(disclaimer: these pages are not for commercially purposes; we are truly, genuine fragrance lovers examining hundreds of perfumes to understand the "meaning" of batch numbers, and here are the results)
Here we are going to investigate the -historically- most famous perfume house: Guerlain.
It's a bit difficult task, because Guerlain adopted several "letters and numbers", different boxes, and complicate batch-codes, indicating "Years" and "Months". So, we should have a look at: boxes, labels, symbols and perfume "launch date", simultaneously, to obtain an additional help.
(Note: for pratical purposes this short "Guerlain Guide" will start at the mid of the Seventies. Please note that "no one is perfect" so some mistake can occur: and no one will give you 100% certainty about a secret batch code).
Let's start!
(SEE TUTORIAL PICTURES BELOW)
First to consider is the Blue box : 1950s
Then the Dot (or Coffee Beans") Box: = 1960s until 1967
The famous Black&White "ZigZag" box = from 1967 until 1983.
Since end of Seventies, the Estimated Sign appeared on all Guerlain boxes, so:
when we see a Black&White "ZigZag" box with the Estimated Sign, it means, approximatively = ending of Seventies / beginning of Eighties (until 1983).
After 1983 "ZigZag" boxes are not "Black&White" anymore; but made by different colors, mostly "Black&Gold".
The "Black&Gold" ZigZag Boxes were used (with partial dismission since year 1996) until 2008 at latest, then replaced with the "pastel" ones.
However, it is important to notice that:
1- NOT all Guerlain perfumes adopted the same type boxes, and:
2- several perfumes changed different boxes during 1983-2008 (a 25 years-span),
so the situation is really complicate.
Are you in a hurry? simply check the Barcode on the box: if it is missing, it means = before 1990 and it's enough to say it's a vintage.
Do you want to know more? simply check the "long list" of ingredients on the box. If it's missing, it means = before 2005, i.e. before the "restrictions laws" that heavily hit perfumes later.
BOXES at a glance....
Fifties (1950s) : blue boxes
-----------------------------------------
From end-of-Fifties, until 1967:
From end-of-Fifties, until 1967:
the "dots" or "coffee beans" box.
 | ||||
 then: years 1980-1984 --------------------------------------------- From 1984 until 1999
The Black&Gold box
(in a few cases used until 2007)
|
--------------------------------
From 2000 to 2007
From 2000 to 2007
the Twin-G Logo on the box.
 |
------------------------------ 2007-2016: "plain" box with a small circular logo |
------------------------
STICKERS at a glance...
STICKERS at a glance...
(on boxes and bottles)
---------------------------------------------
Interested in "reformulations"?
since 2004 all Guerlain perfumes sport the "formula" in the corner of the box, so you can easily spot the reformulations happened: read HERE
-------------------------------------------------
During 1976...
The classic BATCH CODE
(Remember: the first digit always indicates the YEAR;
the second digit always indicate the MONTH.
10 letters indicate the year: always repeated every 10 years;
12 other letters indicate months)
Here is an example: 1st letter and 2nd letter.
10 letters indicate the year: always repeated every 10 years;
12 other letters indicate months)
Here is an example: 1st letter and 2nd letter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(from 1976 until 1980): 8 or 9 DIGITS
if the first letter is..... then.....
