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Guerlain Derby batch codes: PLEASE CONTRIBUTE YOURS

post #1 of 52
10/11/10 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 
Hey gents,

I am trying to decypher the batch coding on the base of my derby bottles, and ask anyone who happens to have a Derby "eagle" bottle to kindly chime in. Maybe we can somehow pool our insights and try and crack the code.

My 50ml A/S splash bottle has the code: PA 4BA 8
My 100ml A/S spray bottle has the code: WH 4AA 5
My 100ml EDT splash bottle has: PC 6AA 5

We know that Derby began production in 1983, and the aftershave was no longer produced after 1993. The eagle bottle in general was also phased out in 1993, and the EDT went on to be bottled in the tall rectangular "Habit Rouge" bottle until it was discontinued in the mid 90's.

Could the last numerical digit represent a month (8 = August or 5 = May), or perhaps a year (1988 or 1985)?
Does the "4" in the codes listed above perhaps represent A/S, and the "6" the EDT)?

Any mathematic fiend here wish to have a stab at it?
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post #2 of 52
10/11/10 at 1:15am
I've seen AA and BA before. On yves saint lauren my AA bottle was different from my AB bottle slightly in terms of modification to the cap and bottle, slightly wider vs taller. I'm certain the AB is newer than the AA bottle just because I bought the AA online and AB from a department store. In your case The numbers must go with the bottle again the higher the number the more recent the bottle. 6AA > 4AA etc.. In terms of the last number its probably the year if that is not possible due to discontinuation then it might be the month although usually its the year.

6 vs 4. Could be the slight modification to their bottles throughout the years. 4 ba -> 5aa -> 5ba -> 6aa etc.

PA vs PC the A probably means aftershave , C for cologne.

I give up.
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post #3 of 52
10/11/10 at 4:40pm
Thread Starter 
Can anyone else kindly contribute their codes so we can see a pattern emerge?
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post #4 of 52
10/11/10 at 4:47pm
My 30ml bottle has the following Batch Code:
SL 6AA 16
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post #5 of 52
10/11/10 at 4:48pm
The box of my Derby also has a Copyright from 1987...
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post #6 of 52
10/11/10 at 4:49pm
These sort of batch code algorithms give me a headache when I think about them too hard. Good luck D.
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post #7 of 52
10/11/10 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickbr View Post

My 30ml bottle has the following Batch Code:
SL 6AA 16

Thanks Rick!
OK, so what we see so far is that EDT has the number 6, and the Aftershaves the number 4.

Lets compare:

50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8
100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5
100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5
30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16

What we can also see, by the last digit in your sequence Rick, is that it does not represent a year or a month as I suggested in post #1. Unless of course, it does suggest a month on a particular cycle/number of months.

More codes will be needed to get a greater picture.
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post #8 of 52
10/11/10 at 5:05pm
My 100 Eagles ml EdT splash has the following:

WH 5AA 1
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post #9 of 52
10/11/10 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcery of Scent View Post

Thanks Rick!
OK, so what we see so far is that EDT has the number 6, and the Aftershaves the number 4.

Lets compare:

50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8
100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5
100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5
30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16

What we can also see, by the last digit in your sequence Rick, is that it does not represent a year or a month as I suggested in post #1. Unless of course, it does suggest a month on a particular cycle/number of months.

More codes will be needed to get a greater picture.

I hope that more codes can be get so that we can discover if there is some logic regarding the batch codes of this scent.
Dimitri, which year is the copyright of the boxes of your derbys? Have you checked that?
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post #10 of 52
10/11/10 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 
Rick, all of mine are Copyright 1983.

Pelle, thank you for adding yours to the list. So, here is an update:


50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8
100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5

100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5
100ml EDT splash: WH 5AA 1
30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16

Another similarity has emerged, and that is the "WH" part of the code.
Perhaps the number preceeding the AA or BA is the year (ie: 1984/85/86)?
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post #11 of 52
10/11/10 at 5:58pm
Not much help here, but here’s what i’ve found out so far.
Recent product
Code: 9T01
9= year
T=month (skip I)
9T01 -July, 2009

Another method
Code: ZL2BO
Z=year
L=month

P=1996 S=1997 V=1998 D=1999 M=2000
U=2001 Z=2002 J=2003 Y=2004 W=2005

H=1, E=2, B=3, X=4, T=5, K=6,
L=7, N=8, F=9, R=10, A=11, C=12*

ZL2BO - July, 2002
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post #12 of 52
10/11/10 at 7:15pm
I have the 100ml eagle bottle (tester). Let me check for you once I get back home from work today.
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post #13 of 52
10/11/10 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CX827 View Post

Not much help here, but here’s what i’ve found out so far.
Recent product
Code: 9T01
9= year
T=month (skip I)
9T01 -July, 2009

Another method
Code: ZL2BO
Z=year
L=month

P=1996 S=1997 V=1998 D=1999 M=2000
U=2001 Z=2002 J=2003 Y=2004 W=2005

H=1, E=2, B=3, X=4, T=5, K=6,
L=7, N=8, F=9, R=10, A=11, C=12*

ZL2BO - July, 2002

Wow, this is dizzying! Thanks for these codes though CX827, they are a great help for dating other Guerlain items.

