Hubert de Givenchy—one of fashion’s great emblems of cultivated, effortless elegance—founded the House of Givenchy in 1952, bringing a fresh, aristocratic lightness to Paris couture. Parfums Givenchy followed in 1957, extending that refined world into scent. In its earliest years, the perfumes were produced in Balenciaga’s factories, a fitting association between two houses devoted to exceptional French craftsmanship. From 1968 onward, Givenchy perfume production moved into its own facilities. The company later joined the Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin industrial group in 1981; when LVMH acquired the entire group in 1986, Givenchy became part of the luxury conglomerate that continues to own it today.
Dating a vintage Givenchy perfume often begins with its batch code, but it is best treated as one clue among several rather than absolute proof. Traditional French-made Givenchy bottles generally carry a numbered batch code, sometimes accompanied by letters. In this system, the first number is the key element, indicating the production year within the house’s coding sequence. Because codes can recur over time, the fragrance’s original launch date, bottle design, box style, address, and ingredient labeling should always be considered alongside the code.
The 1970s require special caution. Many Givenchy fragrances were blended in the United States and sold under the name “Parfums Givenchy, Inc., New York.” These American-made versions may carry different batch markings from their French counterparts, making a precise date more empirical than certain. A bottle’s country of origin is therefore one of the first details to examine before attempting to interpret its code.
Packaging supplies several useful chronological markers. An EMB code on the box indicates packaging from after about 1978–1979, while the appearance of a conventional barcode places a box after 1990. The word “Beauvex,” though relatively uncommon, is associated with Givenchy packaging from approximately 1993 to 2002. A long, detailed allergen or ingredients list is a much later clue, generally indicating a product made after 2005.
From 2002, Givenchy adopted the familiar four-digit LVMH batch-code format. Between 2002 and 2008, codes used letters from the first half of the alphabet, A through M; from 2008 onward, they used letters from the second half, N through Z. These later codes can be especially helpful, but for older bottles—where packaging was reused, boxes may have been replaced, and formulas were sometimes produced for different markets—the most reliable dating comes from assembling every visible clue into one coherent story.
Givenchy: Company Timeline
- 1952: Hubert de Givenchy founded his fashion house in Paris.
- 1957: Parfums Givenchy was founded.
- Early years: Perfumes were made in Balenciaga factories.
- 1968: Givenchy began producing perfumes in its own facilities.
- 1981: Givenchy joined the Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin group.
- 1986: LVMH acquired the Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin group, including Givenchy.
Start With This
Before dating a bottle, check:
- The perfume’s original launch year.
- Whether it says Made in France or Parfums Givenchy, Inc., New York.
- The batch code.
- The box details: EMB code, barcode, ingredients list, and any manufacturer name.
Batch Codes: French-Made Bottles
Traditional Made in France Givenchy perfumes generally use a numbered batch code, sometimes with a letter.
- The first number is the important one: it indicates the production year in Givenchy’s coding system.
- From about 1980–2001, codes may have 4, 5, or 6 numbers, occasionally with a letter.
- Do not date a bottle from the batch code alone—compare it with the bottle style, box, label, and fragrance launch date.
U.S.-Made Givenchy Perfumes
During the 1970s, many Givenchy fragrances were blended in the United States and marked:
“Parfums Givenchy, Inc., New York.”
These American-made versions used different batch-code systems, so dating them can be approximate. Always identify the country of manufacture before relying on a code.
Quick Packaging Clues
Packaging detail = What it usually means
- EMB code on box = Made after about 1978–1979
- Traditional barcode = Made after 1990
- “Beauvex” on packaging = Usually 1993–2002
- Long allergen/ingredient list = Usually after 2005
LVMH Batch Codes
From 2002 onward, Givenchy used the standard four-digit LVMH code.
Code letters used = Approximate period
- A–M = 2002–2008
- N–Z = 2008 onward
Best Rule for Dating Vintage Givenchy
Use the batch code as a helpful starting point—but always confirm it with the bottle’s country of origin, packaging design, printed addresses, ingredient list, barcode, and the fragrance’s known release date.
TUTORIAL PICS
(remember: the first number is the year)
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| The EMB code, used since 1979-1980. Lower box is without EMB code, so you date it roughly around the Seventies |
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| Monsieur Givenchy, (without barcode on the box) batch F51474 = year 1985 |
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| (without barcode) Batch F60062 = year 1986 |
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| WARNING: Xeryus (without barcode) on box F71042, but on bottle 71042 ( letters sometimes are missing ) = year 1987 |
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| Eau de Givenchy (no barcode) batch F81821 = year 1988 |
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| Givenchy III (no barcode) batch F92565 = year 1989 |
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| (from Ebay) Hot Couture (launched in 2000) batch 009090 = year 2000 |
