone on the head.
  3. Make sure the bottle can hold 3.4oz or less.

Just like carry-on, there are some dos and don’ts for checked luggage. Here are those:

  • Wrap it really well with clothes or bubble wrap.
  • Keep it in the middle.
  • Keep it between soft items.

Can I Have Perfume In My Purse On A Plane?

Yes, you can have perfume in your purse on a plane as long as it meets TSA regulations. All personal care products are allowed in a purse that includes fragrances. But, as per the TSA rule, the container must hold 3.4oz or less. Also, you need to carry them in a quart-sized bag.

Purses are convenient to stash all our personal and necessary items since we carry them with us.

Luckily there is no objection to carrying perfumes in a purse on a plane.

However, the TSA rule for liquids still applies, just like carry-on luggage. And honestly, it makes sense since you carry your purse with you.

So, the container for your perfume must be no greater than 3.4oz. Here are some pointers to help you out:

  • Speed up your security screening by placing all liquids in clear resealable plastic.
  • Place those items in a conveyor belt so that you are not pulled aside for additional screening.

You can carry other liquid items like gels and creams in your purse as well.

Will My Perfume Explode On The Plane?

Perfumes do have a risk of exploding on the plane because fragrances have alcohol which makes them flammable.

It is the reason why the TSA has such restrictions on the amount of perfume you can carry.

The threat of your perfume leaking or spilling during the trip is a huge concern because it causes accidents.

For travelers like us, the biggest concern in packing liquids in checked luggage is preparing the containers.

We need to ensure that the perfumes don’t explode during the flight and ruin everything else in the suitcase.

Because the luggage is packed, the pressure can cause your perfume to explode.

So, to ensure that such an incident doesn’t happen, you need to seal your perfume bottles adequately.

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Fly With Your Fragrance

We travel for both business and pleasure. But regardless, we end up smelling exhausted and just not pleasant.

But perfumes can be our saving grace. Just a few sprays of your favorite fragrance can take all your tiredness away.

However, as easy as it is to smell amazing with your perfume, it isn’t that easy to bring it with you on a plane.

The TSA, which makes flight regulations, has strict policies on the amount of perfume you can carry.

According to the TSA 3-1-1 rule, you can only carry your perfume in a container that holds no more than 3.4oz or 100ml.

Plus, the containers must be in a quarter-sized plastic bag and each passenger is allowed only one.

However, this rule is only applicable to carry-on luggage but to all liquids.

Nonetheless, for checked luggage, the limit for perfume is more flexible but needs to be packed adequately.

These rules and regulations are for our safety since most perfumes carry alcohol which is flammable.

Furthermore, you don’t need a huge bottle of perfume for traveling. Travel-size perfumes are sufficient to keep you happy during the journey.

However, if you buy perfume from the airports, then the amount doesn’t matter as long as the retailer packs it as per the rules.

I hope my article comes in handy to get you covered with all the necessary details.

But I do encourage you to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

About The Author
Nazia is passionate about perfumes. Her love for perfumes started with her father whom she lost in 2017. She’d often reminisce his memories with the help of his fragrances’. Writing about fragrances makes her happy as she can share its wonders with the world. She also loves reading sci-fi novels and traveling.

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