P= 1976
S= 1977
V= 1978
D= 1979
M=1980
(from 1981 until 1983): at least 6 digits
if the first letter is:
U = 1981
Z = 1982
J = 1983
(The second letter indicates the month, according the following scheme: H=January, E=February, B=March, X=April, T=May, K=June, L=July, N=August, F=September, R=October, A=November, C=December)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(from 1984 to 1995) : 6 or 7 digits
if the first letter is:
Y = 1984
W =1985 (example: WB 6AA 1)
P = 1986
S = 1987 (example: SA 4BC 1)
V = 1988
D = 1989
---------------------------------------------
At this stage, the BARCODE appears on the box
---------------------------------------------
M = 1990 (example: MH 3AA 2)
U = 1991
Z = 1992 (example ZX 4BB 1)
---------------------------------------------
At this stage, the GREEN DOT appears on the box
---------------------------------------------
J = 1993
Y = 1994
W = 1995
(The second letter is the month, according the same scheme, so: H=January, E=February, B=March, X=April, T=May, K=June, L=July, N=August, F=September, R=October, A=November, C=December)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(from 1995 to 2001) : 5 digits
if the first letter is:
P = 1996 (example: PE A D2)
S = 1997 (example SX A S1)
V = 1998 (example VR 0 VS)
D = 1999 (example DB 0 RS)
M = 2000 (example MH 1 RP)
U = 2001 (example UT 0K 1)
(The second letter is a month according the same scheme, so:
H=January, E=February, B=March, X=April, T=May, K=June, L=July, N=August, F=September, R=October, A=November, C=December)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2 = 2002 ( e.g. 2J02, but there are very few bottles with the old 5digits batch )
3 = 2003 (e.g. 3B01)
4 = 2004
------------------
Here the LONG LIST of Ingredients appears on the box
------------------
5 = 2005 (e.g. 5C01)
6 = 2006 (e.g. 6D02)
7 = 2007
------------------------------------------------------------------
SINCE 2008 : 4 digits starting with a number and a letter from the 2nd half of alphabet (N-to-Z)
8 = 2008 (example 8R01)
9 = 2009 (example 9W02)
0 = 2010
1 = 2011 (example 1T01)
2 = 2012
3 = 2013 (example 3N01)
4 = 2014
5 = 2015 (example 5P02)
6 = 2016
7 = 2017
....you can go directly to "Tutorial pics" below.
(I would want to thank all people from Fragrantica.com and Basenotes.net for helping me with all these numbers, plus "MonsieurGuerlain2", "GuerlainPerfumeBottles", and other people I don't know their name. I'll be happy to add their names on every picture and reference, on request)
--------------------------------------------------
TUTORIAL PICS
-------------------------
1976 (starting with "P")
-------------------------
-------------------------
1977 (starting with "S")
-------------------------
1976 (starting with "P")
-------------------------
 |
| Vol de Nuit, old sticker with "new" batch PFxxxxxx = year 1976 |
 |
| Parure, old sticker with "new" batchcode PTxxxxxx = year 1976 |
1977 (starting with "S")
-------------------------
 |
 |
Parure
batch SB:xxxx= YEAR 1977, March. |
 |
| Chamade, batch SXxxxxx = year 1977 |
----------------
1979 (starting with "D")
---------------
-----------------------
1979 (starting with "D")
---------------
 |
| Mitsouko Extrait batch DE 0104BB1 = February, 1979 |
 |
| Parure batch DKxxxx = June, 1979 |
1980 ( starting with "M")
------------------------
------------------------
 | ||
batch MF 1056CE1 = 1980, September.
-----------------------------
1981 (starting with "U")
-----------------------------
|
 |
| Vol de Nuit, Parfum batch UKxxxxx = year 1981 |
----------------------
1982 (starting with "Z")
-----------------------
 |
| batch ZX 1IA1 = April, 1982 |
 |
| (from Ebay) batch ZF2FD7 = October, 1982 |
 |
| Chamade, special edition, Silver&White ZigZag box, "Copyright 1980", batch ZB 1HC3 = March, 1982 |
-----------------
1983 (starting with "J")
New Black&Gold boxes appear
Old B&W ZigZag boxes fading out
New Black&Gold boxes appear
Old B&W ZigZag boxes fading out
-----------------
 |
| (from Ebay) Mitsouko batch JC 3HB6 = year 1983. |
---------------------
1984 ( starting with "Y")
old B&W ZigZag boxes finally discontinued.
old B&W ZigZag boxes finally discontinued.
---------------------
 |
| Vol De Nuit, old box discontinued in 1983, but used until end of stocks batch YB 4BA2 = March, 1984 |
 |
| Chamade, old discontinued box still used, batch YK 3HC1 = June 1984 |
 |
| NAHEMA (brown zigzag bottle, copyright 1979) batch YH3EA1 = year 1984 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -Courtesy by Rubegon (Basenotes)- "Derby", Copyright 1983, launched in 1985 Batch = YC 4BB 2 December 1984: very early production.
