Sourcing perfume atomiser bulbs from China

Duty and classification for squeeze bulbs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 9616 covers scent sprays and similar toilet sprays, their mounts and heads, and cosmetic powder puffs and pads. The table contains the relevant spray and head lines. Confirm whether your shipment contains loose bulbs, bulb-and-head assemblies or complete atomisers before choosing the commodity code.

Both relevant lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Its CITES and cat and dog fur controls attach to the powder-puff and pad line, outside this guide's product scope; importers of those goods should confirm the requirements with their customs broker.

A loose rubber bulb should not automatically be declared as a mount or head. Give your broker the material specification, photographs, connector drawing and details of the assembly supplied. For the associated spray mechanism, see replacement perfume atomiser heads. The order figures are illustrative, not a quotation.

Specify the bulb, hose and connector together

State the rubber composition, bulb shape, wall thickness, squeeze feel and recovery after release. Specify the hose material and flexibility, connector dimensions, fastening method and whether the supply includes the spray head. For a fabric-covered bulb, approve the weave, colour, seam position and attachment around the neck.

Approve samples fitted to the intended bottle and spray head. Compare mist formation, squeeze effort, recovery and performance after repeated use. Ask the factory to identify any material exposed to fragrance or vapour and assess compatibility with the intended perfume.

Consumer-use accessories fall within the scope of Great Britain's general product safety rules. Confirm the applicable safety requirements for atomiser accessories with local Trading Standards. Keep the approved material specification and assembly samples available when arranging testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 replacement bulb-and-head assemblies, subject to code confirmation under 9616 10 90 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £640 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,640. Duty at 2% is £52.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,692.80, so it is £538.56. Import taxes total £591.36; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £52.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Air delivery: fit sampled bulbs to the approved atomiser and check for a consistent mist, prompt recovery and air leakage at the joints.

Rubber and hose: check for cracks, tackiness, collapse, kinks and changes after the agreed repeated-squeeze and compatibility tests.

Connector retention: check the bulb neck, hose ends and fittings stay secure during squeezing, handling and packing.

Cover and packing: check seams, fraying, colour transfer and odour; compare product labels and batch identification with the approved packing specification. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A bulb can look correct yet deliver too little air because its wall is too stiff, it recovers slowly or a joint leaks. A mismatched connector can slip off the head, while a kinked hose restricts airflow. Test the supplied assembly on the intended bottle rather than accepting a squeeze test of the bulb alone.

Rubber may become tacky or crack, and a decorative cover can conceal a weak neck joint. Agree rejection criteria against the approved sample and inspect arrival stock for crushed bulbs, distorted hoses and loose fittings before releasing it for sale.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.