Parcel planning · Shipping
Check transport restrictions before you pack
Perfume, liquids, and anything with a battery can turn a simple parcel into a documentation exercise. The rules belong to the carrier and the destination, and they change — so the only durable record is where you checked.
On this page
Three categories to check first
Fragrance and alcohol-based liquids. Volume limits, packaging requirements, and whether a route accepts them at all are set by the carrier, and air transport adds another layer of rules.
Other liquids and creams. Even non-flammable products can require sealed secondary packaging. A leak in transit can affect the entire parcel, not only the item.
Items with batteries. A lithium battery installed in a device is treated differently from a spare battery in a box, and different again from a power bank. The wording on the carrier page usually distinguishes these cases precisely.
This page does not state that any item is permitted. It states what to check, where, and how to record the answer. Eligibility depends on the carrier, the route, and the current rules on the day you ship.
A restriction record
| Field | What to write | Example value |
|---|---|---|
| Item | Name, volume, or battery type | Eau de parfum, 50 ml |
| Category | Fragrance, liquid, battery, other | Fragrance |
| Packaging | Retail box, sealed bag, absorbent wrap | Retail box plus sealed bag |
| Route | Service level and destination | Air service to United States |
| Status | Confirmed, unclear, or excluded | Unclear — volume limit not stated |
| Source | Exact page or document name | Carrier restricted goods page |
| Checked | Date | 2026-10-21 |
Two habits make this table useful. Write "unclear" freely, and never leave the source column empty. A row with a date and a source can be re-checked in a minute; a row without them has to be researched from scratch.
Where to verify
- The carrier's own restricted or prohibited items page for the service you are using
- The destination country's customs or postal guidance, for import restrictions rather than transport rules
- The platform's packing guidance, which may be stricter than the carrier's
- The seller's own shipping statement, if the item has specific handling requirements
Read the page for your service, not a summary. A general "we ship worldwide" banner is not a statement about fragrance.
What to do with the answer
Three outcomes, three actions. If the item is confirmed as acceptable under stated conditions, record the conditions in the packing note. If it is unclear, hold the item out of the parcel and ask before packing — a parcel repacked at the last minute is a parcel whose dimensions are now wrong. If it is excluded, remove the row and decide whether the item ships separately or not at all.
Restrictions also affect the estimate: splitting a parcel changes both weight and dimensions. Re-run the numbers using the quote record method, and update the packing plan in the packing guide. If the destination details change because the parcel must go elsewhere, work through the address checklist again rather than editing a saved string.
Finally, keep the confirmed source in the file after the parcel arrives. The next shipment of a similar item starts from a verified note instead of a fresh guess.
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