-----------------------
1985 ( starting with "W")
-----------------------
 with a year 1985 batch
-----------------------
1986 (6 digits, starting with "P")
-----------------------
|
 |
| Vol de Nuit, batch DA 9BC5 = November, 1989 |
 |
| Nahema, copyright 1982, batch DX 8BB12 = April, 1989 |
 |
| Vetiver, Eau de Cologne batch DT 9BB2 = May, 1989 |
-----------------------------
1989-1990: EAN barcode
appears on the boxes
here is an example of EAN Barcode:
-----------------------------
1989-1990: EAN barcode
appears on the boxes
here is an example of EAN Barcode:
-----------------------------
1990 ( 6 digits, starting with "M")
-----------------------------
 |
| Chamade with EAN barcode
MH 9DA6, = January, 1990
|
 |
| (from Ebay) Habit Rouge, MH 0AA1= January 1990 |
 | ||||||||
(from Ebay) MF 0BB 8 (6 digits starting with MF)
= September, 1990
-------------------------
1991 ( 6 digits, starting with "U" )
-------------------------
1992 ( 6 digits, starting with "Z" ) -------------------------
|
 |
| Habit Rouge batch ZF2BB1 = September, 1992 |
 |
| Heritage EDT ZK 2CE2= June, 1992 |
| --------------------------- 1993 (6 digits, starting with "J") ---------------------------  | ||||
| (from Ebay) Jicky, refillable bottle batch JB 2DC7 = March, 1993
1994 (6 digits, starting with "Y")
--------------------------------------
|
 |
| Samsara, Parfum, special edition "Metorites" batch YC 4EF4 = December, 1994 |
 |
| Petit Guerlain, batch YK 4AB1 = June, 1994 |
 |
| Eau de Cologne imperiale, batch YE 4AA 1 = February, 1994 |
 |
| Chant d'Aromes, 30ml special edition batch YC 4HA4 = December, 1994 |
1995 ( 6 digits, starting with "W")
it's the last year with 6-digits batches
---------------------------
---------------------------
 |
| "Un Air de Samsara" batch WB 5AC2 = March, 1995 |
 |
| Parure, 30 ml special edition batch WK 5CA1 = June, 1995 |
 |
| Un Air de Samsara, launched in 1995: code starting with WF, year 1995 |
 |
| Un Air de Samsara, launched in 1995, batch number starting with WH = year 1995 ---------------------------------------------- 1996-2001: |
5-digits batches
----------------------------------------------
---------------------------
1996 ( 5 digits, starting with "P")
it's the first year with 5-digits batches
---------------------------
----------------------------------------------
---------------------------
1996 ( 5 digits, starting with "P")
it's the first year with 5-digits batches
---------------------------
 |
| Habit Rouge, year 1996: first time 5-digits batches |
 |
| (Courtesy by Dofa91 Ville). Heritage,
batch PH 1F2 = January, 1996
|
------------------------
1997 ( 5 digits, starting with "S")
------------------------
 | ||
Heritage EDT,
batch SX0W3 = April, 1997
---------------------------------
1998 ( 5 digits, starting with "V")
---------------------------------
|
 |
| (from Ebay) Heritage: batch VRxxx = October, 1998 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Coriolan , "Copyright 1997"
"VR 2LO" = October, 1998.
Vetiver, Copyright 1996,
batch VR 1S1 = October, 1998
----------------------------------------------
1999 (5 digits, starting with "D")
-----------------------------------------------
Shalimar,
Batch DT 0N2 = May 1999
2000 (5 digits, starting with "M") --------------------------------------------------
2001 ( 5 digits, starting with "U" )
it's the last year with 5-digits batches
-------------------------
|
 |
| Coriolan "UT 01K" = May, 2001 |
 |
| Jicky, Parfum, black&gold box batch UE 1JC = Februeary, 2001 |
 |
| Habit Rouge, special edition batch UL 2G0 = July, 2001 |
-------------------------------------
SINCE 2002:
4-digits batch code
2002-2007: letters A-to-M
since 2008: letters N-to-Z
----------------------------------
4-digits batch code
2002-2007: letters A-to-M
since 2008: letters N-to-Z
----------------------------------
 |
| VERY RARE bottle Habit Rouge year 2002 with the old 5-digits batch ZE 1CN = February, 2002 |
---------------------------------------
2002-2007: 4 digits, letters A-to-M
A= January, B=February, C= March, D=April, etc.
