Michael Turner
Immediate rule: Containers must be no larger than 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) and fit inside a single transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 litre; one such bag per passenger. Containers exceeding 100 ml belong in checked baggage or must be purchased in a sealed duty‑free bag with receipt at the airport shop.
Screening procedure: Present the transparent bag separately at security checkpoints. Duty‑free purchases placed into a tamper‑evident bag (STEB) and accompanied by the receipt are acceptable for transit without re‑screening only when the seal and receipt remain intact; if re‑screening is required at a connection, sealed items may need to be checked.
Spray and aerosol scent products follow the same liquid limits for cabin carriage. Liquids and aerosols that are flammable or exceed dangerous‑goods thresholds must not be packed in carry‑on unless their volume and packaging meet airline and international dangerous‑goods rules; verify the carrier’s hazardous‑items guidance before placing larger bottles in checked baggage.
Practical tips: decant into travel‑size atomisers of ≤100 ml, label containers with volume, place all items in one clear resealable bag, and keep the receipt for any duty‑free single‑use sealed bag. When uncertainty exists about a specific bottle or transit route, consult the airline’s official baggage and security pages prior to departure.
Cabin fragrance rules for the Australian flag carrier
Allowed in the cabin: liquid scents and spray bottles must be in containers of 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) or less; all such containers must fit inside a single transparent, resealable 1‑litre plastic bag – one bag per passenger.
Duty‑free purchases: items bought after security are acceptable if provided in a sealed tamper‑evident bag (STEB) with the receipt visible; keep the bag sealed until reaching the final destination and retain the receipt for connections through other airports, since secondary screening may apply.
Aerosols and flammables: aerosol fragrances are subject to the same 100 ml limit for cabin carriage; larger aerosol or highly flammable liquids are usually restricted from the cabin and may have specific allowances or limits in checked hold under dangerous‑goods rules – check the airline’s hazardous‑goods guidance before packing.
Packing advice: use the original cap and a tightened closure, wrap bottles in soft material and place inside the resealable plastic bag to contain leaks; consider placing bulky or oversized bottles in checked baggage if quantity exceeds cabin limits.
At security: remove the 1‑litre bag from carry‑on baggage and present it separately for X‑ray inspection; declare any sealed duty‑free STEB to staff if requested.
Verify current requirements on both the departure airport security page and the airline website prior to travel, since airport checkpoints or international connections may apply additional restrictions.
Carry-on liquid limits for fragrances: allowed bottle sizes and total quantity
Limit each fragrance container to 100 ml (100 g) maximum and place all containers inside a single transparent resealable 1‑litre plastic bag; one bag per passenger is permitted through security.
Container size and bag rules
Regulation: individual containers must be 100 ml or smaller. Aggregate volume is restricted by the physical capacity of the 1‑litre clear bag rather than a separate numerical total, so the practical maximum equals roughly 1 litre of packaged liquids. Typical outcome: fitting more than three 100‑ml bottles in the bag is usually impractical; smaller travel atomisers (10–30 ml) allow carrying multiple scents while staying within the bag.
Duty‑free, transfers and packing recommendations
Duty‑free purchases made beyond security may exceed 100 ml only when sealed in a tamper‑evident security bag (STEB) with the receipt visible and dated the day of purchase; retained seal and receipt are required at some transfer checkpoints. For international connections or tighter foreign security checkpoints, place larger bottles in checked baggage. Prefer non‑aerosol sprays or decanting into travel vials for cabin carriage; flammable aerosol rules and airline-specific limits can further restrict carriage, so larger or pressurised fragrance cans are best checked.
How to pack fragrance to pass security screening: bags, placement and documentation
Place all fragrance bottles of 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) or less inside a single transparent resealable 1-litre clear plastic bag and present that bag separately at security screening.
Packing and protection
Use spill-proof caps and secondary protection: wrap glass bottles in soft cloth or bubble wrap and place inside a rigid travel case or padded pouch. For multiple small bottles, keep each upright and separate with dividers or silicone sleeves. Refillable atomizers (≤100 ml) provide the best balance of capacity and compliance; label them with contents. Store the clear plastic bag where it can be removed quickly from the cabin bag – top compartment or an external pocket of a zipped tote such as this best luxury travel tote with zipper.
Documentation and special scenarios
Carry receipts for high-value items and for duty-free purchases. Items bought at airport duty-free and placed inside a tamper-evident sealed bag (TESC/SEB) must remain sealed with the receipt visible to keep them allowed through transfer screening on flights that permit such exceptions. Bottles larger than 100 ml should go in checked baggage unless sold and sealed by a duty-free shop with a valid tamper-evident bag and receipt; airline or transfer regulations may still restrict carriage.
| Item | Recommended action | Documentation / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle ≤100 ml | Place in single 1‑litre transparent resealable bag; present separately | No receipt required; limit one bag per passenger |
| Bottle >100 ml (not duty-free) | Move to checked baggage or ship ahead | Prohibited from cabin screening |
| Duty-free item >100 ml in tamper-evident bag | Keep sealed; present receipt; follow transfer rules | Valid only if tamper-evident seal intact and receipt visible |
| Refillable atomizer | Fill to ≤100 ml; label; pack inside clear bag | Convenient for sampling and reduces breakage risk |
| Glass bottle protection | Padded case, upright placement, external pocket for quick removal | Cuts down on breakage and speeds up inspection |
Bringing duty‑free fragrance on the airline: sealed bags, receipts and boarding advice
Keep duty‑free scent purchases in the original sealed tamper‑evident bag (STEB) with the store receipt clearly visible; present both at security checkpoints and at the gate. If the seal is broken or the receipt is absent, items are likely to be refused.