Quote:
Originally Posted by junkfood View Post

I have the 100ml eagle bottle (tester). Let me check for you once I get back home from work today.

Thanks Junkfood. Pls also stipulate whether it is an aftershave or EDT in a spray or a splash. Cheers
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post #14 of 52
10/11/10 at 10:19pm
Modern EDT in the 125ml size splash bee bottle:

8T01
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post #15 of 52
10/12/10 at 3:30am
Mine is PC 6AA 4. 100ml EdT spray bottle
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post #16 of 52
10/12/10 at 3:57am
I have a 50ml eau de toilette spray.
The code is: lot PN 5FB 7
On the box is the code: EMB 920 26 A
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post #17 of 52
10/12/10 at 4:03am
Perhaps you could contact Guerlain and ask them. They are usually very friendly and helpful.
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post #18 of 52
10/12/10 at 5:38am
Thread Starter 
Thank you David and Primrose... so lets review again:

Vintage bottles:

50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8
100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5

50ml EDT spray: PN 5FB 7
100ml EDT spray: PC 6AA 4
100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5, and WH 5AA 1
30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16

Modern bottles:

125ml EDT: 8T01 (same in two instances, Primrose's and my own)
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post #19 of 52
10/12/10 at 5:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcery of Scent View Post

Wow, this is dizzying! Thanks for these codes though CX827, they are a great help for dating other Guerlain items.

Anytime!
Still trying to figure out what the other numbers mean, the last 2-3 digits.
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post #20 of 52
11/29/10 at 3:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcery of Scent View Post

Thank you David and Primrose... so lets review again:

Vintage bottles:

50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8
100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5

50ml EDT spray: PN 5FB 7
100ml EDT spray: PC 6AA 4
100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5, and WH 5AA 1
30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16

Modern bottles:

125ml EDT: 8T01 (same in two instances, Primrose's and my own)

Two additional codes to add:

100ml A/S spray bottle: DH 4BB17
100ml A/S splash: WN 4AG4

Still confused...
:-/
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post #21 of 52
11/29/10 at 7:23am
Mine says vc 23p2

100 ML spray

mine has a blue label, but no cap.. so I think it was probably a tester.
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post #22 of 52
11/29/10 at 7:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclmind View Post

Mine says vc 23p2

100 ML spray

Is it an EDT spray or A/S spray?
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post #23 of 52
11/29/10 at 8:24am
---
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post #24 of 52
1/24/11 at 2:29am
Thread Starter 
Two further:

100ml AS splash: SF 4BB 6
50ml AS splash: WH 4AC 2

So to recap:

Vintage bottles:

50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8 and WH 4AC 2

100ml A/S splash bottle: SF 4BB 6 and WN 4AG 4

100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5 and DH 4BB17

50ml EDT spray: PN 5FB 7

100ml EDT spray: PC 6AA 4

100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5, and WH 5AA 1

30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16

Modern bottles:

125ml EDT: 8T01 (same in two instances, Primrose's and my own)
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post #25 of 52
5/2/11 at 10:27am
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I have a small 7.5ml bottle of Shalimar extrait that was given to me by a friend to try to find out about it's age, with a view to selling it.

The serial number on both the box and the bottle is YR 4JA 3. As it is in the zig-zag box, the concensus here (and held by me) was that it was bottled between 1967 and 1983 but Guerlain themselves have got back to me with a date of October 1994. Odd, given the box?
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post #26 of 52
5/31/11 at 6:37am
Hello to the Derby dedicated.