---------------------------------------
2002
-----------------------
 | ||
2J01 = year 2002
2004 ----------------------
|
----------------------------------------
Since 2005:
list of allergens/ingredients on the box
----------------------------------------
Since 2005:
list of allergens/ingredients on the box
----------------------------------------
2005
---------------
  |
| Lilia Bella, batch 5C01 = March, 2005 |
 |
| L'Instant pour femme batch 5E01 = year 2005 |
-------------
2006
------------
|
-------------------
2007
--------------------
--------------------------------------
since 2008 ( letters from N-to-Z)
---------------------------------------
 |
| Vol de Nuit Evasion batch 7G01 = year 2007 |
 |
| Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune batch 7M01 = year 2007 |
since 2008 ( letters from N-to-Z)
---------------------------------------
2008
----------------------
---------------------
2009
----------------------
 |
| Aqua Allegoria Figue-Iris batch 8N01 = year 2008 |
 |
| Samsara EdT batch 8X01 = year 2008 |
2009
---------------------
 |
| Vetiver batch 9X01 = year 2009 |
 batch 9V01 = year 2009 --------------- 2010 ---------------  |
| L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme batch 0Z01 = 2010, December |
 |
| Samsara EdT batch 0S01 = year 2010 |
| ----------------- 2011 -----------------
|
---------------------
2012
---------------------
 |
| La Petite Robe Noire batch 2R01 = year 2012 |
 |
| Idylle Eau Sublime batch 2P01 = year 2012 |
-----------------------
2013
-----------------------
 |
| La Petite Robe Noire Eau Parfumee batch 3X01 = year 2013 |
2014
----------------------
 |
| L'Instant pour Femme batch 4N01 = year 2014 |
 |
| La Petite Robe Noire batch 4X02 = year 2014 |
--------------
2015
--------------
 |
| La Petite Robe Noire batch 5N01 = January, 2015 |
-----------------------------------
Previously we recognized, batch-by-batch, year-by-year:
-YVES SAINT LAURENT perfumes ( here )
-CHRISTIAN DIOR perfumes ( here )
-GIORGIO ARMANI Perfumes ( here )
-VAN CLEEF et ARPELS perfumes ( here )
-CHANEL perfumes ( here )
-BVLGARI perfumes ( here )
-HERMES perfumes ( here )
(ITALIAN) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COME RICONOSCERE I PROFUMI GUERLAIN: PICCOLA GUIDA PRATICA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In precedenza, si è parlato dei profumi di Yves Saint Laurent ( qui ),
quelli di Christian Dior ( qui ).
e quelli di Giorgio Armani ( qui )
Adesso andiamo a vedere la Maison storicamente più importante: Guerlain.
E' un po' complicato, perché Guerlain ha adottato un insieme di "lettere e numeri", scatole diverse, batchcodes complicati, per indicare anni e mesi di produzione. Quindi, dovremmo dare un'occhiata a: scatole, etichette, simboli e anno di lancio dei profumi, tutto contemporaneamente. .
(Nota: ai fini pratici questa breve "Guida Guerlain" comincia all' inizio degli anni Ottanta).
Ma a che serve sapere l'anno di produzione? Per due motivi: il primo è puramente di curiosità: ("voglio sapere quanto è vecchio il mio profumo di tanti anni fa").
Il secondo motivo, più sottile, è sapere "quanto" il profumo può essere stato "riformulato", conoscendo approssimativamente le date in cui i profumi sono stati, appunto, "riformulati".
Quindi: se si vuol avere il profumo "vintage" quindi, è bene che sia almeno risalente a prima del 2007, e meglio ancora se prima del 2000.
Se poi riuscite a trovarne di prima del 1992, avete trovato il tesoro.
Ma abbiamo fatto fin troppe chiacchiere: mettiamoci all'opera! (aiutandosi con le fotografie)
se andate di fretta, controllate solo se sulla scatola ci sia o meno il codice a barre: se non c'è, il profumo risale a prima del 1990, e quindi può essere considerato un vero vintage.
