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Shipping a swap

Once a swap is accepted, you each post your side. This is a two-way trade, so both parcels move at the same time — there's no "buyer pays first". Everything happens in the Shipping tab of the swap.

1. Confirm your address​

Open the Logistic Center in the Shipping tab and confirm the shipping address you want your partner to post to. If you don't have a default address saved, you can add one right there (name, street, suburb, state, postcode, phone).

Your address is only shared once both of you have confirmed. Until then, neither side can see the other's details. When the second person confirms, both of you get a "ready to post" email with your partner's address included.

2. Acknowledge the trade​

Before you can ship, you'll tick a short trust acknowledgement — confirming you understand that shipping fragrance carries some risk, that you'll photograph your item before it goes, and that this is a private trade where ScentSell gives you the tools and will try to help, but isn't a party to the deal. You do this once per swap.

3. Complete the pre-ship checklist​

The Pre-Ship Checklist is the gate before you can mark anything shipped. You'll need to:

  • Upload pre-ship photos of the item before you pack it (your evidence of condition).
  • Enter a tracking number.
  • Confirm the item matches your listing exactly.
  • Confirm it's properly packed (bubble wrap, sealed bag, sturdy box).
  • Confirm you're shipping by road transport, not air.
  • If you're including decants or samples, confirm they're sealed, bagged with absorbent material, boxed and clearly labelled.

You can't mark the item shipped until the photos, tracking number and required boxes are all done.

4. Post within 48 hours​

You have 48 hours from acceptance to post and add your tracking. The Shipping tab shows a countdown so you can see your deadline at a glance. Posting promptly is the single biggest thing that keeps a swap pleasant — your partner is sending their bottle on the same trust.

How to pack and lodge​

Fragrance bottles are glass, and fragrance is a Dangerous Good — alcohol-based liquid that cannot fly. Every Australian carrier follows the same air-freight ban, so swaps go road / ground only.

  • 2+ layers of bubble wrap or foam around the bottle.
  • Secure the cap with tape so it can't leak in transit.
  • A sealed plastic bag as secondary protection.
  • A sturdy cardboard box — never a padded mailer; bottles crush in envelopes.
  • Fill the gaps so nothing rattles.
  • Lodge at the AusPost counter and declare it as Dangerous Goods, ground-only (Class 3 Flammable). Express Post is fine as long as it's the road-network service, not airfreight.

5. Mark received​

When your partner's parcel arrives, open the swap and tap Mark as Received. You'll be prompted to add a quick post-receive photo. When both of you have confirmed you've received your parcels, the swap completes automatically and you can each leave a rating.

Tracking for both parcels is visible in the Shipping tab the whole way through, with an AusPost tracking link for your partner's shipment.

tip

Both sides shipping promptly and entering tracking is what makes a swap feel safe. If your partner has gone quiet past the 48-hour window, the next page explains your options.

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