Where is the batch code on a perfume bottle or a cosmetic product?

A batch code is a short combination of 3 to 8 letters and digits. It is laser-etched under the glass, ink-jetted on the base, or embossed under the box flap. It is not the 13-digit barcode: the EAN identifies the product on a shelf, the batch code identifies when it was made.

How do I check how old a cosmetic is from its batch code?

Find the 3 to 8 character code under the bottle or under the box flap, then type or scan it into CosmeScan. The tool calculates the manufacturing month, the age of the formula and the remaining shelf life, across 4,155 brands. The decoding runs in your browser, no photo is sent to a server.

How do I read a Dior, Chanel, Guerlain or L'Oréal batch code?

At LVMH (Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy) the code is 4 characters, for example 4B01. The first one is the last digit of the year, the second is the month with the letter I skipped (A is January, B is February). At L'Oréal (Lancôme, YSL, CeraVe) the third letter of a 6 character code carries the year: 38Z401, with X for 2024, Y for 2025 and Z for 2026. At Estée Lauder (MAC, Tom Ford) it is the third digit of a 3 character code, for example AB5. Every house has its own rule, and some do not decode publicly.

How can I tell if a perfume has gone off?

A perfume does not turn all at once like food. Its top notes oxidise with air, light and heat. CosmeScan sorts freshness into three states: fresh under 24 months, watch between 24 and 36 months, past it beyond 36 months. Three years after opening, citrus fades and the alcohol can turn. The little jar symbol on the label gives the exact figure for your product.

What is the ten-year batch code cycle?

The big houses reuse their sequences every ten years: 9P01 can mean February 2019 or February 2009. The vintage mode in CosmeScan switches between a current bottle and a collector from the 2010s. When two dates remain possible, CosmeScan shows the result as ambiguous instead of picking one at random.

How do I reassure a buyer about the freshness of a perfume I am selling?

CosmeScan generates a 1080 × 1080 dating card with the batch code, the manufacturing date calculated from that code and a verification link. The link takes the buyer back to the brand page and to any recall on record. The card is built for a Vinted, eBay, Leboncoin, Vestiaire or Mercari listing. It documents the dating, it is not an expert appraisal and it does not establish authenticity.

CosmeScan — Cosmetic & Perfume Batch Code Scanner, Freshness & Safety Checker

Universal cosmetic batch code decoder and freshness calculator across 4,155 fragrance, skincare and makeup brands.

🇫🇷 Accéder à la version française • 🌐 All 4,155 Brands

What is CosmeScan?

CosmeScan (https://cosmescan.com) allows every consumer, beauty collector, and marketplace reseller to instantly verify the exact manufacturing date of cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances from their engraved batch code (e.g., Dior 6B01, Guerlain 9P01, Chanel 1601, Lancôme 38Z401, CeraVe 20Z401, Evoluderm 25110). Detect expired formulas, calculate remaining PAO (Period After Opening) shelf life, audit EU Safety Gate recall notices (Lilial / BMHCA ban), and generate verifiable proof certificates for Vinted, eBay, and Depop.

Cosmetic Group Batch Code Reference Table

Group / House	Format Example	Decoding Algorithm
LVMH (Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, Kenzo)	`6B01`, `9P01`	1st digit = Year (6=2026, 9=2019), 2nd char = Month (A=Jan, B=Feb... P=Feb for Guerlain)
L'Oréal (Lancôme, YSL, Armani, CeraVe)	`38Z401`, `20Z401`	2 digits = Plant, 3rd letter = Year (X=2024, Y=2025, Z=2026), 4th char = Month (1-9, O, N, D)
Estée Lauder (MAC, Tom Ford, Clinique)	`AB5`, `A44`	1st char = Batch, 2nd char = Month (1-9, A=Oct, B=Nov, C=Dec), 3rd digit = Year (4=2024, 5=2025)
Chanel	`1601`	4-digit rolling monthly sequential registry with decennial repeating cycle
Coty & Puig (CK, Rabanne, JPG)	`0125`, `40821`	1st digit = Year + 3 digits = Julian Day of the year (001 to 365)

Key Features & Forensic Capabilities

4,155 Brands Supported: Automatic camera OCR detection, photo upload, and instant manual lookup.
Decennial Vintage Mode: Algorithmic resolution for 10-year repeating batch codes on Christian Dior, Chanel, and Guerlain bottles.
EAN-13 Barcode Coupling: Links outer packaging retail barcodes with inner glass container batch etchings.
EU Safety Gate & FDA Recall Checks: Live cross-referencing against official safety alerts (including the EU Lilial / BMHCA ban).
1-Click Vinted Listing & Certificate Generator: Exports 1080×1080 high-resolution proof cards with verified audit slugs.
Preventive Expiration Push Alerts: Automated reminders at 60, 30, and 7 days before product PAO expiration.

What is CosmeScan?

Cosmetic Group Batch Code Reference Table

Key Features & Forensic Capabilities

Direct Brand Batch Decoders (Popular Houses)