Vintage Giorgio Armani Guide: Batch Codes & Addresses
January 01, 2024
Vintage Perfumes
Note: For general tips on dating packaging (barcodes, EMB codes) and storage, see our Vintage Perfume Collector's Handbook.
From the classic Armani Eau Pour Homme to the aquatic revolution of Acqua di Giò, dating vintage Armani perfumes requires a keen eye for addresses and batch codes.
1. Quick Dating by Address & Distributor
The text on the bottom of the box is often the fastest way to date a bottle.
| Era | Address / Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 – 1988 | "Distributed by Helena Rubinstein" | The rarest vintage bottles. |
| 1982 – 1991 | "137 Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré" | Indicates the First Era. Very valuable. |
| 1992 – 1995 | "129 Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré" | The "Transitional" Era. |
| 1995 – Present | "16 Place Vendome" | The Modern Era. |
| 1982 – 1999 | "Cosmair" | US Distributor. Indicates vintage production (pre-2000). |
| 1999 – Present | "Luxury Products LLC" | Indicates modern production. |
2. Decoding Batch Codes
Armani batch codes have evolved significantly.
Era 1: Letter Codes (1982 – 1991)
Format: 4 characters starting with U.
- Method: Look at the Second Letter.
- UA = 1982
- UB = 1983
- UC = 1984
- ...
- UK = 1991
Era 2: The Transition (1992 – 1999)
- UL = 1992
- UM = 1993 (Code shifts to 5 digits here)
- UN = 1994
- UP = 1995
- UR = 1996
- US = 1997
- UT = 1998
- UU = 1999
Era 3: Modern Codes (2000 – Present)
- UV = 2000
- UW = 2001
- UX = 2002
- UY = 2003
- UA = 2004 (Cycle restarts)
- UB = 2005
- UC = 2006
- UD = 2007
- In 2008, the system changed to 38xxxx (e.g., 38E = 2008).
3. Notable Vintage Frangrances
- Armani Eau Pour Homme (1984): A citrus chypre classic. Look for the ribbed bottle base and "Cosmair" label.
- Gio (1992): A huge floral, discontinued and sought after.
- Acqua di Giò (1996): Early bottles (Cosmair, 1996-1999) are prized for deeper projection compared to the current formula.