Timbuktu L'Artisan Parfumeur for women and men

I went through a bottle of this over a 4 or 5 year period mostly wearing it from time to time to work. As I was getting low, there was a reputable online retailer selling a 100ml for $50. So, I got a second bottle. It is also the old style clear bottle with the gold top. When the original ran out, I tried this and it did seem to me the vetiver was somewhat more prominent, and the karo flower and myrrh was less prominent than my old bottle, I tried it a few days. Put it back into the box, was considering reselling it, but it went into the back of the armoire and was forgotten about. A couple years later, I got this out, and with time, it now smells to me pretty much like my old bottle did. I don't know about the gray green bottles of this being sold now, but this is near magical. The vetiver is still prominent at first, but after 30 minutes it lessens. The star of this one, and what makes it unique is the karo flower and myrrh in the base. Overall, it has a sort of dry feel to it with a woody vetiver, the first two hours or so, a sort of dusty dryness, then comes a little spicy myrrh, and the karo flower note itself. The dry dustiness sort of gives way to this flower, which stays close to the skin. I had read the flower comes from Africa. I do know it's unique, and it's not overly sweet to me but it's nice. I might compare it in terms of the dry dustiness at the top, to Baldessarini Ultimate, though it's frankincinse and a different white flower, yet it has a similar vibe. My original bottle, that I used to wear to work. Lasted 6 hours, first at an arm distance then as a close up scent. Maybe poor reviews are the newer bottles, I don't know. I will say, in using up the entire bottle, nobody ever commented on it at work either way. In closing, this is a mystical, exotic, oriental type scent, crafted by a master perfumer. Both clear bottles to me were very good. It isn't a crowd pleasing scent, yet it stays close. I would say definitely try this before buying it. If the dry and dusty aspect I spoke of, lasting for the first couple of hours while this projects isn't your thing. Then, you already know.

Killer fragrance! A vetiver-forward masterpiece of blending art hindered by moderate performance.

You owe it to yourself to at least sample it.

Has a strong woody opening, but the dry down smells like a laundry detergent.

Beautiful! Lightly spiced smokey vetiver with a white floral and mango note. Nothing too sweet or earthy here. Just a really well blended versatile composition. Comforting/maternal feeling to it. Unfortunately this fragrance is just too light in its projection for me. While its longevity is good I can only recommend it as a personal scent as it doesn’t even leave a trail. A 10/10 for me but others would disagree including my GF who can’t stand the stuff lol

Amazing scent, light smoky incense character, fresh clean vetiver, unique hay like flowery note ,slightly spiced, earthy, skin of a fruit like essence to it but no sweetness or citrus. Slight resins. love at first whiff for me 10/10. airy incense ,Clean, Mysterious.

Vetiver. That’s it.

L'Artisan Parfumeur used to produce masterpiece after masterpiece, their back catalogue comprising many groundbreaking compositions. Timbuktu is one I have wanted to try for years, after reading Luca Turin's glowing review in Perfumes: The Guide as a young teenager. A spicy-woody chypre with an amber drydown, it is evocative of its theme and is nicely-composed. However, I am sure that it has been reformulated since Turin's review, as it falls flat quite quickly, becoming an unmemorable soapy skin scent. According to my sample, it is unusual, but nothing stellar, and its performance leaves much to be desired.

Timbuktu is spicy from initial spray, warm and peppery. There is a prominent cardamom note up top, slightly sweet, followed closely by mango. The mango is dry rather than juicy, reminiscent of the dried mango I used to snack on while studying. I get a hint of the crayon-like note that so wowed me in Tom Ford Oud Wood, but here it feels akin to coumarin or similar - muted and nothing special. The incense is detectable, but is neither smoky nor balsamic. A good rendering of ecclesiastical incense is one of my favourite notes, and it is not the case here - it feels diluted, like an incense "flavour" or something.

It becomes increasingly dry as it progresses, woody and grassy thanks to the vetiver, with earthy patchouli forming the chypre accord of the base. The musky, balsamic amber accord is muted, but marries nicely with the woody chypre base as it progresses. This doesn't last, however - it becomes soapy and wan as it fades, disappointingly flat and dull. Sillage is intimate and longevity is moderate. It is masculine-leaning, and feels like a year-round scent, given its current subtlety.

