Mailing Perfume

[lunabee34]

I know that when you mail perfume domestically in the US, you are supposed to ship it ground. From what I gather, alcohol based perfumes do something wonky in the air that can shatter the glass bottles they're stored in.

When I mail actual bottles of alcohol based perfume, I always do what I'm supposed to and mail the package ground. When mailing imps of BPAL (and the occasional tiny vial of Chanel), I just mail the package and don't declare it as perfume, and I've not had a problem (either with the postal service or with the vials breaking).

I've got a friend in Alaska and one in Canada who I'd like to mail some BPAL to, and it suddenly occurred to me that might be a problem giving the shipping rules. I'm not concerned about the perfume making it to them intact. I'm concerned that because a package would have to cross the border to make it to them that an inspector would see perfume inside and confiscate/destroy the package.

Anybody have any experience with this kind of thing or suggestions for me?

Comments

[momijizukamori]

I lived in Canada, and also have bought imps from people overseas, and it's never been a problem! On the customs form, just list them as 'cosmetics samples' (still fairly accurate) - that seems to be what most people do

[lunabee34]

Whew. Cool. Thank you for the info. :)

[ghoti]

I've sent them as "aromatherapy oils" as well without problem.

[synecdochic]

The big issue is, "does this have alcohol" -- when I'm not declaring as "cosmetics samples", I'm declaring as "bath oils, non-flammable, no alcohol".

[lunabee34]

Thank you! You guys rock.

[lunabee34]

This is good to know!

[azurelunatic]

I have never experienced a border problem with people shipping things to me when I lived in Alaska. Generally it's either air, or "ground" via ferry, rather than crossing through Canada.

[lunabee34]

Thanks for the info!

[kore]

A friend just mailed me bpal imps from England and labelled the package 'essential oils' (not untrue!).

[lunabee34]

I think that's what I'm going with as multiple people have used that successfully.. Thank you!