Travel isn’t just about moving from one place to another; it’s about gathering small moments that stay with us long after we return home. Like a candle that smells like a slow morning by the sea or a tiny ceramic found in a hidden shop. Small things like a perfume becomes the scent of a trip you’ll never forget.
These aren’t simple purchases.
They’re tangible memories; pieces of the world you carry back with you. But there’s one place where these memories are the most vulnerable: airport security.
I’ve seen far too many treasures disappear at the X-ray belt; souvenirs that should have been allowed. I’ve lost a few of my own. (and a few is already too many) And every single time, it isn’t the object that hurts… it’s the memory it held, or the gift I was looking forward making.
This guide was created so that your treasures make it home safely.
What Airport Rules Say
According to official travel regulations, the following items are allowed in your carry-on luggage:
- liquids under 100 ml
- solid candles
- non-flammable souvenirs
- easy-to-inspect items
On paper, the rules seem simple. But seasoned travelers know this: airport rules and airport reality are not always the same.
What Actually Happens at Airport
Security
Security agents sometimes confiscate items that are fully allowed according to the rules. And the reasons vary:
- the airport
- the country
- the agent
- time pressure
- scanner visibility
- and yes… sometimes their mood
You can follow every guideline perfectly and still be told:
“Sorry, you can’t take that.” And just like that, a memory is gone.
The In-Between Items or what I call The Grey Zone
There’s a whole set of souvenirs that fall into a tricky category.
They should be allowed… yet they often get questioned, delayed, or confiscated.
These include:
- delicate ceramics
- solid candles
- perfumes without a clearly printed volume
- incense and matches
- honey, spreads, or anything gooey
- items wrapped too tightly to inspect quickly
These objects confuse scanners or slow down the line — and when agents are rushed, they tend to remove anything that isn’t instantly readable.
Common Airport Trouble Items to Watch Out For
-
- solid candles (I know... I know... !)
- ceramics
- perfumes with no “<100ml” visible
- incense + matches (Yes, my heart was broken too many times)
- honey, spreads, semi-solid goods
- treasures excessively wrapped
“Allowed” doesn’t always mean safe in practice.
What You Should Actually Do
After speaking with hundreds of travelers (and unfortunately watching countless souvenirs get taken) here is what truly works:
1.Ensure perfumes show “<100ml” on the label.
If the size isn’t visible, agents almost always question it.
2. Put candles, incense, and matches in your checked luggage.
Even when technically allowed, they’re frequently confiscated in practice, and if you purchase more than 3 candles, split them between different luggages.
3. Wrap ceramics carefully and keep them in your personal item.
This prevents breakage and gives you control during inspection.
4. Place honey, spreads, solid creams, and any “gooey” items in checked luggage.
If it smears, spreads, or looks thick on the scanner, it may be taken.
Small choices prevent unnecessary losses.
Why Protecting Your Souvenirs Matters
Losing a handmade object or a perfume at the airport isn’t just losing money.
It’s losing this “ vacation feeling”, a reminder of happy days when things get a little tougher… It’s losing a talisman of some sort.
Travel gives us a respite.
The treasures we bring home allow us to keep the beauty of that respite close.
A Personal Note
I wrote this guide because I hear this story constantly at Anne Sidora – especially with our candles that we cannot replace by shipping them to the USA.
Travelers fall in love with pieces chosen with intention; pieces infused with meaning; and they naturally want to take them home.
But too often, I hear:
“They took it at the airport… I wish I had known.”
I wish for you to never lose a memory at the X-ray belt again.
And if you love intentional living, small rituals, beautiful objects, and poetic moments, you’re in the right place.
Follow along for more peace, beauty, and poetry lived.
Anne.