I expected great things, but am ultimately disappointed - reformulating masterpieces to cut costs just makes a fool out of the company and the consumer. Not bad, but underwhelming - I expected so much more. 3/5.

Smells like very flat or stale incense.

On the skin, it developed almost a slight detergent/soap smell.

first time i smelled it, it was so animalic to me that i was afraid of spraying it on my skin. fast forward 2 yrs later, i purchased an older bottle with the gold cap and my opinion has shifted. to me the opening smells strongly of black pepper + incense combo, then comes a slight powdery facet, borderline fruity floral combined with spices and then lots of resins that are not overly sweet. i actually like this, i understand how many people are in love with it, my problem with it was that my nose got used to it too quickly and i would stop smelling it on myself shortly after application (5-10 min) which i know it was still there but i couldn't smell it and i usually don't go anosmic to many things.

I'm not having a lot of luck tracking down karo karounde flower extract but I think it's more a fantasy note. This is a very impactful blend of patchouli, nagarmotha, magnolia, and of course loads of vetiver. They combined to make a fantasy dry papyrus with firehose bursts of Haitian vetiver. An additional powerful chemical called Vetikol Acetate contributes a tantalizing spicy earthy zest. I'm guessing they had to predilute this with loads of DPG and IES before diluting with perfumers alcohol, these chemicals are just too strong together otherwise.

Entirely not what I was expecting looking at the listed notes. No mango, no tropical sweetness - on me, this is a purely masculine, quite a dry woodsy spicy cologne with a benzoin base. I might enjoy this on a man - on me, not so much though I recognise its quality. It makes me think of sailing, not so much the ocean but the winds, old tall ships with big white sails bringing in the scent of exotic spices from distant ports. Some very pungent note in this one that starts to irritate after a while.

Hmmm balsamic greens, so beautifully done, wonderful.
This is the kind of scent profile I was dreaming of but haven't really found yet.
On the wrist it turns very soapy for some reason. Something I really don't like.

PS Hmm maybe this can still be saved for me by spraying differently, as in spraying in the air and catching the droplets, or just on clothes... I think I should revisit this some time.

I just tested a sample so can only talk about the scent. It's a very unique scent. I've never smelled anything like this, the sweet fruity and ambery accords are very soft and interesting. I don't like too much sweetness on fragrance and this one is right to the point, very mild on gentle. Insence is very mild and transparent as well. It's interesting because the concept of the fragrance is Africa, which I expect something very sharp with contrasting notes but it is not like that at all.
8/10

On my skin this smells synthetic, woody and green I dont like it. No mango nothing resinous...
Instant scrubber.

Its so far away from original bottle its depressing and synthetic. Sad how they cut the cost on this... The old formula took me to Africa to Safari to exotic world. This is joke. I ask why ? Old formula It was the best scent in the planet.

On my skin it smells like some herbal spicy mosquito repellent. It's simply too strong and somewhat synthetic, so unfortunately a scrubber for me.

Reminds me of rainy spring mornings, walking on soaked lawns drenched from the previous nights downpour. Occupies the same space as Hermann by ELDO or Rose 31 by labo. Vetiver artistry with hints of fragrant incense and wet patchouli. One of the fragrances that could be a signature or get lost in the shuffle. 3/5

I recommend sampling this one first. On my skin, it is a fairly weak smoky, subtle spicy with vetiver. It has a heavy band-aid smell. Industrial. Sits very close to the skin. It reminds me of a shadow of Amouage Jubilation XXV. I guess this makes sense since both were created by Bertrand Duchaufour. Jubilation is brighter, stronger (yes, stronger), fruitier and smokier than Timbuktu. I will not be buying a full bottle.

for me, one of those love at first whiff, gotta have despite it really not being top drawer.
fragrance is memory, culture, and, they say, genetic predisposition.

since it is so subjective, i am always a bit confused about reading reviews. so many loves, hates, and just strange opinions.

timbuktu is about exotic, but more like visiting an urban shop that sells items from africa and south asia. fun and sensory delight. so the exotic is really a more romanticized painting for the nose and brain.

performance is decent, a day trip to a fantasy.

