By this time, Gianni Versace was celebrated for redefining Italian fashion through bold sensuality, classical imagery and unapologetic glamour. His designs combined Mediterranean warmth with baroque excess—gold ornamentation, body-conscious silhouettes and a theatrical confidence that contrasted sharply with the restraint of contemporary French couture.
Versace regarded perfume not as a secondary licensed product but as an extension of fashion itself. He described fragrance as “the invisible accessory”: the final, intimate element capable of expressing the same personality and emotional force as clothing.
After more than a decade on the market, Gianni Versace for Women was discontinued in the early 1990s, generally around 1992–1993. Its launch date provides the starting point for dating all subsequent Versace fragrances.
Understanding Versace Batch Codes
Versace batch codes can be complicated because the numbering system must be interpreted alongside the manufacturer, distributor and country of production. Between 1981 and 2009, the first number of the batch code generally represents the production year. Because the same final digit recurs every ten years, the company information and packaging details are needed to determine the correct decade.
Versace fragrance production can be divided into three principal eras: the French Yves Saint Laurent period from 1981 to 1988, the Italian Giver and Versace Profumi period from approximately 1988 to 2004, and the Euroitalia period beginning around 2005.
First Era: Yves Saint Laurent, 1981–1988
During the first era, Versace fragrances were produced in France in association with Yves Saint Laurent. The batch codes closely resemble those found on contemporary YSL products. Bottles and boxes from this period should display such wording as “Made in France,” “Paris” or other French production information.
Batch codes generally contain four or five digits, with the first number indicating the year of production. For example, the code 41231 begins with “4” and would indicate 1984. The fragrance’s launch date must always support the interpretation—a perfume introduced after 1984 obviously could not carry this code as an original 1984 production.
Second Era: Giver and Versace Profumi, 1988–2004
Around 1988, Versace regained control of its fragrance business and transferred production from France to Italy. Bottles and boxes from this era are therefore marked “Made in Italy.” The transition may have produced some overlap, so French and Italian markings should be considered with the fragrance’s identity and packaging style.
Several company names may appear during this period, including Giver S.p.A., Versace Profumi S.p.A. and Vepro S.p.A. These names belong to the same broad Italian production era and are valuable dating clues.
American distribution information can narrow the date further. Vepro USA is generally associated with approximately 1991–1995. Beginning around 1995, packaging may instead identify Versace Profumi USA or Fragrance Marketing Group, Inc. The latter two distributors operated during overlapping years, so either name may appear on a fragrance from the same general period.
Batch codes from the second era usually contain five or six digits, and the first number indicates the production year. For example, 212345 could represent either 1992 or 2002. The correct decade must be determined from the distributor, company name, fragrance launch date and other packaging features.
Third Era: Euroitalia, 2005–Present
Beginning around 2005, Versace fragrances were produced in Italy by Euroitalia. Packaging from this period should carry the Euroitalia name together with “Made in Italy.” The transfer to Euroitalia provides an important dividing point between earlier and modern Versace production.
From approximately 2005 through 2009, Euroitalia generally used six-digit batch codes in which the first number indicated the year. Thus, a code beginning with “7” would normally indicate 2007 when found on suitable Euroitalia packaging.
Beginning in 2010, a seven-digit system appeared in which the first two numbers indicate the year. A code beginning with 10 would indicate 2010, 11 would indicate 2011 and so forth.
An alternate Euroitalia format has also been observed since approximately 2011. It consists of four numbers and one letter, with the first number again representing the year. Because this format repeats by decade, the packaging design, ingredients and fragrance launch date remain necessary for a reliable interpretation.
Additional Packaging Clues
Barcodes generally began appearing on Versace fragrance packaging around 1990. A box without a barcode will usually date from the 1980s or very early 1990s, although the timing varied by market. Older packaging also sometimes remained in use after newer labeling practices had been introduced, so the absence of a barcode should be treated as supporting evidence rather than an exact dating method.
The Green Dot symbol, formed by two interlocking arrows within a circle, identifies participation in a European packaging-recovery program. It began appearing on European fragrance boxes during the early to mid-1990s. Its presence generally indicates packaging produced for the European market after approximately 1992–1993. American-market packaging may lack the symbol even when manufactured during the same period.
Ingredients declarations provide another useful clue. Early Versace boxes may have no ingredients list at all, while later examples often carry a short declaration limited to alcohol, water and fragrance. Beginning around 2005, packaging increasingly displayed a much longer list that included individually declared fragrance allergens. This expanded declaration generally corresponds with the beginning of the Euroitalia era and newer European cosmetic-labeling requirements.
No single feature provides a completely reliable production date. The most accurate estimate is obtained by comparing the batch code, country of manufacture, producer, distributor, barcode, Green Dot symbol, ingredients list and original fragrance launch date. Most importantly, the batch code should never be interpreted until the bottle has first been assigned to one of the three Versace production eras.
Versace Fragrance Launch Dates by Production Era
The following launch dates are arranged according to Versace’s three principal fragrance-production eras. These divisions refer to the period in which each fragrance was introduced; fragrances frequently continued to be produced during later eras.
