I love to travel. I also love perfumes. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite parts of traveling is getting the chance to sample and buy new perfumes from the various airport terminals and destinations along my journey. While traveling on dozens of international flights between 4 continents over the past few years, I cannot recall a single instance where I have not had at least one bottle of perfume in my bags. In short, I know a thing or two about air travel with perfumes.
While perfume bottles (both opened and unopened) are indeed allowed on airplanes, there are some things you should keep in mind if you want to travel with your favorite fragrances. From personal experience, here are the 5 best practices for traveling with perfumes on airplanes:
- Take decants or sample sizes instead of the entire bottle.
- Always put perfume in your carry-on bag and never in your checked in luggage.
- Cushion and seal with zip-lock bags and clothes.
- Do not exceed two different fragrances.
- Keep the original box to take with you.
Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
Take decants or sample sizes instead of the entire bottle.
We all have our favorite perfumes, scents that accentuate who you are. That’s why when you make your packing list before you travel, you’re sure to list the perfume(s) you plan to take with you. However, if at all possible, it is better to avoid bringing the original bottle of your favorite perfume in the first place. What should you do instead? You should either take a decant from the original bottle or arrange to acquire samples of the same perfume.
If you take the decant route, I recommend heading online to buy some 5 ml refillable travel atomizers (like the one pictured above). You can find them on marketplaces such as Amazon or Ebay and they’ll only run you about $10 or so for a set of 5. These will allow you to transfer fragrance from the original bottle to the travel atomizers by simply pumping the the nozzle. It’s mess free.
If you don’t feel like doing all of this, then acquiring samples of the same perfume that you want to bring is the way to go. The easiest way to do this is to head over to Ebay and purchase samples or other seller’s decants. These will typically cost between $7-15 dollars depending on the sample size. Be sure to verify that these are “original” samples or decants from “original” bottles, testers, or samplers instead of imitations. The original bottle should be shown in the listing image. Choose a size (3 ml or 5 ml) that suits your budget and needs.
Trust me, taking decants or sample sized bottles instead of the original bottles will save you a lot of headache. In addition to saving precious weight and luggage space, you’ll also avoid any sort of mishaps with breaking the bottle of your favorite perfume and having it spill. Plus, you’ll absolutely have zero issues going through airport security. Just simply place it in a clear zip-lock bag when you pack.
Put perfume in your carry-on bag and never in your checked in luggage.
If you have no choice but to bring the full-sized original bottle with you, then you are definitely going to want to pack it in your carry-on bag instead of your checked in luggage (note: be sure that volume of the bottle is no larger than 100 ml). The same applies to any perfume you buy on your trip or in the terminal; it needs to go into your carry-on and not into your checked luggage.
This one is a no-brainer if you are aware of the rigors (read: violence) that the average checked bag goes through on its journey from the check-in desk to the plane to the luggage carousal back to your hands at your destination.Bags are literally tossed into piles and stacked. Your glass perfume bottle(s) won’t be too happy in a bag handled in that manner.
I’ve paid this hefty price before so take my word for it. In addition to keeping your perfume bottle safe, you will have access to it whenever you need it which is perfect in instances when you choose to freshen up after a long flight.
Cushion and seal with zip-lock bags and clothes.
Now here’s where we come to the technique of properly packing your perfume bottle(s). As with anything fragile, like glass, you are going to want to wrap and secure it. Likewise, you are going to want to seal it to prevent leakage.
Gather the following:
- 2 one-quart clear zip lock (freezer) bags
- A T-shirt from your suitcase
- Your fragrance bottle
Step 1: Take one of the freezer bags and tightly wrap it around the perfume bottle as the first layer of cushion. We wrap it in a bag here instead of a cloth in order to ensure clear identification of the bottle from security.
Step 2: Place the wrapped bottle in there other freezer bag along with any other toiletries you are carrying and seal the bag.
Step 3: Fold and wrap a T-shirt around the bag as an added layer of cushion. Be sure not to use your favorite T-shirt for this just in case.
Step 4: Place the wrapped bag on the top layer in the center of your bag for easy extraction at the security checkpoint.
Step 5: One you get past security, re-wrap the back with the T-shirt and put in under a layer of clothes in the center of your bag.
Do not exceed two different fragrances.
When you are packing for a trip, in general, it is best to pack only the essentials. The same idea applies here for packing perfumes. Try to limit yourself to no more than two different bottles of fragrances. Besides the benefits of carrying a lighter bag, you will significantly reduce the risk of breaking and spilling your beloved bottle of perfume.
Now, if you are like me with a huge collection of perfumes, narrowing your choice down to one or two bottles of perfume can be a difficult decision. What I like to do is to think of my trip as an opportunity to further explore a particular fragrance. Often times we travel to a location with different weather and humidity than the one we live in, so it’s nice to experience the different aspects of the fragrance in different temperatures and environments.
Keep the original box to take with you.
This last tip is for those of us who buy new bottles of fragrance during our trip. If you decide to buy a fragrance while you are traveling, then the best thing to do is to keep the original box to take with you. Simply wrap the box with a freezer bag or bubble wrap before placing inside a second freezer bag.
Perfume boxes are designed to keep the fragrance secure and stable during transport, which is a much needed added layer of protection. Moreover, even after you return, keeping the box to store your bottle in is a good practice which prevents breakdown of the fragrance from light, heat, and moisture.
Best Practice for Applying Fragrance While Traveling on an Airplane
Don’t be that guy (or gal) who gives other passengers a headache by applying too much fragrance! What you should do is apply a very conservative amount (say 2 spritzes, maximum) no later than half an hour prior to boarding. This allows the attention grabbing top notes to wear off.
If you are on a long haul flight, then choose a fragrance which has a more mass appeal and is not overpowering. If you choose to refresh, then do so only after about 5-6 hours from the last application and only in conservative amounts (again, 2 spritzes maximum).