- At point of sale: request the STEB and a dated paper receipt showing time of purchase, item description and airport name. Ask the retailer to place the receipt inside the STEB as well as issuing an external copy.
- During screening: place the sealed bag on top of carry‑on items for quick inspection so officers can view the receipt without opening the STEB. Keep the original paper receipt; some authorities will not accept digital copies.
- If the STEB is damaged by security: do not reseal. Move the bottle to checked baggage at the earliest opportunity or expect disposal.
- Multiple duty‑free bottles must each remain in their original, individually sealed bags and accompanied by corresponding receipts.
Connections and onward travel:
- International-to-international connections: STEB plus receipt is usually accepted through most transit security checkpoints, provided the bag remains sealed and the receipt matches the purchase time and location.
- International-to-domestic within Australia: transfer to a domestic sector typically requires liquids to meet domestic screening limits; place duty‑free scents in checked baggage before the domestic flight or buy after the domestic leg.
- Transit via the United States: US screening may require additional verification; consider checked carriage if unsure, because secondary screening can result in confiscation.
Practical boarding tips:
- Keep the STEB accessible – do not tuck it into zipped compartments or inside outer pockets.
- Carry the purchase receipt on paper and also store a photo of it in a phone as backup.
- If gate staff request verification, present the sealed bag and receipt immediately to avoid delays.
- For high‑value bottles or multiple items, notify the carrier in advance and consider checking at least one item to reduce risk of loss at transfer points.
If fragrance exceeds 100 ml: checked baggage, shipping options and airline policies
Place any fragrance bottle larger than 100 ml in checked baggage; cabin carriage is restricted by the 100 ml liquids rule and oversized containers are routinely denied at security checkpoints.
Checked-baggage packing and handling
Wrap the bottle in its original box if available, then double-wrap with bubble wrap and seal inside a heavy-duty zip-top bag with an absorbent pad. Position the protected parcel in the center of the suitcase surrounded by soft clothing; avoid external pockets and hard-shell edges. Tape the cap shut and add a layer of tamper-evident tape over the closure. Mark the suitcase as fragile and keep a digital photo of the bottle and receipt in case of damage claims. If the fragrance lists alcohol by volume above 70%, request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the retailer and notify the airline at check-in – higher ABV formulations may trigger extra screening or restrictions.
Shipping options and airline hazardous-goods rules
For quantities exceeding personal-use limits or for multiple large bottles, use a courier that offers a declared dangerous-goods service (Class 3: flammable liquids). Ground freight avoids many air-transport restrictions and is often less expensive. Expect mandatory documentation: SDS, commercial invoice, and a declared description of contents; packing must meet the carrier’s hazardous-materials packing instructions. Contact the airline’s dangerous-goods or cargo desk before booking to confirm acceptance, potential surcharges and whether the item can be carried as checked cargo versus cargo manifest. Retain all shipping receipts and tracking numbers; insure high-value items for loss or damage.
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FAQ:
Can I take perfume in my Qantas hand luggage?
Yes. Perfume is treated as a liquid and must meet carry-on liquid rules: each container must be 100 ml (3.4 oz) or smaller and all containers must fit inside a single clear, resealable plastic bag of about 1 litre capacity. You will need to remove that bag from your hand luggage and place it in the security tray for screening.
I bought a bottle of perfume in duty-free — can I bring it on my Qantas flight in my carry-on?
Generally you can, provided the item is packed in the sealed security bag given at the time of purchase and you keep the receipt visible. That allows the bottle to travel in your hand baggage on many flights. If you have a connecting flight that requires passing through security again, or if the transit country applies different rules, airport security may not accept the sealed bag and you could be asked to place the item in checked luggage. Check the rules at your transit airport and keep the purchase receipt with the sealed bag.
How many perfume bottles can I carry in hand luggage on Qantas, and does total volume matter?
The limit is set per container rather than per item: any one bottle in carry-on must be 100 ml or smaller. All such bottles must fit comfortably inside the single 1-litre clear bag that security requires. That bag’s size effectively limits how many bottles you can bring — typically a few small bottles will fit. Larger bottles should be packed in checked baggage.
Are perfume sprays considered aerosols and are there additional restrictions on Qantas flights?
Perfume sprays are classed as aerosols and are allowed in hand luggage within the same small-container rules. There are also hazardous-goods regulations that limit quantities of flammable aerosols in both carry-on and checked baggage. For most personal-use perfume bottles that meet the 100 ml rule there is no extra action needed, but if you plan to carry many aerosol items or large volumes, check Qantas’ dangerous-goods guidance or contact the airline to confirm limits.
What will happen if my perfume bottle is larger than 100 ml when I go through airport security?
If a container exceeds the permitted size it will usually be removed at the security checkpoint. Options you may be offered include placing the bottle into checked baggage (if you can re-pack and check a bag before boarding), returning it to a shop, or surrendering it. Some airports offer short-term storage or mailing services, but that varies by location. To avoid delays, pack oversized bottles in checked luggage or buy smaller travel-size versions for carry-on.
