Aesop batch code & expiration date

Where to find your Aesop batch code

The Aesop batch code is a short, usually embossed stamp of letters and numbers — never the barcode. Here’s what it looks like on typical packaging (the code is the short embossed stamp, not the long barcode):

A genuine Aesop code looks like 17D0719A or 23D1222G or 10B0724A — usually embossed, not the barcode.

The Aesop batch code — also called the lot code, lot number or serial number — is a short 4–8 character stamp of letters and numbers, usually embossed rather than printed in ink, and it is never the barcode. On a bottle or jar look at the base; on a tube look near the crimp/seal at the end; on a boxed perfume or fragrance check a flap or side of the box; on makeup check the underside of the compact or inside the pan.

• Bottle / jar — stamped on the base.
• Tube — near the crimp or seal at the closed end.
• Boxed fragrance — a flap or side of the outer box (and often on the bottle base too).
• Compact / palette — the underside, or inside the pan.

About Aesop batch codes

Aesop codes encode a year digit plus a month letter.

Real documented examples: code → manufacture date.

Aesop's official guidance is an unopened shelf life of about 36 months from the manufacture date. Once opened, follow the PAO (open-jar) symbol on the pack.

We've read 75 Aesop batch codes so far, the newest was made March 2026, and the typical Aesop product people check here is about 35 months old.

Can the batch code tell me if my Aesop is authentic? Not on its own. A code that decodes to a sensible date is a good sign, but counterfeiters copy real codes from genuine packs, so a valid code cannot prove a Aesop product is authentic. Buy from Aesop or an authorised retailer, and compare the packaging, print quality and seal with one you know is genuine.

Does Aesop expire?

Yes — like all cosmetics and fragrances, Aesop products have a limited shelf life. Unopened they typically last about 36 months from the manufacture date, and the batch code above tells you how old yours already is. After opening, the PAO (open-jar) symbol — e.g. "12M" — is a better guide than any printed expiration date.

How long Aesop products last

Unopened: Aesop's published guidance. Opened: general guidance by product type. A date or open-jar symbol on your pack always wins.

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