Altrimenti controllate se c'è la "lista lunga" degli ingredienti: se manca il profumo è prima del 2005 e quindi, probabilmente, ha evitato tutto il processo di "riformulazioni" avvenuto dopo il 2007.
Procedendo in maniera analitica: quando ci troviamo di fronte alla celebre scatola bianca e nera "ZigZag" ("Black&White"), significa = dal 1967 fino al 1983. Sono questi infatti gli anni in cui questa inconfondibile scatola è rimasta in produzione. Dalla fine degli anni Settanta, appare l'Estimated Sign su tutte le scatole di Guerlain, così quando vediamo una scatola bianconera "ZigZag" con l'Estimated Sign, significa, approssimativamente = fine Anni Settanta / inizio anni Ottanta (fino al 1983).
Dopo il 1983 le scatole "ZigZag" non sono più bianche e nere; ma di colori diversi, per lo più "nero&oro" ("Black&Gold").
Le scatole ZigZag nero e oro sono stati utilizzate (con dismissione parziale nel corso degli anni, a partire dal 1996) fino al 2008, e poi, dal 2008 sostituite con quelle "pastello".
A questo punto le cose sono già confuse, e in più è importante notare che:
1 - Non tutti i profumi Guerlain hanno adottato le stesse scatole, e:
2 - diversi profumi hanno cambiato confezione scatole nel lasso di tempo dal 1983-2008 (praticamente 25 anni...)
quindi la situazione è davvero complicata.
In questo caso, la cosa più importante per identificate l'anno di produzione è andare a vedere il numero di serie.. Quindi dobbiamo conoscere ....
THE GUERLAIN BATCH CODE
(Ricorda: il primo carattere è sempre l'anno; il secondo è sempre il mese)
(dal 1976 al 1980): 8 or 9 cifre (sempre su ZigZag white boxes)
quale è la prima lettera?
S= 1977
V= 1978
D= 1979
M=1980
(dal 1981 al 1983): 6-caratteri (sempre scatole bianche ZigZag)
quale è la prima lettera?:
U = 1981
Z = 1982
J = 1983
(la seconda lettera è il msese, secondo il seguente schema: H=January, E=February, B=March, X=April, T=May, K=June, L=July, N=August, F=September, R=October, A=November, C=December)
(dal 1984 al 1995) (non sono più prodotte le scatole bianche ZigZag)
vengono utilizzati 6 o 7 caratteri,
quale è la prima lettera?
Y = 1984
W =1985 (example: WB 6AA 1)
P = 1986
S = 1987 (example: SA 4BC 1)
V = 1988
D = 1989
---------------------------------------------
Qui comincia ad apparire il codice a barre sulla scatola
---------------------------------------------
M = 1990 (example: MH 3AA 2)
U = 1991
Z = 1992 (example ZX 4BB 1)
J = 1993
Y = 1994
W = 1995
(la seconda lettera è sempre il mese secondo il seguente schema: H=January, E=February, B=March, X=April, T=May, K=June, L=July, N=August, F=September, R=October, A=November, C=December)
(dal 1996 al 2001)
vengono utilizzati SOLO 5 caratteri, cominciando con:
P = 1996
S = 1997 (example SX AS 1)
V = 1998 (example VR 0 VS)
D = 1999 (example DB 0 RS)
M = 2000 (example MH 1 RP)
U = 2001 (example UT 0K 1)
(idem come prima per quanto riguarda i mesi:
H=January, E=February, B=March, X=April, T=May, K=June, L=July, N=August, F=September, R=October, A=November, C=December)
4 caratteri , cominciando con un numero, e successivamente
una lettera della PRIMA metà dell'alfabeto (A-M)
2 = 2002 (example 2J02)
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Qui appare la lista lunga degli ingredienti sulla scatola
-----------------------------------------------------------------
5 = 2005 (example 5C01)
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
dal 2008 :
4 caratteri , cominciando con un numero,
e successivamente una lettera della SECONDA metà dell'alfabeto (N-Z)
8 = 2008
9 = 2009 (example 9W02)
0 = 2010
1 = 2011 (example 1T01)
2 = 2012
3 = 2013 (example 3N01)
4 = 2014
5 = 2015
Sapendo questi codici è relativamente facile capire , più o meno, a che anno risalgono i vostri profumi Guerlain.