I received another bottle of 1983 Derby recently.
It's a 100ml atomiser and the batch code is -

WT 4DA 2
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post #27 of 52
5/31/11 at 10:07am
Hi team Derby

100ml After Shave / Metal Cap and usual (c) 1983 Lot: PH 4BA 3

My usual source - this guy seems to have been very active mid to late 80s here, one of the few standalone 'Dispensary & Perfumery' stores left in Hong Kong. And yes, it smells so very good

PS Dmitri, it's a spray - sorry didn't mention earlier
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post #28 of 52
5/31/11 at 1:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcery of Scent View Post

Modern bottles:

125ml EDT: 8T01 (same in two instances, Primrose's and my own)

0Q01 here. Bee Derby bought last year at La Maison.
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post #29 of 52
5/31/11 at 7:47pm
Thread Starter 
Updated!

Vintage bottles: Eagle and Habit Rouge flacons

50ml A/S splash bottle has: PA 4BA 8 and WH 4AC 2

100ml A/S splash bottle: SF 4BB 6 and WN 4AG 4 and PH 4BA 3

100ml A/S spray bottle has: WH 4AA 5 and DH 4BB17

50ml EDT spray: PN 5FB 7

100ml EDT spray: PC 6AA 4 and WT 4DA 2 PE 5EC 4

100ml EDT splash bottle: PC 6AA 5, and WH 5AA 1

30ml EDT spray bottle: SL 6AA 16


Modern bottles: Les Parisiens

125ml EDT: 8T01 (same in two instances, Primrose's and my own) and 0Q01
Also: 9X01 and 9P01


Modern bottles: Arsene Lupin

100ml EDT spray: 0Y01 (Bought 01/11)

Is there a code-cracking mathematician in the house??
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post #30 of 52
5/31/11 at 8:06pm
I have the 100ml spray EDT Eagle bottle PE 5EC 4.

Martin
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post #31 of 52
6/1/11 at 10:35am
I have a 125 ml. Bee bottle with batch code 9X01. Ordered from http://www.placevendome.be in Belgium earlier this year.
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post #32 of 52
6/3/11 at 1:55am
Bee Bottle Brown Ribbon 9P01
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post #33 of 52
6/3/11 at 2:00am
Thread Starter 
Updated.... thanks Gents
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post #34 of 52
7/11/11 at 9:07am
Bump with my Derby (white ribbon)

6L01 = Derby - 125ml EDT



Would you care for Guerlain codes that aren't Derby?

PD5J1 = Imperiale Extra Dry - 250ml splash - zig-zag & stripe box
PA5J1 = Imperiale Extra Dry - 100ml spray tester
5D01 = Heritage EdP
6L01 = Bois d'Armenie
6M01 = Attrape Coeur
6M01 - Philtre d'Amour
7A01 = Sous le Vent
7J01 = Vetiver pour Elle
8U01 = Habit Rouge L'Extrait
0V02 = Shalimar Ode a la Vanille

The pre-1980's bottles seem like they don't have batch codes, correct?
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post #35 of 52
11/10/11 at 2:39am
Hi -long time lurker, first time poster - love the site

I don't know if this is of any help, and apologies if it's been posted elsewhere, but I found this site, which (when I check various fragrances and cosmetics that I own) seems to be accurate.
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post #36 of 52
11/10/11 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

These sort of batch code algorithms give me a headache when I think about them too hard.

LOL! True enough.
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post #37 of 52
11/10/11 at 7:14am
Mine says vc 23p2

100 ML spray

mine has a blue label, but no cap.. so I think it was probably a tester. It's an EDT
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post #38 of 52
11/10/11 at 7:23am
It is amazing that a house that charges as much as they do for their fragrances has the poor quality control and batch inconsistencies of Guerlain. A total amateur outfit. What a joke Guerlain is.
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post #39 of 52
11/10/11 at 7:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minaj View Post

It is amazing that a house that charges as much as they do for their fragrances has the poor quality control and batch inconsistencies of Guerlain. A total amateur outfit. What a joke Guerlain is.

I don't find that their fragrances have batch inconsistencies at all. Nor do I think that they are an amateur outfit. They have been making legendary perfumes for generations. I don't really call that amateur or a joke. Creed is another story. Their batches can be extremely inconsistent.
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post #40 of 52
11/10/11 at 8:57am
I find that their fragrances have major batch inconsistencies. I think that they are an amateur outfit.

Creed has been making legendary perfumes for generations. I don't really call that amateur or a joke.

Guerlain is another story. Their batches can be extremely inconsistent.
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post #41 of 52
11/10/11 at 12:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by volley2 View Post

Bee Bottle Brown Ribbon 9P01

Same here
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post #42 of 52
11/10/11 at 6:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minaj View Post

Creed has been making legendary perfumes for generations. I don't really call that amateur or a joke.

Guerlain is another story. Their batches can be extremely inconsistent.

LOL. Is it Opposite Day, or something?