Sampled this and it’s just not for me. Had high hopes because of the mango and vetiver being at the forefront but it comes off too grown and slightly old man like for my tastes. I just get incense and woods that have a slight tinge of oud in it. It doesn’t smell “bad” but idk if this is something I was to smell constantly on my skin through the day. I wouldn’t even know where/when I’d where this. Maybe I’ll revisit it when I’m 40+ but for now it’s a bit too heavy for me.

Based on a sample. Gorgeous, addictive blend of wood, florals and fruit, with vetiver providing the backbone. Let down by mediocre performance. I may still get a bottle, and douse myself every two hours. So frustrating!!!
4.5/5
Update: I've been enjoying my sample but in England the weather has just changed and so has my opinion of Timbuktu. In the warmer air the perfume has much greater 'carry', and has become quite stunning. The magic ingredient is the mango which (as per less ripe mango) has a sort of sweet tartness which provides radiance alongside the vetiver base. Now a love, but the learning that this is best when the weather is warmer (say 20 degrees C). Took the plunge and bought a bottle, for a niche perfume this isnt that expensive.

All I'm getting in the dry down is cardamom with vetiver; not what I was expecting at all.
Not bad but, also meh.

I original bought this because it was Hugh Jackman's signature perfume . But I really like it , strong incense perfume that can be worn all year around .Unfortunately it only last 3 hours on my skin

Timbuktu is my new obsession, l'Artisan Parfumeur at their peak creativity.

So there certainly is a link between TImbuktu und Dzogkha, this dry rooty parchment like vetiver, but where Dzogkha veers into an obscure earthy tea cold incense combo, Timbuktu features a robust myrrh note, resinous slightly sweet. I believe nargamotha forms some of the smoky earthy grittiness in the background together with the vetiver and I certainly detect the spicy cardamom and sweet amber undertones. What I also get but is not listed is an intense peppery note, possibly elemi adding a certain edge to it.

Overall, similar to Dzognkha I find it quite odd, its an earthy mystical composition, sitting right on the line between spicy earthy aromatic and dry woody amber. It dries down more woody earthy and patchouli heavy on my skin than ambery, the sweetness being minimal compared to the other facets.

Overall it is a stellar woody resinous vetiver fragrance, definitely worth sampling. Not the easiest scent to wear, but the performance is great on me.

Very elegant and rich smelling vativer with rose.

This is one of my favorite fragrances ever. I used to go to a lot of Renaissance faires, and the first time I smelled this, it smelled like walking by one of the incense carts at a faire. It was love at first sniff. I don't get much in the way of mango from this and wouldn't have been able to identify it as that until I read the notes. The pepper isn't extremely noticeable to me either. However, the floral, spice and fruit notes combine with the others beautifully to make this much more than a one-dimensional incense fragrance. It evokes a romanticized image of dry, dusty caravans, tents and incense. I have one of the earlier reformulations, the 100ml with the blue wave label that I scored for around $65 several years ago. I wear this often, but especially like it for summer days. I'm a woman and find it very unisex and easy to wear. I don't want my perfumes to walk into a room before I do, so I don't mind that it doesn't project loudly. I get some pretty decent hours of wear on my skin, and it will stay in my clothes for days. I hope this never gets discontinued!

More than almost any other perfume I can think of, this one smells different every single time I put it on. There are some consistent components—a dry, papery wood note and an earthy swampy vetiver—but other than that, it's a constantly-shifting kaleidoscope. Sometimes astringent, peppery, almost sneeze-inducing; sometimes warm, gooey, resinous; sometimes floral, fruity, and lush. There's a signature Duchafour note of burning incense that comes in and out. It often smells buttoned-down and formal (the dry woody aspect), but also has a mysterious and playful quality (like a cat, playing and peeking out from around a corner) that defies this formality. I bought a full bottle of it, not because it was love at first sniff, but because I burned through most of a 10 ml decant (from a bottle purchased in 2013/2014—gold cap, light) in just one week trying to get a handle on it. I needed to be able to spray without abandon.