Sapendo questi codici è relativamente facile capire , più o meno, a che anno risalgono i vostri profumi Guerlain.
(please note: this short "Guerlain Guide" is at 90% accurate and tested with dozens of boxes and bottles; however, no one is perfect, and some mistakes could occur. This guide was written by a genuine perfume lover as a tribute to beloved Guerlain perfumes, without any other purpose)
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Great Information to buy online
RispondiEliminaPerfumes .. I am waiting for your next post
hello,
RispondiEliminaI have a question, if my box has no batch numbers nor does my bottle, which si a recharge vaporisateur of Mitsouko, should I assume that it is a fake?
if the perfume smells like Mitsouko, with a longevity of about 4-5 hours at least.....well, it's authentic.
EliminaHowever, sometimes labels on bottle could have been removed (phenomenon of "grey market")
It's strange not to see any code on the box, too.
Thank you Andre.
RispondiEliminai got a box today, at a closth cleaning, boxed and wel, there is the 5m01, its mitsouko edt bath numer also on the bottel,
RispondiEliminaunder the box its also written in arabic? is that fake? even the smell is not for 4 hours on my arm.
Hi sapphire,
Eliminait's year 2005, it should be a "yellow and gold" box.
Yes, there are arabic letters on the bottom of the box. apparently it's not a fake.
Thank you adre for the answer :-)
RispondiEliminaHi ,I've got a 7,5 ml 6 digit Shalimar ,without the box.I have a big questionmark regarding the way it was sealed: instead of the usual cord it had a small transparent plastic around the neck.Is this seal in fact a fake one,did they ever put a plastic collar instead of a cord ?
RispondiEliminaPlease help me solve the mystery.
Thank you !!!!!
Yes! Many perfumes had a small "plastic collar" around the bottle. Enjoy your Shalimar!
EliminaThank you ! I would have enjoyed as is in a past life ,when beeing an arab , but in this one I will need to combine it to transform it in a feminine scent :-) .
RispondiEliminaIt's rather suitable for an english governess type of person.
A big THANK YOU to your work and efforts !
Hi Andre , I am trying to locate in time another Guerlain:ZB1CB4 in a golden zig-zag box ,pre barcode and with no double G logo.
RispondiEliminaPlease help me out this time again.
Merci Beaucoup !!!!
Hi, it *could* be March 1992. Producers used often old boxes until end of stocks, applying the barcode on the cellophane. You could have hints by the shape of the bottle, too.
EliminaThank you.
RispondiEliminaIt's the golden cilindrical canister,refillable of course.
93ml
This has been a really helpful blog post. I am new to collecting and knowing what to look for with the codes allowed me to avoid purchases where the item was described as vintage, but the batch was within the last decade. Thank you!
RispondiEliminahi there,
RispondiEliminai did read about Samsara extrait de parfum in bottels of 15-35ml
i have a bottle of 30ml extrait de parfum, code yn 4cd 2, even i did look around the web, i can not believe it is not real,,, even i don't know what year it may have been. any idea if it is real or not?
thanks in advance
Hi Sapphire, batch 4Cd2 = year 2004.
EliminaExtrait bottles of with an amount of "30 ml" are perfectly legit.
cheers, Laura
Hello,
EliminaAfter learning that Shalimar Parfum Initial is being discontinued last month, I purchased 4 bottles from Amazon.
The cellophane on the outer boxes didn't seem fully adhered.
The box and the appearance of the bottles seemed normal. The code on the bottom is 3Y01.
I opened two of the four bottles. One cap seemed oddly loose.
The longevity seemed to be 30 minutes. Very short-lived!
It didn't have the same beautiful scent I experienced with previous bottles.
I got itchy and red where I sprayed it on my neck.
So, my question is: have you heard of people using genuine/authentic boxes and perfume bottles, and, filling them with fake/counterfeit perfumes?
Thank you in advance for your consideration and for sharing your thoughts