USPS is many consumers’ first choice when it comes to shipping items, whether they’re more routine shipments or less common packages, including delicate items like perfume.
While perfume certainly isn’t a common freight, can you still ship it with USPS? But how much does it cost, and how would you go about shipping it? If you’d like to find out, keep reading to learn more!
Does USPS Accept Perfume For Shipping?
USPS does allow for perfume to be shipped, but perfume is listed as a hazardous material. Therefore, perfume can only be shipped by ground shipping services unless it meets one of the two listed exceptions. Shipping perfume with USPS will typically cost around $13 using USPS Retail Ground shipping.
Since perfume is listed as a hazardous material, you may want to know more about how much it costs to ship perfume, which USPS services should be used, and more, so keep reading this article for more useful tips!
Which USPS Services Should You Use To Ship Perfume?
Since perfume is listed as a hazardous substance under USPS regulations, perfume can only be shipped using a ground transportation service.
This means that, typically, shipping perfume with USPS requires you to use USPS Retail Ground.
There are exceptions, however, that allow some perfumes to be shipped via plane with faster mail services such as Priority and First Class.
One of the exceptions listed by USPS that allows for perfume to be shipped via plane is the excepted quantity provision, which can be found here.
Under the excepted quantity provision, perfumes that contain 30 ml or less of liquid perfume in the primary packaging are allowed to be shipped via plane, with no more than 500 ml total allowed in the entire mailpiece.
If your perfume qualifies to be shipped using a faster service such as USPS Priority or USPS First Class, there are specific packaging instructions you must follow to ensure your package is handled correctly and safely.
To learn more about the packaging requirements for an item being shipped under the excepted quantity provision, be sure to look at this page of the USPS website and ensure you’ve met each requirement before bringing your package to USPS.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship Perfume With USPS?
USPS is a federally funded government agency, which means that the costs of shipping with them depend almost entirely on the size and weight of the package, as well as the distance it will be traveling.
Therefore, since most perfumes must be shipped without using planes, the shipping service available is USPS Retail Ground, which uses vehicle transportation rather than airmail.
Most perfumes have an average weight of .5-.9 lbs, and since they’re typically shipped in glass bottles, they need extra packaging to prevent any damage from being caused during transport.
For example, shipping a 2 lb package with USPS Retail Ground costs about $13 and delivers within 5-7 business days (although delivery times aren’t guaranteed).
However, USPS Retail Ground does not automatically include other popular features such as a tracking number or package insurance, although both features can be added for an additional cost.
How Do You Ship Perfume With USPS?
The first step to shipping your perfume is to ensure that your shipment is packaged safely and securely with all of the proper labels.
First, wrap the perfume bottle several times in a cushioning layer (bubble wrap, tissue paper, etc.) and secure it with tape, or use an individually branded box for your perfume and secure it tightly.
Next, place the wrapped bottle or individual box in a small, sturdy box (use corrugated boxes for extra protection) that has about 4 inches of space around the perfume bottle.
Also, if you’re packing more than one bottle of perfume in a package, be sure to leave plenty of room between both bottles so that they don’t crack against each other in transit.
Once your package is loaded with your perfume(s), fill in any extra gaps between the perfume and the side of the box with packing peanuts, air-filled shipping pillows, or another type of packing material to act as a buffer and to prevent too much movement.
Once your box is taped shut, be sure to do a gentle shake test to make sure nothing is moving around wildly, as the less your products move in the box, the less likely it is that they’ll be damaged in transit.
Now that you have everything packaged carefully and correctly be sure to affix the appropriate shipping label on your box (and any extra labels if you’re shipping under the excepted quantity provision).
Next, drop your package off at your local post office or a nearby drop-box, and your local postal workers will take it from there!
Can You Ship Perfume Internationally With USPS?
Because perfume is listed as being a hazardous substance, you cannot ship perfume internationally.
This is because perfume has high concentrations of ethyl alcohol, which makes it a flammable liquid and can make it unsafe for certain types of travel.
Therefore, if you wish to send perfume to a friend or family member who lives abroad, you’re further ahead to send them a bottle directly from an online store that sells perfume.
To know more about USPS, you might also be interested in reading up on whether or not USPS accepts clothes for shipping, if USPS accepts laptops for shipping, and how fast is USPS flat-rate shipping.