This is one that makes people cry and scream about reformulation, but I really don't see their point. I've smelled the old gold-cap version and the new black-cap version and they are recognisably the same accord. I think possibly the mango note becomes funkier and more concentrated in older bottles, which may make some newer bottles smell more transparent and smoky-woody by comparison? Either way, do NOT listen the reformulation pessimists, I have a brand-new bottle of this (purchased directly from LAP in November 2022) and it smells fantastic. If you want to try it, get a BIG decant (5+ ml) with a sprayer, because you'll go through it and because you need to test it five or six times before it's clear what's going on.

A very interesting scent, I get exotic fruity smell with a backbone of Vetiver. My significant other however says she gets a piney menthol smell, we both seem to enjoy what we get from the fragrance however. It has average performance, I honestly expected a little more for the price... Overall id rate this 8/10

I love this, but my partner only gets associates it with moth balls + cleaning products and little else.

From the reviews, people get really rather different notes, so I wasn't sure what to expect from my decant. Would this be dry smokey incense with myrrh? As a child, my mother brought back a small satchel with myrrh from a trip to Morocco and stored it in a wooden drawer with postcards, an incense burner and other knick-knacks from around the world. That's what I was hoping for.

Instead, to my nose and on my skin, this is closer to what some others also get: a somewhat floral mango with a vetiver base -- though for me, the mango does fade quickly. For the majority of the time, the smell it projects is actually somewhat soapy and seems to have some jasmine too though it isn't listed. The papyrus is also surprisingly nice and prominent. Montblanc Starwalker shares that note (though overall, it's a much simpler perfume) and it gives a pleasant but unusual green background hum. Vetiver especially stays prominent throughout. 20 minutes in, it was so forward that I felt like a walking mosquito repellent, but it subsides to something closer to the skin that anchors everything and provide it with enough of an edge to never feel boring. When this is a skin scent is also the only time I pick up on the myrrh. Even that was enough to bring to mind the smell of childhood adventure.

Personally, I would have liked a bit more incense and a tad more staying power, but there's no denying that this is a complex layered fragrance. Try before you buy. 8/10 for me, but 4/10 from my partner.

Few legendary, vintage, discontinued, etc. fragrances live up to the hype. This one might.

One of the most unique compositions, subtle, complex, different but at the same time would remind you of a familiar scent of a time and place. Opens up with a pulpy sweet fruitiness, that's quickly subdued with incense, the papyrus incense blend with a soft jasmine nuance enters and stays throughout most of the life of the scent. Myrrh, vetiver and slightly balm like benzoin support the overall scent really well, it's bitter, a little soapy, somewhat like naphthalene balls, there's some robustness to the scent which is beautifully kept light. Sophisticated, classy, sweetened dark, definitive niche. 8.5/10

An interesting scent overall. To me this fragrance is an Aromatique, almost soapy kind of scent, but also herbaceous and dry. A mature scent that both men and women can wear. This is not a blind buy or mass appealing type of fragrance. I don't get a whole lot of silliage and little projection on my skin. I have a 50ml vintage bottle and this scent is more for those who appreciate more distinctive and unique fragrances. If you enjoy fragrances utilizing vetiver and incense, you may enjoy this. Spring/Fall Daytime 35+

This one rules! I wore it a few days in a row to get a feel for how it performed at work, out to dinner, and on a light hike over the weekend.

Very cool, bright and wet but not salty at all. Got lots of lightly floral fruity notes (i for sure get the mango skin) with a middle layers of spicy, papery wood, not really a heavy base of anything much at all. Maybe a little myrhh and a slightly musky patchouli, but the incense quality isn’t too burnt or treacly for me and the base sits very close to the skin.

Was pretty stable/linear in its performance, except when I was hiking and my body temp was rising I got lots more spice notes, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon most prominently. Every so often I would get a bloom of the patchouli but it never lingered too long or projected out too far. Was very very pleasant and invigorating for a brisk fall walk.

