How to Set Up Custom Return-Path Domains (bounce.yourdomain.com) in AWS SES

The Annoying "via amazonses.com" Warning Explained

Have you ever received an email where the sender appears as:

from: Acme Corp <[email protected]> via amazonses.com

This "via amazonses.com" header is injected by Gmail and Outlook whenever the domain in the visible From: address does not match the domain in the invisible envelope Return-Path: (MAIL FROM).

Not only does this badge diminish brand trust for premium SaaS applications, but it also prevents strict SPF alignment under modern DMARC specifications.

Setting Up Custom MAIL FROM in 3 Steps

Step 1: Choose a Dedicated Subdomain

Select a dedicated subdomain that will handle bounce notifications, typically bounce.yourdomain.com or mail.yourdomain.com. Never use your root apex domain for the MAIL FROM envelope.

Step 2: Add DNS Records

Log in to your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Route53, Namecheap) and create two records:

1. MX Record:
   Host:     bounce
   Value:    feedback-smtp.[region].amazonses.com (e.g. feedback-smtp.us-east-1.amazonses.com)
   Priority: 10

2. TXT Record (SPF):
   Host:     bounce
   Value:    "v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all"

Step 3: Activate in AWS SES

Navigate to AWS SES → Verified Identities → yourdomain.com → Custom MAIL FROM domain. Enter bounce.yourdomain.com and click Save Changes. AWS SES will verify your MX and SPF records within minutes.

The Result: 100% Pure Brand Alignment

Once activated, the "via amazonses.com" indicator disappears completely. Every email dispatched through Solidrix Send displays cleanly as originating directly from your authenticated corporate domain.