What is a batch number? (and why you should track one)

What it is

A batch number is a short code that says which production run a product came from. If you make twenty candles on one day from the same wax and fragrance, those twenty are one batch. Next week's candles are a different batch.

It is a label for "these were all made together under the same conditions." That is all. You do not need a fancy system.

Why it helps

Imagine a customer writes that her candle is sooty. Is it one bad candle, or are there more? Without a batch number you are guessing. With one, you can look at what else came from that run and check how it was made.

A batch number helps you to:

• Trace a complaint back to the day, the ingredients and the settings you used.
• Find other customers who got the same batch, if you need to contact them.
• Check which batches sell fastest or have more problems.
• Rotate stock, selling older batches first.

I am not saying any rule makes this compulsory for you. Requirements differ by product type, so check with the official source or a professional, especially for food, cosmetics and anything applied to the skin.

A candle example

Say you pour candles on 14 March. You decide your batch code is the date plus a letter: 1403-A for the first pour that day, 1403-B for the second.

For each batch you keep a small note with:

• The batch code.
• The wax and fragrance you used, and where you bought them.
• How many candles you made.
• Any change you made, like a new wick size.

A few weeks later, a customer reports that the wick is drowning in wax. You check the note for 1403-A and see you switched wick size in that run. You now know where to look, and you can offer replacements to anyone with that batch, if needed.

A skincare example

If you make a face cream, a batch note is even more important because ingredients matter. Record the date, quantities and the ingredient lots. If a customer reports a reaction, a clear record helps you and any expert you talk to. Do not make health claims, and read how to start selling skincare online in India for the broader picture.

Keep it simple

• Choose a pattern you will actually follow, such as date plus letter.
• Write the code on the pack or on a small sticker on the bottom.
• Keep a notebook or a sheet with one row per batch.
• Match it to your stock records, as in how to count inventory in a small business.

Tie it to orders

When you pack an order, note the batch on a slip or in your sheet next to the order ID. If you are using SKU codes, setting up SKU codes for a small store shows how to keep names consistent. A batch is not the same as a SKU, since many batches can share one SKU, and SKU vs product ID vs barcode explains the difference.

Where to start

Starting with your next production run, assign a code, write it on the pack and log it in a notebook. After a month you will have a record that quietly makes your business more reliable. For food products, also read what a shelf life label is.