Yes, perfume is allowed in checked luggage; seal bottles, pad well, and stay within FAA toiletry limits (2 L total, 500 ml per container).
Carry-On Big Bottles
Carry-On Travel Size
Checked Baggage
Carry-On
- 100 ml containers only
- All liquids in one quart bag
- Duty-free may pass in STEB
Security
Checked
- Pad glass in soft layers
- Cap sprayers; tape actuators
- Aerosols need caps
Packing
Duty-Free & International
- Keep STEB sealed
- Show receipt ≤48 hours
- Rules vary by airport
Connections
Bringing Perfume In Checked Luggage: Rules & Limits
Yes, you can check perfume and cologne. Aviation safety rules treat fragrance as a personal toiletry, even when it contains alcohol. Two caps apply in the hold: across all your toiletry liquids and aerosols, you get up to two liters per passenger, and each single container must be five hundred milliliters or less. Those caps come from FAA PackSafe guidance and are echoed on TSA’s item page for perfume. The small carry-on allowance doesn’t apply to checked bags, so larger bottles belong in the suitcase, not the security tray.
The practical risk with perfume in the hold is breakage or seepage. Glass can crack, pumps can weep, and pressure shifts can nudge a sprayer. Pack like you expect a bump or two: seal the cap tight, add a small wrap of tape over the actuator, double-bag, and cushion in the middle of the case. A little prep prevents a scented wardrobe surprise.
| Scenario | Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard perfume bottle in checked bag | Yes | Within 500 ml per item and 2 L total. |
| Aerosol body spray in checked bag | Yes | Cap the nozzle; counts toward the same 2 L total. |
| Travel-size bottle in carry-on | Yes | Must fit the 3-1-1 quart bag at screening. |
| 250 ml bottle in carry-on | No | Too large for the checkpoint limit. |
| Duty-free perfume on a connection | Conditional | STEB sealed bag with receipt; still screened. |
| Leaking or unsealed bottle | No | Pack only if sealed and protected. |
Carry-On Perfume Rules At Security
Carry-on bottles must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule at the checkpoint: containers up to one hundred milliliters, all of them inside one clear quart-size bag. One hundred milliliters is the full size for many travel sprays, so grabbing a 30–50 ml bottle makes packing easier. Larger bottles ride in the hold, even if they’re half full.
There’s an exception when you arrive from abroad and connect in the United States. Duty-free liquids can pass above one hundred milliliters if they’re sealed in a tamper-evident STEB bag, show no signs of tampering, include the original receipt, and the purchase was within forty-eight hours. Screeners still need to clear the item, and any alarm can trigger extra checks. You’ll find the details on the TSA liquids page.
Checked Bag Perfume: Quantities, Aerosols, And Caps
Checked baggage uses the toiletry allowance set for safety, not the small carry-on limit. The FAA PackSafe entry lists two numbers that matter: a total of two liters per traveler across all toiletry liquids and aerosols in checked bags, and a cap of five hundred milliliters for each bottle or can. Perfume, cologne, nail polish, hairspray, rubbing alcohol, and similar items all count toward the same total. You can read the exact wording on the FAA PackSafe toiletry page.
Atomizers and aerosols need extra care. Valves can depress in transit. Fit the travel cap, twist any built-in lock, or use a small strip of tape over the actuator. Aerosol body sprays are permitted in the hold within the same two-liter total, and the cap must cover the nozzle.
Pack Perfume So It Survives The Trip
Air travel shakes bags and shifts pressure. A simple packing routine protects both the bottle and your clothes. You don’t need fancy gear—just smart layers and a few small bits.
Step-By-Step Packing
- Seal the sprayer: click the cap tight, lock it if present, and add a small wrap of tape.
- Bag it twice: slip the bottle into a snack-size zip bag, then place that inside a quart bag.
- Cushion smart: wrap with soft clothing or bubble wrap and place mid-suitcase.
- Use structure: a hard-side case or a rigid shoe box reduces crush risk for glass.
- Keep away from edges: avoid outer pockets and corners that take impacts.
- Split the load: traveling with more than one bottle? Pack them in separate bags.
- Skip bare-metal decants: pick glass or lined atomizers.
- Label decants: write the scent name so screeners know what the liquid is.
- Avoid heat: don’t leave perfume in a hot car before check-in.
- Final check: look for any seepage before zipping the suitcase.
Popular Bottle Sizes And Where They Fit
Use this size guide to decide what rides in the cabin and what goes in the hold. The small bottles slide into your quart bag; the larger sizes belong in the suitcase with padding.
| Common Size | Carry-On? | Checked? |
|---|---|---|
| 30 ml / 1.0 oz | Yes, inside 3-1-1 bag | Yes |
| 50 ml / 1.7 oz | Yes, inside 3-1-1 bag | Yes |
| 100 ml / 3.4 oz | Yes, one bottle fits | Yes |
| 150 ml / 5 oz | No | Yes, within limits |
| 200 ml / 6.7 oz | No | Yes, within limits |
| 500 ml / 17 oz | No | Yes, single-container cap |
Duty-Free Perfume And Connections
Buying a gift set at a hub or on board is common. If you connect in the United States after an international leg, your duty-free perfume can stay in your carry-on above one hundred milliliters when it’s sealed in a tamper-evident STEB bag, the receipt is inside, and the item passes screening. Any alarm can lead to extra checks, so plan a little buffer time at the checkpoint. If you’ll recheck bags after customs, you can place the duty-free bottle into your suitcase there to keep the connection simple.
International Notes And Airline Rules
Many countries mirror the same one hundred milliliter checkpoint limit for carry-ons. Some airports are rolling out CT scanners that change removal steps, but bottle size caps still apply on most routes. The United Kingdom’s passenger guidance states that larger liquid containers may go in the hold as long as they meet dangerous goods limits, which aligns with the toiletry approach used by the FAA. Airline pages may add reminders about capping aerosols or packing glass in the center of the bag. If your trip spans multiple carriers, read each page so nothing surprises you mid-journey.
Smart Perfume Packing Checklist
Before You Pack
- Add up toiletry liquids and aerosols toward a two liter total in checked bags.
- Keep each single container at or below five hundred milliliters.
- Cap sprayers, lock or tape actuators, and use a snug outer cap.
At The Airport
- Carry travel bottles in a single quart bag for screening.
- Keep duty-free items sealed in the STEB with the receipt during connections.
- Pack power banks and spare lithium cells in carry-on, not the hold.
On Arrival
- Open the suitcase slowly and check for leaks before unloading.
- Store perfume away from heat and direct sun to preserve the scent.
- Recycle cracked glass safely and wipe down any spill with soapy water.
Bringing Perfume In Checked Luggage: Rules Recap
Perfume is allowed in checked luggage on most routes. The two numbers to remember are two liters total across all toiletry liquids and aerosols in the hold, and five hundred milliliters per container. For carry-ons, stick to one hundred milliliters per bottle inside the quart bag. Seal, double-bag, and cushion the bottle in the middle of the suitcase, and cap any aerosols. For duty-free on a connection, keep the item sealed in the tamper-evident bag with the receipt so it can pass screening. With those simple steps, your signature scent arrives ready to wear.