Anyway, I have the 125 ml. bee bottle w/ brown ribbon, batch code 0Q02.
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post #43 of 52
11/10/11 at 8:33pm
Wait. What was the point of this again?
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post #44 of 52
11/10/11 at 9:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

Wait. What was the point of this again?

If the first paragraph of my first post was insufficient for you to get a grasp of the reason for this exercise, I'll reiterate by telling you Im compiling a spreadsheet of codes, bottles and dates in an attempt to see a pattern emerge, which may allow us to accurately date our vintage bottles. It has been done before with other scents and other houses.

But you're not obliged to contribute. Others have, and others will. Its all good.
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post #45 of 52
11/10/11 at 9:33pm
Sorry for the stupid question but i really didnt get it. Now i do. I saw a bee bottle of Derby at a perfume shop and they are calling it "vintage". I will have to go back and see if i can get a look at the code, so i can contribute.
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post #46 of 52
11/10/11 at 9:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclmind View Post

I don't find that their fragrances have batch inconsistencies at all. Nor do I think that they are an amateur outfit. They have been making legendary perfumes for generations. I don't really call that amateur or a joke. Creed is another story. Their batches can be extremely inconsistent.

Totally agree with mrclmind on the good consistencies of Guerlain scents, and their being an old fragrance house with a REAL history.

Faux histories are around in many marketing "legends" and some people fall for it hook, line and sinker.
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post #47 of 52
11/12/11 at 7:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primrose View Post

Totally agree with mrclmind on the good consistencies of Guerlain scents, and their being an old fragrance house with a REAL history.

Faux histories are around in many marketing "legends" and some people fall for it hook, line and sinker.

To each their own I guess. I personally think Wasser is actually doing a much better job than many people expected him to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

Sorry for the stupid question but i really didnt get it. Now i do. I saw a bee bottle of Derby at a perfume shop and they are calling it "vintage". I will have to go back and see if i can get a look at the code, so i can contribute.

I don't recall Derby being available in a bee bottle prior to the reissue... I could be wrong. They could be using the term "vintage" in a different manner than many of us here use it, meaning older formulation.
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post #48 of 52
1/2/12 at 4:52pm
Mine (100 mL EdT pour Homme, spray) is WH 5AB 1. One odd thing is that the bottom (part of the bottle, not the sticker nor engraving) says COPYRIGHT 1982.
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post #49 of 52
2/1/12 at 3:58pm
Hi, This is Michael and I have just joined. The batch code on my 1988? Derby 100ml after shave is PH 4BA 3. Do you think that Geurlain might be happy to let you into the secret of thie batch code?
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post #50 of 52
2/2/12 at 12:01pm
I got the following response from Geurlain:

Dear Sir,

I acknowledge receipt of your mail from 2/2/2012 and I thank you for sending it.

According to the batch code provided, I inform you that your product was made in 1996.
I am sorry to inform you but I can't interpret that batch code which is confidential.
For your information, in the new products, the first digit of the batch code means the year of production.

I inform you that the average shelf life of a perfume is 40 months in normal and predictable conditions of storage and use. It is the period in which Guerlain guarantee all the benefits of the product. We recommend you store products away from heat, light and humidity.

Thank you for your loyalty and interest in our brand.

Yours faithfully,

Isabelle ROUSSEAU
Customer Service Department
irousseau@guerlain.fr


Michael

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcery of Scent View Post

Hey gents,

I am trying to decypher the batch coding on the base of my derby bottles, and ask anyone who happens to have a Derby "eagle" bottle to kindly chime in. Maybe we can somehow pool our insights and try and crack the code.

My 50ml A/S splash bottle has the code: PA 4BA 8
My 100ml A/S spray bottle has the code: WH 4AA 5
My 100ml EDT splash bottle has: PC 6AA 5

We know that Derby began production in 1983, and the aftershave was no longer produced after 1993. The eagle bottle in general was also phased out in 1993, and the EDT went on to be bottled in the tall rectangular "Habit Rouge" bottle until it was discontinued in the mid 90's.

Could the last numerical digit represent a month (8 = August or 5 = May), or perhaps a year (1988 or 1985)?
Does the "4" in the codes listed above perhaps represent A/S, and the "6" the EDT)?

Any mathematic fiend here wish to have a stab at it?
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post #51 of 52
2/2/12 at 1:33pm
100ml Black Label Derby (Vintage) VK 1YL Copyright 1983

500ml Bee bottle 17 FL. OZ. Eau de Toilette pour Homme YC 4BB 3
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post #52 of 52
2/2/12 at 1:33pm
double post
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