Can you take perfume in hand luggage?
Yes, in containers up to 100ml in your cabin bag. Larger bottles go in the hold or buy duty-free after security.
Rule basis: Treated as a liquid at airport security. Based on general aviation security guidance — rules can vary between airports.
What to do: Default to 100ml per container in a single 1-litre clear bag. Anything larger goes in checked luggage.
Liquid Limits is a travel planning tool, not an official aviation source. Always confirm with the airport before you travel.
Triple-check
Security · Airline · Border
Will perfume pass the checkpoint?
LimitedPerfume usually counts as a liquid, gel or paste — must fit the 100ml hand-luggage rule.
Can perfume travel in cabin or checked baggage?
Cabin OKFine in cabin baggage within the 100ml rule, and fine in checked baggage if sealed.
Can you bring perfume into the destination country?
Usually OKPersonal-use quantities are rarely a customs problem on most routes.
Three separate rule systems · Any one can stop your item
In cabin baggage
Most airports treat this as a liquid. The standard rule is containers up to 100ml, all fitting inside a single 1-litre clear plastic bag, with one bag per passenger. A few airports with new CT scanners (e.g. London Gatwick, Edinburgh, Bristol) allow containers up to 2 litres — but you cannot count on it both ways.
In checked luggage
Perfume travels fine in checked luggage. Wrap glass bottles in clothes or use a padded sleeve, and put bottles inside a sealed plastic bag in case of leaks at altitude.
Duty-free
Duty-free perfume bought after security is allowed in the cabin if it's sealed in a tamper-evident bag (STEB) with the receipt visible. If you're connecting through another country, transfer rules may force you to check it in.
Examples
- •30ml & 50ml travel bottles: fine in cabin everywhere
- •100ml: borderline — must be in a 100ml-or-smaller bottle, even if half-empty
- •100ml+ full-size bottles: hold luggage or duty-free only
FAQs
Can I take a 100ml perfume bottle in hand luggage?
Yes, as long as the bottle is labelled 100ml or less and fits in your 1-litre clear bag. A 100ml bottle that is only half full still passes; a 150ml bottle that is half full does not.
What if my perfume is over 100ml?
Put it in checked luggage, decant into a smaller travel bottle, or buy duty-free after security and keep it in the sealed STEB.
Liquid Limits focuses on airport security and liquid-like travel items. Separate customs, import, airline, or destination laws may apply. For non-liquid items like plants, meat, weapons, cash, electronics, or luxury goods, check official customs guidance. What this site covers and doesn't cover.
Liquid Limits helps with airport security rules. Border and customs rules vary by destination, so always check official destination guidance before travelling internationally.
Check your airport liquid rulePacking checklist for perfume
A short checklist for this trip — pack what you need to stay within the rules above.
Decant into a 5–10ml refillable sprayer for the cabin.
Catches pressure leaks at altitude.
Take the full-size bottle in the hold.
Perfume on specific routes
Border and customs rules change by country. Pick the closest match to your trip.
- Greece → the UK
- Spain → the UK
- France → the UK
- Italy → the UK
- Dubai → the UK
- Heathrow (LHR) → Dubai (DXB)
- Germany → the UK
- Portugal → the UK
- the Netherlands → the UK
- Turkey → the UK
- the US → the UK
- the UK → France