Question:
There's a ban of liquid substances being carried by air travellers but that doesnt mean in any way that there's a problem with fragrances being shipped by ground . The biggest danger for fragrances crossing the border is that customs will add a duty charge. Swapping only within the limits of a country may eliminate the possibility of a hassle but it also really limits the reach of the swap system. We have members from countries that rely on overseas shipments (Australia and Japan that i can think of) and it would be a shame for them to be cut off from all international swaps. I've had very few problems with international shipping, and I think that the swap/sale board is one of the best parts of this community.
It's been mentioned before but declaring packages as 'used cosmetics' instead of perfume (although some have an ethical problem with this) is one way to avoid a lot of the potential problems with international shipping.
I'm curious about the trouble that nearfantastica has had recently though because it may be that things are getting more difficult, i really hope not.

Answer:
Since there is a ban on sending colognes or other flammable liquids over the border (ground and air) it makes it quite difficult. I have already had a parcel of mine destined for the UK go missing and I've had others held up at customs for long periods of time. Furthermore, my decant bottle supplier's package to me sat at customs for over a month and was opened and examined before it reached my door. I guess I want to limit my shipping to Canada to minimize the chance at potential issues in the future. Since I sell, the idea of me sending out decants or bottles, having them go missing then having to provide refund or subsequent restitution(because that's the only way I feel right about it) on top of my absorbed loss on shipping costs makes me quite wary.
For the record, yes I declare a low value.. yes I list the contents as everything from "used cosmetics" to "collectible figurines/action figures" and so on... I also add noise makers (macaroni, rice, dog biscuits) to mask the swishing noises of bottles.... I guess I just don't find it worth the worry.
I have had many many swaps and transactions that have gone off without a hitch, but according to my friend who works for a Canada Post outlet, they are "really" cracking down on cross-border shippings.. especially parcels that exceed 4lbs in weight (for whatever reason).
I might have to continue rolling the dice if there are not enough swapping basenoters in Canada, but I would much rather not deal with the hassle of declaring, sending...crossing fingers that I don't get pinched.. especially on the occasions that I send out multiple bottles... if they go missing or get confiscated, it's "I" who gets to make it up to the buyer on top of my loss of those confiscated bottles.
a.

Answer:
I can't see how it can be illegal to send such substances, I really don't think it is. In Sweden though, the additional cost is quite huge when sending hazardous goods, but it can still be done. I mean, how can so many online fragrance stores offer international shipping, declare what the contents are, and still go through with it? There are restrictions and legislations for sure, but still...
I lived in Canada between 94/95 btw

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Hello from Montreal.

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A market place Canada, perhaps a fragrance forum France, what else ? LOL! No pun intended, nearfantastica, or whoever thinks along those lines. There may be lots of misinformation at the basis of this. Also China will not go back to trading domestically, and the French Perfume and Champaign industry is not about to fold either.
European basenoters have a handicap with mailing costs to any foreign country, but cannot afford even thinking about staying domestic in their transactions. There would just not be enough home members for that. Generally, transactions over here seem to have a much smaller volume. For me the market place has thus never been very attractive. I bought a l lot during the past 24 months, and I found the most attractive offers and better bargains regularly outside bn. Sample purchasing sounds attractive, particularly in the hard-to-get area. But a majority of (assumedly pro / 5 - 20 ml) offers seem just a little prohibitive.
Fortunately, some potential swappers have at least their flag out! It is a very frustrating experience to go thru mouth watering sales/swap offers before you find the 'no overseas shipment' clause somewhere in members' threads! Although there have been exceptions to the rule, I now usually skip offers from North America.

Answer:
Present.
Montreal in da house.
Uh oh - I didn't realize they were "cracking down". I used to *only* buy/sell inside Canada until some people here told me there was no problem!
Are they cracking down in Canada or in the US? I just sent someone something in the US. Better make sacrifices to the relevant gods.

Answer:
Here here brother,
My family came to Canada May 2, 1833. (www.mccolm.com)
I am wary now of shipping out of the country now too. Call me square but the part I don't like is having to put on my 'game face' just to mail a package.
I was told it isn't a problem if the perfume is not a spray, but of course most (if not all) new perfume bottles tend to be sprays. The Canada Post lady told me that 'they' consider the 'depressing' action of sprays to be hazardous, specifically flammable. She also told me they have X-rays at the border/customs...oooohhh

I also remember a SNL skit from a few weeks ago referring to those 4lbs you mentioned. In this case it was air travel and customs. If there info. is somewhat reliable.. 4lbs is the minimum amount of liquid explosive needed to wreak havoc. The precautions both in airports and the mail system are no doubt related.
It really bothers me that this has become such a problem.
As of yet I haven't any problems (besides Postal Outlet interrogation) shipping Perfume to America, but I did have a problem shipping baby toys to my sis who moved to New Jersey. They are, after six months, unaccounted for. Probably in customs.

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Bonjour,
Je suis ici!

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Oh, forgot to add my experience or rather, my modus operandi.
I wrap the fragrance at home and make sure that it's well wrapped and labeled.
Then I bring it to the postal outlet to ship it. On the customs form I usually just indicate that it's 'cologne' or 'fragrance samples' and have it shipped ground/ surface.
None of the Postal reps have ever batted an eye lash.

Answer:
Out of the many transactions i've had internationally, i've only had confiscation once. The package was coming to me. I was quite surprised since it was a fairly small package with a small bottle, it was well packaged too, and marked 'Used Cosmetics' as usual. Out of no where, the custom decided to have a look, fortunately though it was in one piece, and i was only charged a small fee. Usually they would charge you $10-$20. Doing transactions internationally is quite stressful especially if you're on it constantly, they would get suspicious of your packages sooner or later as they keep on seeing your name on the boxes. I think within North America the transactions would be much easier since everything can be shipped ground, even though they might take a while at least it'd cause less problems. Overseas, you'd probably ship by boat, but by the time the package gets there, the person on the other side would probably be enjoying an retirement, sipping tequila somewhere on Hawaii. Your best bet, is to pray to the gods each time, that hopefully the angels get to your packages before the demons do.