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.

Estée Lauder Companies • Artistry Makeup

Decodificador de Código de Lote y Frescura MAC Cosmetics

Decodificador gratuito de código de lote MAC Cosmetics (AB3 or A92 (3 chars), Estée Lauder Companies). Calcula la fecha exacta de fabricación, caducidad PAO (12 meses) y alertas EU Safety Gate en CosmeScan.

Quick MAC Cosmetics Batch Verification

Decode Batch Code

¿Tienes dudas sobre este frasco de MAC Cosmetics de segunda mano? Inicia un Legit Check IA gratuito en 5 fotos (boquilla, engaste, fondo de cristal y código grabado).

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MAC Cosmetics Technical Decoding Rules

Batch Code Format	`AB3 or A92 (3 chars)`
Code Location	Etiqueta en la base del labial/base de maquillaje o solapa de la caja
Period After Opening (PAO)	12 months
Unopened Shelf Life	36 months

⚠️ Decennial Batch Cycle (Vintage Mode) : MAC Cosmetics recycles its batch codes every 10 years. CosmeScan includes a 1-tap Vintage Mode switch.

Ejemplos de Códigos de Lote MAC Cosmetics por Año (2026 / 2025 / 2024)

Batch Code	Year	Status (36M Unopened)
`A16`	2026	✓ Fresh (Valid until 2029)
`A25`	2025	✓ Fresh (Valid until 2028)
`A34`	2024	⚠ Check PAO (Valid until 2027)
`A12`	2022	✕ Past 36M Unopened Window

FAQ Answer-First — MAC Cosmetics

¿Dónde encontrar el código de lote en un perfume o cosmético MAC Cosmetics?

Para MAC Cosmetics (Estée Lauder Companies), el código de lote suele encontrarse en: Etiqueta en la base del labial/base de maquillaje o solapa de la caja. Es independiente del código de barras EAN-13.

¿Cuál es el formato del código de lote de MAC Cosmetics y cómo leerlo en 2026?

Los códigos de lote de MAC Cosmetics siguen el formato AB3 or A92 (3 chars) (ej.: A16 para 2026, A25 para 2025). Introduce el código en CosmeScan para obtener el mes y año exactos de producción.

¿Caducan los productos MAC Cosmetics y cuál es su vida útil?

Sí, los productos MAC Cosmetics tienen fecha de caducidad: aproximadamente 36 meses sin abrir (a partir de la fecha de fabricación leída en el código de lote) y 12 meses después de abrir según el símbolo PAO.

¿Cómo comprobar si un perfume o cosmético MAC Cosmetics es original y no una imitación?

Para verificar la autenticidad de MAC Cosmetics, revise 3 puntos: (1) El código de lote grabado en el frasco debe coincidir con el de la caja (AB3 or A92 (3 chars)), (2) El engarce mecánico del vaporizador debe ser perfecto y el cristal sin burbujas, (3) Use la auditoría gratuita de CosmeScan para validar la fecha de producción y descartar números clonados.