First Era: Yves Saint Laurent — Made in France, 1981–1988
- 1981 — Gianni Versace by Gianni Versace — discontinued around 1992
- 1981 — Versace L’Homme by Gianni Versace — later discontinued, but still sold in 1998
- 1982 — V’E Versace by Gianni Versace
Second Era: Giver and Versace Profumi — Made in Italy, 1988–2004
- 1989 — V’E Versace — relaunched; discontinued around 1996
- 1990 — Versus Uomo — discontinued
- 1992 — Versus Donna — discontinued
- 1994 — Blue Jeans Uomo
- 1994 — Red Jeans
- 1995 — Blonde — discontinued
- 1995 — Baby Blue Jeans
- 1995 — Baby Rose Jeans
- 1996 — Green Jeans for Men
- 1996 — The Dreamer
- 1996 — Yellow Jeans for Women
- 1997 — Black Jeans
- 1997 — White Jeans
- 1998 — V/S Versace for Women — discontinued
- 2000 — Versace 2 Thousand — discontinued
- 2000 — Versace Essence Emotional — discontinued
- 2000 — Versace Essence Ethereal — discontinued
- 2000 — Versace Essence Exciting — discontinued
- 2000 — V/S Homme, also known as V/S Man
- 2000 — Versace Woman
- 2001 — Metal Jeans Uomo
- 2001 — Metal Jeans Donna
- 2002 — Versace Jeans Couture Man
- 2002 — Versace Jeans Couture Woman
- 2002 — Versus Time for the Body: Time for Action
- 2002 — Versus Time for the Body: Time for Energy
- 2002 — Versus Time for the Body: Time for Pleasure
- 2002 — Versus Time for the Body: Time to Relax
- 2003 — Versace Man
- 2003 — Versace Jeans Couture Glam
- 2004 — Versace Jeans Woman — discontinued
- 2004 — Crystal Noir
Third Era: Euroitalia — Made in Italy, 2005–Present
- 2005 — Versace Man Eau Fraîche
- 2006 — Bright Crystal
- 2007 — Versace Pour Femme
- 2008 — Versace Pour Homme
- 2009 — Versense
- 2010 — Versus
- 2011 — Vanitas
- 2011 — Yellow Diamond
- 2012 — Eros
- 2014 — Eros Pour Femme
A fragrance introduced during an earlier era may also exist in packaging from one or both later eras. For example, a scent launched under Giver or Versace Profumi may subsequently have been manufactured by Euroitalia. The launch date establishes only the earliest possible production year; the producer, packaging and batch code determine when the individual bottle was made.
TUTORIAL PICS
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| Early years: "MADE IN FRANCE" (first historical period, 1981-1988) Perfumes made by Yves Saint Laurent. |
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| Labels during early years. Note the word "PARIS" on the stickers |
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| Early Years, Made in France |
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| Second era (1988-2004). Made in Italy |
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| "Made in Italy" and "Made in France" |
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| Made in France, PARIS, batch nr. 43011 = year 1984 (same YSL batch numbers) |
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| Made in Italy, NO reference about USA distributor= before 1991 batch nr. 82801= year 1988 |
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| Made in Italy by Versace Profumi SPA. NO reference about USA distributor = before 1991 Batch nr. 01491 = year 1990 |
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| Made in Italy, no US distributor 01491 = year 1990 |
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| Versace Profumi spa (italian) no US distributor batch nr. 01831 = year 1990 |
"GIVER spa", or "VERSACE PROFUMI spa" , or "Vepro spa"
+ distributor : "VEPRO USA"
(1991-1995)
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| VEPRO USA (1990-1995) batch 20131 = year 1992 |
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| Made in Italy, VEPRO USA batch 20131 = year 1992 |
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| (from Ebay) Versace Profumi spa, Vepro USA (1990-1995) batch 31381WB = year 1993 |
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| VEPRO SPA (italian) VEPRO USA (US distributor) = generically years 1990-1995 |
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| VEPRO USA (1990-1995) batch 43221WB = year 1994 |
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| VERSUS, Versace Profumi spa VEPRO USA (1990-1995) batch nr 50201 = year 1995 |
"GIVER Spa" or "Versace Profumi spa"
+ distributors "VERSACE PROFUMI USA"
or "Fragrance Marketing Group INC"
(1995-2005)
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| GIVER, and FM Group (since 1995) batch 50861WB = year 1995 |
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| GIVER, and Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch nr 60591 = year 1996 |
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FM Group USA (since 1995)
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| GIVER and Versace profumi USA (since 1995) batch 624781WB = year 1996 |
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| GIVER, Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch 617205 = year 1996 |
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| (from Ebay) GIVER, Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch nr. 708602 = year 1997 |
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| (from Ebay) GIVER, and Versace Profumi USA batch nr 82801 = year 1998 |
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| Versus, GIVER and Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch 91291RWF = year 1999 |
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| (from Ebay) Black Jeans GIVER, and Versace profumi USA (since 1995) batch 00031W = year 2000 |
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| GIVER, and Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch 119405 = year 2001 |
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| Dreamer, GIVER, Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch 215605 = year 2002 |
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| Dreamer, GIVER, VERSACE PROFUMI USA distributor (since 1995) batch nr 229018 = year 2002 |
.JPG) |
| (from Ebay) GIVER, and Versace Profumi USA (since 1995) batch 207201 = year 2002 |
EUROITALIA (since 2005)
6-digits batches 2006-2009
7 digits batches : since 2010
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| EUROITALIA (since 2005) batch nr 618105 = year 2006 |
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| UNUSUAL BOTTLE: GIVER srl batch 600210, with long list of ingredients= beginning of 2006. (it should be marked "EUROITALIA") |
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| long list of ingredients (since 2005) batch nr. 600210 = year 2006 |
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| EUROITALIA batch 618105 = year 2006 |
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| (from Ebay) EUROITALIA batch 724365 = year 2007 |
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| (from Ebay) Versense, launched in 2009 batch 930958 = year 2009 |
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| EUROITALIA (since 2005) 7-digits batch starting with "10" = year 2010 |
.JPG) |
| EUROITALIA, 7-digits batch starting with "11" = year 2011 |
All images from my friend Andre Moreau of the RaidersoftheLostScent blog.