Perfumes delight the senses, evoke pleasant associations, and help a person define themselves. Most people love perfume and keep at least a dozen bottles of their favorite fragrances at home. So, when the time comes to move house, an apparent problem arises – how to relocate the delicate vials in a safe and efficient manner?
Perfume is quite expensive so no one would just leave it behind. It is, however, very difficult to move from one location to another – it usually comes in glass bottles (and glass is very fragile) and it is almost always in liquid form (and liquids tend to spill easily when being transported). What’s more, perfume is affected by heat and humidity, so it needs to be kept cool and away from moisture during a move.
The only way to ensure that your cherished perfumes arrive at your new home intact and in excellent condition is to pack them properly for the relocation.
Read on to find out how to pack perfume for moving so your delicate fragrances stay safe and sound during the entire process.
Sort out your perfumes
The first thing to do when it comes to packing perfumes for moving is to take a good look at your collection. Go through your bottles and vials and set aside:
- Perfumes you don’t really like or haven’t used in a long time – Whether they are gifts that don’t fit your personality, fragrances that you wanted to try out but didn’t enjoy, or scents you used to wear but don’t like anymore, there is no point in moving perfumes you aren’t likely to use in your new surroundings. You can give them away to friends or neighbors who like them – or, if you have unopened bottles, you can donate them to local charities or even sell them for some cash;
- Perfumes that have expired, lost their scent, or deteriorated in any way – Needless to say, such perfumes should be thrown away;
- Nearly empty bottles – Moving almost finished perfumes isn’t worth it, so you should try to use them up before the relocation;
- A bottle of your everyday perfume – You will want to have access to your usual perfume at all times, so be sure to keep a bottle at hand – and pack it in your essentials box (or put it in your handbag) on the morning of moving day.
Once you’ve sorted your perfumes and decided which ones you’re going to take to your new home, you can start packing them for moving.
Related: How to pack toiletries for moving
How to pack perfume bottles for moving
When packing perfume for moving, you need to prevent it from spilling and prevent its fragile container from breaking. Here is how to achieve this feat:
1. Seal the bottle, so the perfume doesn’t spill during the move:
- When packing spray perfume bottles (atomizers), roll-on perfume bottles, or bottles that feature an applicator for dabbing the perfume on the skin, use tape to seal the caps (stick the cap to the neck of the bottle), so they don’t come loose or fall out during the transportation. Be sure to use quality tape that will ensure a tight seal but won’t leave a sticky residue on the delicate glass (or crystal) surface of the perfume bottle;
- When packing splash perfume bottles that don’t have a spray nozzle, a rollerball, or an applicator, remove the cap, place a small piece of plastic wrap over the bottle opening, then replace the cap and tighten it as much as possible;
- Wrap a piece of plastic wrap around the top of the perfume bottle and secure it in place with tape.
2. Wrap each perfume bottle individually in bubble wrap or several sheets of packing paper to create a protective layer around the fragile container (especially important when packing expensive perfumes that come in crystal bottles). Secure the wrappings with tape.
3. Place the wrapped perfume bottle in its original box. Add some extra padding in the box (crumpled paper, pieces of bubble wrap, etc.) to cushion the glass (or crystal) bottle and prevent it from shifting during transit. If you don’t keep the original perfume box, either skip this step or find a small sturdy box that fits the perfume bottle well.
4. Pack the perfume bottles in their moving containers
# If you’re moving short distance and your perfumes will only travel for several hours, you can transport them with your clothes:
- If the bottles are packed in their original boxes (or in other boxes of appropriate size), all you need to do is wedge the boxes deep between clothes or other soft items packed in a suitcase or in a sturdy moving box – your tightly sealed, well cushioned perfume bottles will be perfectly safe during the trip to your new home;
- If the bottles are not packed in separate small boxes, it’s best to put them in toiletry bags or travel organizers, then wedge them between thick clothes or other soft items.
# If you’re moving long distance and your perfumes will be on the road for many days, you need to take additional precautions to ensure their safety during the trip:
- Prepare an appropriate packing box – a polystyrene box, a plastic bin, or a cardboard box:
- Using polystyrene ice boxes is one of the best packing perfume hacks. These boxes are very thick, so they provide superb protection against shocks and vibrations. They’re also watertight and offer excellent insulation for temperature-sensitive items – you can arrange your perfume bottles inside a polystyrene box and add an ice-gel pack or dry-ice to keep your fragrances cool during transit (especially important if you’re moving cross country in the summer and your perfumes won’t be transported in an air-conditioned vehicle – prolonged exposure to heat can ruin the delicate scents, so you need to find a way to keep your perfumes cool during the move and polystyrene ice boxes offer the perfect solution);
- Plastic bins are better for moving liquids than cardboard boxes – in case of a spill, the plastic containers will contain the spilled liquid and will prevent damage to the rest of your items. The risk of your tightly sealed perfumes spilling during the move is very low, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry. Besides, there’s no chance that a plastic bin will be accidentally turned upside down, so your perfumes will be safer in a plastic moving container (See also: Benefits of plastic moving boxes);
- If you intend to transport your perfumes in a cardboard box, be sure to reinforce its bottom with packing tape and to line the box with a garbage bag. Place the bag in the box so that the opening is facing up, then place your properly wrapped and sealed perfume bottles in the bag, also facing up. Tie up the bag at the top before closing the box.
Bonus tip: No matter what type of moving container you’re using, consider lining the bottom with a towel to create a cushioning layer for the fragile perfume bottles.
- Carefully place your perfume bottles (whether they’re in their original boxes or just well wrapped) inside the cushioned moving container. Fill any remaining space in the box with packing peanuts, towels, clothes, or other appropriate cushioning materials to prevent the perfume bottles from shifting and bumping against one another during the transportation.
- Place a protective layer over the perfume bottles (such as a large, thick towel), close the box, and seal it tightly.
- Label the box with its contents and write “Fragile” in big bold letters on several sides of the packing container. If you’ve packed your perfumes in a cardboard box or in a polystyrene box, be sure to clearly indicate which way is up.
See also: How to pack liquids for moving
Knowing how to pack perfumes for moving the right way will allow you to keep your favorite fragrances safe and intact, so you can enjoy them in your new surroundings. Good luck with your move!
