To ship perfume by courier in India, book it on a surface service, because alcohol-based perfume is a Class 3 flammable liquid (UN 1266) that air express networks usually refuse. Pack each bottle leak-proof and upright, declare it accurately, and keep a safety data sheet handy. Lithium batteries follow separate IATA rules, and loose batteries are the hardest to ship.
Courier policies differ by company and by service, and they change. The classifications below come from published dangerous goods references and courier pages as of September 2026. Treat courier-specific points as typical, and confirm with your courier for the exact service you book.
Why is perfume treated as dangerous goods?
Most perfumes, colognes and body mists use ethanol as the carrier, which makes them flammable. The UN entry is UN 1266, Perfumery products with flammable solvents, Class 3 (flammable liquid). Spray deodorants are aerosols under UN 1950 (Class 2), and nail polish falls under UN 1263, which covers paint, lacquer and polish, also Class 3. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is flammable for the same reason, and most hair sprays are aerosols.
By air, these are governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which require trained staff, approved packaging and a shipper's declaration. Standard ecommerce air products aren't set up for that. Blue Dart, for example, states that dangerous goods are not accepted on Blue Dart Express and Blue Dart Aviation services, and lists liquids and semi-liquids as banned subject to conditions. Most domestic couriers that accept perfume do so by surface only. Oil-based attars may fall outside Class 3 depending on flash point, but only the manufacturer's safety data sheet (SDS, still often called MSDS) can tell you that.
Which products can go by air and which by surface?
| Product type | Risk class | Air or surface | Packaging requirement | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfume, EDP, EDT, body mist (alcohol-based) | Class 3 flammable liquid, UN 1266 | Surface; air only through a dangerous goods service | Taped or sleeved cap, absorbent, sealed pouch, upright | Invoice; SDS if asked |
| Deodorant and body spray | Class 2 aerosol, UN 1950 | Surface | Cap on, nozzle protected, rigid box | Invoice; SDS if asked |
| Nail polish | Class 3, UN 1263 | Surface | Taped caps, absorbent, double bag | Invoice; SDS if asked |
| Shampoo, oils, serums, syrups (non-flammable) | Usually not dangerous goods | Air or surface, per courier | Leak-proofing and a sealed pouch | Invoice |
| Power bank or loose lithium-ion battery | Class 9, UN 3480 | Surface; barred from passenger aircraft as cargo | Terminals protected, strong outer box | Invoice; UN 38.3 test summary |
| Phone, earbuds, laptop (battery inside) | Class 9, UN 3481 | Surface; some air services, per courier | Device off, switch protected, rigid box | Invoice; test summary |
| Device with a spare battery in the box | Class 9, UN 3481 | Usually surface | Spare in its own inner pack; 30% charge for air | Invoice; test summary |
Blue Dart's list shows the pattern: battery-powered electronics are restricted on its Domestic Priority service but may be accepted on its Apex and Surface lines. If you sell beauty and cosmetics or electronics, plan the slower surface transit time into your delivery promise for these SKUs.
How do lithium battery rules differ for batteries alone, packed with or inside equipment?
IATA splits lithium batteries four ways. Rechargeable lithium-ion is UN 3480 when shipped alone and UN 3481 when packed with or contained in equipment. Non-rechargeable lithium metal is UN 3090 alone and UN 3091 with or in equipment. Batteries shipped alone (UN 3480 and UN 3090) are forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft, and lithium-ion batteries shipped alone must be at no more than 30% state of charge when they fly. Two traps catch sellers: a box holding only spare batteries and a charger counts as batteries alone (UN 3480), not 'packed with equipment', and damaged or recalled batteries, such as a swollen power bank coming back as a return, are forbidden by air altogether.
From 1 January 2026, lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment must also ship by air at no more than 30% charge (above 2.7 Wh under Section II). For batteries inside a device, a reduced charge is strongly recommended but not mandatory. Size matters too: cells up to 20 Wh and batteries up to 100 Wh qualify for the lighter-regulated sections of each packing instruction. Manufacturers and distributors must make the UN 38.3 test summary available for batteries made after 30 June 2003, so ask your supplier for it once and keep it on file.
