I was trying to fulfill a RAOK by mailing someone a small bottle of perfume.  When they asked the usual question "anything perishable/liquid/hazardous?" , I answered truthfully that it was a small bottle of perfume in the box.  FYI.-it was packaged up in a bubble mailer.  The clerk stated that I could not mail anything with alcohol in it.  Is this true?  I've never heard of that.  How could online retailers mail perfume then?  Does anyone know if UPC or somewhere similar would let me mail perfume?

If you're sure it's packaged properly (inside box and lots of bubble wrap) . . . I've mailed wine to my sister, it arrived just fine.

And yes, Fed Ex and UPS accept contents that USPS discourages.

Yes, it's true.  Perfume is considered a Hazardous Material.  Check out the USPS Link for long list of Materials that can't be shipping.

http://www.usps.com/aviationsecurity/

Just because a bottle of perfume or wine is wrapped safe and makes the trip, doesn't mean it's legal. 

If the liquid was to be airmailed there is a chance of explosion due to expansion from pressure (not a real hazard with perfume, but think about complete sets of bottles of sangria).

I don't know about now, but if you still wanted to use USPS there used to be custom forms you could fill out that would allow you to send liquids or other perishables and flammables (make sure the prefume isn't ethanol though as this is a whole different can of worms thanks to prohibition).  One of the current postal employees could tell you if this is still available (I haven't used this since the late 90's so my knowledge is obviously dated).

I would put it in a box.  Do not trust anything breakable to a bubble mailer!  Make sure it's ziplocked as well, just in case of breakage.  You don't want the perfume going all over someone else's mail or packages.

It needs to go ground no matter which carrier you use.