A guide to YSL La Nuit de l'Homme - from vintage formula to modern one - covering batch codes, boxes, bottles, labels, and all the details you need to identify La Nuit de l'Homme.
Introduction
Hi there! This is my first post here at "Raiders of the Lost Scent". A few months ago I wrote a brief note about "fragrance formulas" reported on the boxes in all Dior perfumes, suggesting them as a method for detecting reformulations (see here). Surprisingly, that post gained a lot of resonance among perfume enthusiasts.
Following this track, I decided to make a similar work with another acclaimed male scent: La Nuit de l'Homme EdT, by Yves Saint Laurent. Yves Saint Laurent has been using "formulas" for a long time, and every YSL scent (EdP, EdT, AfterShave) has its own "formula" at the end of the ingredient list on the box.
Test Samples
I got four samples:
- Year 2009 (batch 9Axx, the first one produced)
- Year 2014 (batch 38Lxxx)
- Year 2015 (batch 38Mxxx)
- Year 2016 (batch 38Nxxx)
Results
There are clearly three different formulations. The original (2009) opens with a wave of spices. The second version (2014-2015) has a brighter, fresher opening. The third version (2016) is the most distinct, appearing "rearranged" and "smoothened," lacking the sharp edges of the previous versions.
Discussion: Fragrance Formulas
When you see codes like "YK05-3" at the end of the ingredient list, that is the "formula". Every version has its own; La Nuit de L'Homme EdT has a different formula from the Intense, Parfum, Sport, and Frozen Cologne versions. Even the EdT and After Shave have different formulas.
Note: You can assume "La Nuit de L'Homme" EdT underwent at least three different formulations between 2009 and 2016, with significant changes in the ingredient order (e.g., "Alcohol-Parfum-Water" vs "Alcohol-Water-Parfum").
Labels
CONCLUSION
La Nuit de L'Homme EdT (formulas):
- 2009: "8YB02-1"
- 2011: "8YB02-2"
- 2016: "C167049/1"
L'Oreal (YSL) batch codes:
| 2009 | 9xxx |
| 2010 | 0xxx |
| 2011 | H (third digit, e.g. 62H001) |
| 2012 | J |
| 2013 | K |
| 2014 | L |
| 2015 | M |
| 2016 | N |
Briefly:
- Want a darker, more intense scent? Go for early bottles (2009, 2010).
- Want a brighter but fresher scent? Go for any bottle produced between 2011-2015.
- If you prefer a smoothened scent, check for the last one (2016).
....and have a good sniffing!
Alberto Converano
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Exelent post im amazed
ReplyDeleteVery informative ...thank you
ReplyDeleteI have a 2010 bottle (40ml) that has the 2010 batch code but a "8YB02-2" formula code.
ReplyDelete