Watt-hours = amp-hours × nominal voltage. A 10,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V: 10 Ah × 3.7 V = 37 Wh. That is under 100 Wh, but a power bank is still a battery shipped on its own (UN 3480), so it cannot fly as cargo on a passenger aircraft. Book it by surface.
How do you pack perfume and other liquids for courier?
- 1Close the cap fully and secure it with a couple of turns of tape or a heat-shrink sleeve. Spray bottles need the cap or collar on so the nozzle can't be pressed.
- 2Put each bottle in a zip-lock or leak-proof pouch with enough absorbent material (cotton or an absorbent pad) to soak up the full contents.
- 3Wrap glass in bubble wrap or foam, or use a moulded insert, so no bottle touches another bottle or the box wall.
- 4Use a rigid corrugated box: 5-ply for fragile glass or anything over 4 kg, 3-ply only for light, non-fragile items.
- 5Fill every void so nothing moves when you shake the box.
- 6Mark 'This way up' arrows on two opposite sides and add a 'Fragile' label.
- 7Seal the centre seams top and bottom with BOPP tape, and H-tape heavier boxes.
- 8Describe the contents exactly on the invoice and booking ('Eau de parfum 100 ml × 2') and pick the surface service.
Absorbent padding and double bagging add size, and couriers bill on the higher of actual and volumetric weight (length × breadth × height in cm ÷ 5000 for most domestic services). Run your packed dimensions through the volumetric weight calculator before you fix a shipping fee. The ecommerce packaging guide covers box choice in more depth.
What documents do couriers ask for?
- Tax invoice with an exact product description, quantity and HSN code. Vague descriptions such as 'cosmetics' invite a hold at screening.
- Safety data sheet (SDS/MSDS) from the manufacturer for perfumes, aerosols, nail products and chemicals. Couriers commonly ask for it before accepting a new SKU.
- UN 38.3 test summary for lithium batteries and battery-powered products, which the manufacturer must make available.
- Shipper's declaration for dangerous goods, only if you use a dedicated dangerous goods air service. Standard parcel services don't take these shipments.
- A signed non-hazardous declaration, which some couriers request for liquids and cosmetics they accept on standard services.
If a product is outright prohibited rather than restricted, no amount of paperwork helps. Our list of prohibited items for courier in India covers what no mainstream courier accepts.
Frequently asked questions
Usually not on standard air express services. Alcohol-based perfume is UN 1266, a Class 3 flammable liquid, and air carriage needs dangerous goods packaging, trained staff and a shipper's declaration. Blue Dart, for instance, does not accept dangerous goods on its express and aviation services. Most domestic couriers that take perfume move it by surface, so confirm the service before booking.
Generally by surface only. A power bank counts as a lithium-ion battery shipped on its own (UN 3480), which IATA forbids as cargo on passenger aircraft and limits to 30% charge when it does fly. Pack it with terminals protected in a strong box, keep the manufacturer's UN 38.3 test summary, and check your courier accepts it.
Many couriers ask for a safety data sheet (SDS, often still called MSDS) before accepting perfumes, aerosols or nail products, because it shows the flash point and hazard class. Get it from the manufacturer or brand owner once per SKU and keep a PDF ready. For a dangerous goods air service you will also need a shipper's declaration.
Tape or heat-shrink the cap, place each bottle in a sealed leak-proof pouch with enough absorbent to soak up its contents, and cushion it so it cannot touch other bottles or the box wall. Use a rigid 5-ply box for glass, keep it upright with orientation arrows, and seal the seams with BOPP tape.
Sources
Shipping operators and engineers who build RouteOneX's courier integrations, NDR and COD workflows for Indian D2C sellers. Every guide is reviewed against courier terms and official sources before publishing, and dated when it is updated.
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