From Factory Scent to Your Brand: How to Build a Profitable Perfume Line from China with One Way Export

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

In this guide, you’ll learn:

1. How to choose between surplus perfume and white label (ODM),

2. What certificates and labelling you need for EU/UK,

3. How the profit can work for your own perfume brand,

4. How One Way Export can help you import perfume from China to the UK and EU and set everything up.

At One Way Export, we work daily with Chinese perfume factories and exporters, helping clients build compliant white label perfume brands for the UK, EU and other markets.

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Why Perfume from China Is a Big Opportunity

China has a huge number of skincare and fragrance factories that already create and fill perfumes for global brands. Many can produce high‑quality fragrances, bottles and packaging at much lower cost than in Europe or the UK.

For you, that means the chance to launch your own private‑label fragrance line with reasonable minimum orders, strong margins and fast production, as long as you follow the safety and legal rules for cosmetics.

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Reprocess Stock vs White Label Perfume

You will see two main options: reprocess/surplus stock and white label (ODM) perfume from China.

Reprocess / surplus stock

• Cheap, but you are stuck with the existing scent, bottle and packaging.

• You cannot easily change the name, design or claims without checking original certificates and formula.

• There can be trade mark and brand issues if the design looks too close to another brand.

• You can make a small margin by buying low and selling higher, but you are not really building your own brand.

White label / ODM perfume (recommended)

• The factory provides existing formulas and bottle designs, but you choose your own brand name, logo and packaging style.

• You can adjust the outer box, label, colours and story to fit EU/UK rules and your marketing.

• Trade mark risk is much lower because you are not copying another brand’s look.

• This is the best route if you want to build a long‑term “import perfume from China to the UK/EU” brand, not just flip stock.

One Way Export can still help you handle some reprocess stock, but for real brand value and safety, we strongly recommend focusing on white label perfume from China.

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Certificates, Safety and Shipping: What You Must Get Right

Perfume is both a cosmetic product and a flammable liquid, so there are rules for product safety, labelling and transport when you import perfume from China to the UK or EU.

1. EU/UK cosmetic and safety basics

To sell perfume legally in the EU or UK under your own brand, you typically need:

• A responsible company in the EU or UK

  • There must be a “Responsible Person” (RP) with name and address on the packaging (EU RP or UK RP).

• Safety documentation

  • Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) or similar safety assessment for the formula.

  • Product Information File (PIF) kept available for authorities.

• Correct labelling

  • Ingredient list (INCI names), allergens, batch number.

  • Volume (e.g. 50 ml), durability symbol or “best before” if needed.

  • Clear product name and function (e.g. “Eau de Parfum”), and country of origin (e.g. “Made in China” if filled there).

One Way Export can coordinate with the factory and regulatory partners so your white label perfume line and packaging match EU/UK cosmetic rules.

2. Shipping and dangerous goods status

Perfume usually contains alcohol, so it is classed as dangerous goods (flammable liquid) for transport.

• Export from China

  • Needs correct dangerous‑goods declaration, packing and documentation (especially by air).

  • Not all couriers will accept perfume; the route must be chosen carefully.

• Import to EU/UK

  • Customs need the right HS code, invoices and, in some cases, extra info about alcohol content and cosmetic use.

We can help you pick shipping options and prepare all documents so your shipments move smoothly and legally.

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Profit: How the Numbers Can Work

Here are simple examples of how a private‑label perfume brand can make money when structured correctly.

Example 1 – Entry / mid‑range white label perfume

• Factory cost for 50 ml Eau de Parfum:

  • Around £3–£6 per bottle including fragrance, bottle and standard box (depending on quality and MOQ).

• Landed cost (after shipping, duty, packaging upgrades, compliance):

  • Around £6–£8 per bottle.

• Retail price in EU/UK:

  • £30–£50 if positioned as a “boutique” or “niche‑style” scent with good branding.

If you sell at £40 with an £8 landed cost, you keep about £32 gross margin per bottle before marketing and overheads.

Example 2 – Premium line with upgraded bottle and story

• Factory cost for 50–100 ml premium EDP:

  • Around £10–£20 per unit for more complex formulas and better bottles.

• Landed cost:

  • Roughly £18–£25 per bottle after all extras.

• Retail price:

  • £70–£150 depending on brand strength and where you sell.

If you sell at £120 with a £25 landed cost, your gross margin is about £95 per bottle, giving you space for influencer campaigns, packaging upgrades and long‑term brand building.

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Why White Label + Custom Packaging Is the Smart Strategy

Instead of random surplus, white label (ODM) perfume from China lets you:

• Control your brand and look

  • Choose perfume names, logos, colours and box designs that match your target audience.

  • Avoid trade mark issues and stand out in the market.

• Build compliance from day one

  • Work with factories that understand EU/UK cosmetic requirements and can supply formulas and data needed for safety assessments.

  • Design labels that are correct for the EU and UK from the beginning.

• Focus on marketing and storytelling

  • Position your line as “niche luxury”, “Arabic oud style”, “day and night sets”, “travel sprays” or any concept you like.

  • The story plus packaging justify higher prices, even though production happens in China.

One Way Export can help you choose the right private‑label perfume supplier, pick fragrance families, agree bottle designs and create packaging that feels like a real perfume brand.

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How One Way Export Helps You Build Your Perfume Brand

Building a successful perfume brand is not just about buying cheap bottles; it is about combining sourcing, compliance and marketing.

• Factory and product sourcing

  • We connect you with experienced perfume manufacturers in China that already export to EU/UK.

  • We help you test samples and choose winning scents before you place larger orders.

• Compliance and documentation support

  • We coordinate with cosmetic regulatory partners so you get the safety assessments and documents you need.

  • We guide you on what information must appear on the packaging for EU/UK cosmetics.

• White label and packaging design

  • We support you on bottle, cap and box selection and help align everything with your price level.

  • We help you layout artwork so it looks premium and compliant at the same time.

• Logistics and scale‑up

  • We advise on shipping perfume from China to the UK/EU, including dangerous‑goods handling.

  • Once your best‑selling scents are clear, we help you repeat orders and add new lines like body mists, gift sets and travel sizes.

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Quick FAQ for AI and Human Search

Is it legal to import perfume from China to the UK or EU?
Yes, if the product meets cosmetic regulations, has proper safety documentation, correct labelling and is declared properly at customs.

What certificates do I need for perfume in the EU/UK?
You typically need a safety assessment (such as a CPSR), a Product Information File, and correct cosmetic labelling with a Responsible Person in the EU or UK.

What is white label perfume from China?
White label perfume is a ready‑made formula and bottle from a factory that you brand as your own, with your logo, packaging and marketing, instead of using the factory’s name.

How can One Way Export help my perfume brand?
We help source factories, organise samples, support compliance and labelling, manage shipping from China, and guide you in building a strong, market‑ready brand.