How to Import Fragrance Products into Australia: A Complete Guide

Australia’s fragrance market is growing steadily, with home fragrance retail sales reaching AUD 680 million in 2024 according to IBISWorld. For Australian brands and retailers sourcing candles, diffusers, and essential oils from Chinese manufacturers, the import process involves several regulatory agencies and specific documentation requirements. This guide covers the complete pathway from factory floor in China to warehouse shelf in Australia.

Regulatory Agencies and Their Roles

Three Australian government bodies regulate fragrance imports:

• Australian Border Force (ABF): Customs clearance, tariff classification, and duty collection.
• Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS): Regulates industrial chemicals including fragrance ingredients used in consumer products.
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC): Enforces product safety standards under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

Additionally, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has jurisdiction if products make therapeutic claims (covered in our separate essential oil regulations guide).

AICIS Requirements for Fragrance Chemicals

Since July 2020, AICIS replaced the former NICNAS system. Any chemical imported into Australia for industrial use (which includes fragrance ingredients in consumer products) must be categorised under one of five introduction categories:

1. Listed: The chemical appears on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC). Most common fragrance chemicals (linalool, limonene, geraniol, vanillin) are already listed. No notification required.
2. Exempted: Low-risk introductions meeting specific criteria. Some natural essential oil components qualify.
3. Reported: Requires a one-time report to AICIS before import. Applies to certain polymers and low-concentration introductions.
4. Assessed: Requires full pre-market assessment. Applies to new chemicals not on the AIIC.
5. Commercial evaluation: For chemicals with limited international data.

For most fragrance product imports from China, the chemicals are already listed on the AIIC. Verify each component using the free AIIC search tool on the AICIS website. If importing a novel synthetic fragrance molecule not on the inventory, budget AUD 3,000-15,000 and 3-6 months for an assessed introduction.

Registration fee: All importers of industrial chemicals must register with AICIS annually. The fee is AUD 385 for businesses importing less than 1 tonne per year, scaling to AUD 12,145 for volumes above 100 tonnes.

Customs Classification and Duty Rates

Fragrance products enter Australia under the following tariff headings:

Product	HS Code	Duty Rate (MFN)
Essential oils	3301	5%
Fragrance mixtures (perfumery)	3302	5%
Scented candles	3406	5%
Room deodorisers (sprays, diffusers)	3307.49	5%
Personal perfumes and toilet waters	3303	5%

Australia applies a uniform 5% MFN rate to most fragrance products. There is no free trade agreement between Australia and China that covers these tariff lines with reduced rates (ChAFTA does not provide concessions for Chapter 33 goods).

GST: A 10% Goods and Services Tax applies to the sum of customs value plus duty plus transport and insurance costs. For a shipment with a customs value of AUD 20,000 and duty of AUD 1,000, GST is approximately AUD 2,100 (recoverable for GST-registered businesses).

Product Safety Under Australian Consumer Law

The ACCC enforces mandatory safety standards for consumer products. Australia has a voluntary candle standard (AS/NZS 5972:2005) but no mandatory standard specifically for scented candles. However, the ACL’s general safety provision (Section 104) requires that products do not pose unreasonable risk of injury, meaning stability testing, burn hazard warnings, and English-language instructions are expected. Reed diffusers and room sprays must carry GHS-compliant hazard labeling (pictograms, signal words, hazard statements) under the Work Health and Safety Regulations, aligned with GHS Revision 7. If any product is marketed to or likely to be accessed by children under 3, additional choking hazard and toxicity considerations apply.

Labeling Requirements for the Australian Market

Australian labels for fragrance products must include:

• Product name and description in English
• Net content (weight or volume in metric units)
• Name and Australian address of the importer or supplier
• Country of origin (“Made in China”)
• GHS hazard information (pictograms, signal words, H-statements, P-statements) for hazardous mixtures
• Batch or lot number
• Directions for use and safety warnings

Unlike the EU, Australia does not require a full INCI ingredient list on home fragrance products (this is required only for cosmetics under the NICNAS/TGA framework). However, declaring major allergens is considered best practice and may be required by major retailers.

Landed Cost Calculation

Example: Importing 2,000 scented candles (200g soy, glass jar) from China to Melbourne.

Cost Component	Amount
FOB price (USD 3.20 x 2,000)	USD 6,400
Sea freight (LCL, 1.2 CBM to Melbourne)	USD 450-700
Marine insurance (0.4% of CIF)	USD 28
Customs duty (5% of customs value)	AUD 530
Import processing charge (ABF)	AUD 92
GST (10% of value + duty + freight)	AUD 1,180
Customs broker fee	AUD 150-300
Inland transport to warehouse	AUD 200-400
Total landed cost per unit	AUD 5.80-6.50

At a retail price of AUD 24-32 per candle, this yields gross margins of 73-82%.

Documentation for Customs Clearance

Your Chinese supplier must provide:

• Commercial invoice (in English, with HS codes and Incoterms)
• Packing list with carton dimensions and weights
• Bill of Lading (for sea freight) or Air Waybill
• Certificate of Origin (non-preferential)
• Safety Data Sheets for hazardous mixtures
• Fumigation certificate for wooden packaging (ISPM 15 compliance)

Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) inspects all shipments for biosecurity risks. Wooden packaging must bear the IPPC/ISPM 15 mark. Plant-derived products (including some essential oils) may require phytosanitary certificates.

Practical Tips for Australian Importers

• Register with AICIS before your first shipment, even if all chemicals are listed. Non-registration carries penalties up to AUD 78,000 for companies.
• Engage a licensed customs broker experienced in chemical imports. Brokers charge AUD 150-300 per shipment but prevent classification errors that trigger audits.
• Request GHS-compliant SDS from your Chinese supplier in Australian format (aligned with GHS Rev 7, not EU CLP format).
• Allow 5-7 business days for customs clearance at Melbourne or Sydney ports, longer during peak season (October-December).
• Maintain records for 5 years as required under the Customs Act 1901.

The Australian fragrance market offers strong margins and growing demand, particularly in the premium home fragrance segment. Importers who establish compliant supply chains from China position themselves to serve a market where consumers increasingly value quality, sustainability, and distinctive scent profiles.