Why are batch codes sometimes scratched off of perfume bottles?

Buying Guide:

Often this is a primitive technique done by stores or sometimes distribution, to camouflage the production date of items. In fact it's still being done within modern perfumery to this day.

1. Legally a store is given a certain amount of time, to be able to sell a fragrance until it's considered "expired". Stores sometimes scratch the code off and sell off the rest of their stock without having to destroy or remove the leftover "expired" items and lose profits.

2. Stores sell the "expired" fragrances in bulk, to independent buyers/resellers at discounted rates. The new seller could scratch the barcode off, preserving that it wasn't for meant resale.

If you find a vintage or modern perfume bottle with it's batch removed, you have to look at all of it's other distinguishing features to identify the time line it was made in. Commonly, fragrance bottles with scratched off batch codes are the same products, as bottles with a preserved batch code.

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