Vaseline batch code & expiration date

Where to find your Vaseline batch code

On real Vaseline packaging (made by Unilever PLC) — green is the code, red is not (the barcode, article number or open-jar symbol):

✓ The batch code is 12661

The Vaseline 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 Vaseline batch codes

Vaseline codes encode a year digit plus a month letter and a year digit plus the day of the year.

Real documented examples: code → manufacture date.

Most unopened cosmetics and fragrances keep for about 30–36 months from manufacture. Once opened, follow the PAO (open-jar) symbol — it usually matters more than any printed expiration date.

We've read 786 Vaseline batch codes so far, the newest was made October 2026, and the typical Vaseline product people check here is about 26 months old.

Can the batch code tell me if my Vaseline 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 Vaseline product is authentic. Buy from Vaseline or an authorised retailer, and compare the packaging, print quality and seal with one you know is genuine.

Does Vaseline expire?

Yes — like all cosmetics and fragrances, Vaseline products have a limited shelf life. Unopened they typically last 30–36 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 Vaseline products last

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

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