This guide explains the three restricted groups, the documents a carrier needs, and how they should be packed before a US-bound booking is confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deciding factors are the same across the group: flash point, alcohol percentage, and whether the item is pressurized. A product that looks harmless on a shelf can still need a dangerous-goods review once its formula is known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A forwarder does not judge a restricted product from its name. It reads the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)<\/strong> and the physical details, then applies transport classification. If the flash point is low or the item is pressurized, the goods may need a formal acceptance decision and a specific packing class. This is why our cosmetics shipping process<\/a> starts with a cargo review instead of a flat yes or no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These details also connect to product compliance. Alcohol-based and colored products can carry labeling duties under FDA requirements<\/a>, so confirm both the transport and the compliance side before production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Restricted items are packed in layers: each unit is sealed, set in secondary absorbent material<\/strong>, and placed inside a strong outer carton that is marked for its contents and kept separate from general cargo. The exact method follows the flash point and whether the item is pressurized. For ordinary liquids and creams that are not restricted, the same care applies through leak-proof packing methods<\/a> without the dangerous-goods steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acceptable cases are documented, sealed, and backed by an accurate SDS that fits the carrier’s rules. Unacceptable cases include missing or inconsistent SDS, containers that cannot be sealed for transport, or products whose flash point or pressure form the carrier will not handle on the lane. A forwarder that tells you upfront what it cannot take is more useful than one that accepts cargo and loses it at the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Restricted items add lead time. The SDS and packing plan must be reviewed and accepted before space is confirmed, so send the documents during your preparation<\/a>, not with the ready-to-load cargo. When the paperwork is complete, request a quote<\/a> with the SDS attached so the booking can be planned around the real hazard profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perfume can often be shipped, but only after a cargo review. Shippability depends on the alcohol concentration and how the bottle is sealed and packaged, not on the word “perfume” alone. A forwarder will confirm acceptance once it sees the SDS and flash point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aerosols are pressurized containers. Under transport rules they are treated as dangerous goods because the can can build pressure or rupture. That means specific packing, marking, and often a formal dangerous-goods acceptance decision before the container is booked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), the ingredient list, the alcohol concentration or flash point, the container capacity, and the sealing method. These let the carrier judge whether the goods are acceptable and how they must be packed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flash point is the temperature at which the liquid gives off enough vapor to ignite. Lower flash points mean stricter handling. The carrier uses the flash point from the SDS to decide acceptance and the packing class, so an accurate SDS is the starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each unit is sealed, then placed with secondary absorbent material inside a strong outer carton that is marked for its contents and kept separate from general cargo. The exact method depends on the flash point and whether the item is pressurized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Budget extra lead time. Restricted items need a documented review of the SDS and packing plan before space is confirmed, so send the documents early rather than alongside the ready-to-load cargo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/mocraship.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cq5dam.web_.720.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThree groups, three different checks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How the carrier decides if it can move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Documents to prepare before you ask for a quote<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/mocraship.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1725828784555.jpeg\")
Packing and marking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What can and cannot be accepted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leave time for the review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can you ship perfume from China to the USA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why are aerosols restricted for ocean freight?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What documents do I need to ship alcohol-based cosmetics?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What flash point rules apply to perfume shipping?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How should perfume and aerosols be packed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How long does the review take before booking?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n