🌸 Fashion, beauty and toys
HS Code for Perfume in India: Import Duty, CDSCO and Shipping Rules
By Abhishek Sadashiv · 16 years of experience in global logistics · Updated 5 October 2026 · 5 min read
Usual HS code for perfume (import)
3303 00 90
Perfumes and toilet waters, other than eau-de-cologne and rose water. Most eau de parfum and eau de toilette land here.
Perfume is a product where three different things look almost the same on a shelf: a perfume, a body spray and a fragrance oil. Customs treats them differently, and the code you pick also decides how your freight forwarder handles the shipment.
Importers often ask me why their "perfume" was questioned when the supplier's invoice looked fine. Usually it's because the product was really a deodorant spray, or a bulk fragrance compound. Here's how to tell.
The usual HS code: 3303 00 90
| Level | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 33 | Essential oils, perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations |
| Heading | 3303 | Perfumes and toilet waters |
| Tariff item | 3303 00 10 | Eau-de-cologne |
| Tariff item | 3303 00 20 | Rose water |
| Tariff item | 3303 00 90 | Other perfumes and toilet waters |
Heading 3303 covers finished perfumes meant to be applied to the body for fragrance. India splits it into three lines. Eau-de-cologne and rose water have their own items; everything else (eau de parfum, eau de toilette, parfum, extrait) falls into 3303 00 90.
Why not 3307 or 3302?
3307 (deodorants and body sprays) is the first mix-up. A deodorant or antiperspirant body spray is a toilet preparation under 3307, not a perfume, even if it smells like one. The product's main purpose (fragrance vs odour control) and how it's sold decide it.
3302 (fragrance compounds) is the second. If you import concentrated fragrance oil in drums or large bottles to fill your own bottles in India, that's usually an industrial raw material under 3302, not a finished perfume under 3303. Attar is another grey area: a traditional attar sold in small retail bottles for use on the body can be argued under 3303, while bulk oils are not.
What decides the final classification
- Finished retail perfume vs bulk oil: ready-to-use bottles point to 3303; concentrated oils for blending point to 3302.
- Fragrance vs deodorant: deodorant claims and body-spray formats point to 3307.
- Eau-de-cologne: has its own line (3303 00 10), so check what the label actually says.
- Gift sets: a perfume with a matching lotion or shower gel is classified as a set, usually by the perfume.
Not sure which line your perfume falls under?
Describe it or snap a photo. EximSetu asks the 2–4 questions that change the code, then gives the 8-digit HS code with reasoning, the duty in rupees and the compliance checklist.
Check my perfume →How import duty is worked out
Duty is calculated on the assessable value (CIF in rupees): Basic Customs Duty, then the Social Welfare Surcharge on that duty, then IGST on the total. Perfume rates have been revised in past Budgets, so check the current rate for your exact line on the day you file.
Run your exact product through a lookup, or put your numbers in the import duty calculator. If you're comparing suppliers in Dubai and France, the landed cost calculator shows the real per-bottle cost.
Compliance checklist for perfume
| Requirement | Status | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| CDSCO import registration | 🔴 Mandatory | Perfumes are cosmetics under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. The brand and products need an import Registration Certificate (Form COS-2) before import. |
| Cosmetic labelling | 🔴 Mandatory | Ingredients, batch number, dates, manufacturer and importer details and the import registration number on the label. |
| Legal Metrology | 🔴 For retail packs | Importer name and address, MRP, net quantity in ml and customer care details on the pack. |
| Dangerous goods shipping | 🟠 Check | Alcohol-based perfumes are flammable liquids for air and sea freight. Your forwarder will need the MSDS and correct DG declaration. |
| No animal testing | 🔴 Mandatory | India does not allow import of cosmetics tested on animals. |
| Brand and IPR checks | 🟠 Check | Customs can hold goods that infringe a registered brand. Buy branded perfume only from authorised sources. |
🔴 Mandatory · 🟠 Check · 🟢 Not required
Mistakes that cost importers money
- Booking perfume as general cargo and having the airline or shipping line refuse it.
- Declaring body sprays as perfume (or the other way round) because that's what the supplier wrote.
- Importing "inspired by" or copy fragrances that use a well-known brand name on the bottle.
- Skipping CDSCO registration for "small" trial shipments. The rules don't care about quantity.
My advice
For perfume, sort out two things before you pay the supplier: the CDSCO registration and the DG shipping plan. The code itself is rarely the problem once you're clear whether you're buying a finished perfume, a deodorant or a bulk oil. If you're not sure which it is, check your exact product first.
Get the exact code and duty for your perfume
Every variant is different. Answer 2–4 questions and get the 8-digit code with reasoning, duty in rupees and the compliance checklist in minutes.
Check my perfume free →Written by
16 years of experience in global logistics
Built EximSetu after 16 years in global logistics, watching shipments get held, reassessed or delayed because of a wrong HS code or a missed compliance step. Every guide here is written from that experience, for the people who actually move cargo.
Frequently asked questions
▸What is the HS code for perfume in India?
Most perfumes, eau de parfum and eau de toilette fall under 3303 00 90 (other perfumes and toilet waters). Eau-de-cologne has its own line, 3303 00 10.
▸Is body spray classified as perfume?
Usually not. Deodorant and body sprays are toilet preparations under heading 3307, not perfumes under 3303.
▸Do I need CDSCO registration to import perfume?
Yes. Perfume is a cosmetic under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, so it needs an import Registration Certificate (Form COS-2) from CDSCO.
▸Can perfume be shipped by air?
Yes, but alcohol-based perfume is dangerous goods (flammable liquid). It must be packed, labelled and declared as DG, with an MSDS.
Related HS codes
🧭 Full guide: How to Find the Correct HS Code for Your Product in India →This page is general information, not legal advice. The usual code can change with the exact product, and rates and rules change by notification. Always confirm for your exact product with your customs broker or the official notification.