Two popular fragrances have been banned from hand luggage on all flights, with a major UK airport warning holidaymakers not to take them onboard. The ban affects Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb and Azzaro Wanted, whose bottles are designed to resemble a hand grenade and a gun barrel respectively.
Why the Fragrances Are Banned
The issue is not the scent itself but the bottle design. Spicebomb comes in a cylindrical bottle resembling a hand grenade, while Wanted by Azzaro is shaped like a barrel loaded with bullets. These designs can cause problems during security scanning, leading to confiscation.
Reddit users have shared stories of having their expensive bottles binned by security. One traveler complained: "a casual reminder to fellow travelers. Today at Berlin Brandenburg Airport during a security check they made me throw away the bottle of Spicebomb Extreme 90ml perfume (clearly marked with serial number and all) just because this lady felt like it reminded her of a hand grenade."
Official Warnings and Confiscations
Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s official website warns: "UK airports have been requested by the Department for Transport to prohibit carriage of the Spice Bomb fragrance made by Viktor and Rolf and Wanted fragrance made by Azzaro. This prohibition is in place regardless of whether the size of the bottle means that it would otherwise be allowed if carried in a compliant plastic bag."
Another Redditor who claimed to have worked at airport security said: "I’ve had a co-worker confiscate Azzaro Most Wanted in the past and I was so confused. They said they took it because of the bullets in the design. I had no words."
Purchasing After Security
Despite the ban, Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s World Duty Free outlet still sells these fragrances in the controversially shaped bottles, and they can be added to a click and collect basket when flying from Liverpool, as passengers will have already gone through security. However, travelers may face issues when bringing the bottle back from other countries, as airport security procedures vary.
In a bizarre mix-up in 2023, police were called to an airport in Ontario, Canada, after a man thought a woman had threatened him with a gun after she replied that her perfume was named Juliette Has a Gun. The man mistakenly thought the name was a threat, but police de-escalated the situation.