Pretty unisex tho maybe slightly masculine - mostly just in the ways it has a sort of chilly aftershave quality. I think anyone could wear this and there is def enough floral in here to read as femme in the presence of basically any other floral scented bath/body/beauty product. Maybe in the heat some of the deeper notes might be more prominent.

Definitely try before you buy - but I think this one is largely pleasant and easy to like. I found the longevity to be good, alright projection for a few hours, then a close wear for the remainder of the day. Could smell it on my skin after 8 hours. This is generally exactly what I want for a perfume - tho it may be an underperformer for those who like a cloud.

This brand is a tad expensive, but I just got 50ml for a pretty good price and v stoked about putting into the daily wearer rotation.

fresh, clean incense, some vetiver, and cedar-y iso e super. the latter making it a bit cloying and ultimately, overwhelming to my nose. sad because i love incense. testing an old (2015 or older) sample.

I believe this to have been destroyed by reformulation doesn't last, smells like Encre Noire. Might just as well buy Encre Noire.

Spicy dried green mango delves into smoky papyrus, lingers into a beautifully dry vetiver & patchouli combo with hints of amber and myrrh.
Very beautiful, very niche, very cool.
Perfect in transitioning weather, just the right blend of warm & cool to allow this scent to develop.

I have been to different parts of Africa more than a couple of times - in fact, I was born in Africa. From Ceuta to the Cape, the whole continent is a journey of colours and warm smells.
A perfumer has to be really sure of his or her skills when a name as powerful as Timbuktu is used in a perfume. One can't help but remember sand-coloured palaces, tow houses painted in various shades, a myriad of colourful fruits, a goat here... another one there, people almost always smiling and walking with a dancing rhythm, the many shades of green from the pale, yellowish dry green till the dense, dark ever-wet dark green. And to more than half of its population, Africa taught them to recognize the dry desert wind smell.
Timbuktu - the fragrance - pierces our nostrils with an opening filled up with warm spices and carrying a twist of sweet tropical fruit. It is a scorching perfume right from the start. Later on, the spices intensify with an exquisite herbaceous and well-spiced floral touch, along with persistent incense and amber.
As time goes by, one feels a second wave of resins and incense now tempered by sweet but faint vanilla, and a dry, woody, smoky green "African" vetiver. This balsamic green lingers throughout the dry down.
The perfume holds up to 6 or 7 hours of longevity depending on the formulation. Sillage is somewhat discrete but you will get your money's worth with a couple more sprays for a four/five feet scent radius with an hour and a half of projection.
It's hot, it's green, it's dry, it's smoky, it's balsamic, it's woody, it's vetiver.
It's Central Africa but could also be North Bolivia or Chile

In my opinion: One of the best exquisite scents I own. I do like it very much. It's a vetiver piece of fine art.
Recommended? Yes, but only if you like the scent of strong woody & smoky vetiver.
Is blind buy worthy? No! Do try it before you buy it.

Music: "Survival" by OSIBISA

it seems interesting but on my skin this is the weakest fragrance i have ever tried. i ended up using half my sample (0.5ml from the 1ml sample) - it didn’t project and was gone after 20 mins. unbelievable! had my friend smell me and they said it was barely noticeable.

This is a peace of art. Woody, fresh, exotic, gorgeous non greasy patchouli and pepper. When the fall starts and I am able to wear a fine wool scarf, I wear Timbuktu. My stepfather felt in love with this, so I gifted him another bottle. Both old versions. I am a female person 30 y.o.

Love the mango-vétiver-papyrus combo in this, but to be honest I could hardly smell this on my skin with two generous sprays. I'm assuming most other reviewers on here sprayed this on much more heavily than I did

Great fragrance that really lives up to its hype. Lovely fruity dry incense. Nothing shocking these days, but it is easy to see why it was rocking the boat at the time of its release. The drydown similarity to Oud Shamash from the same author is uncanny. To the point that I would not consider owning it.

A dry, green masterpiece

For me it opens with a sharp green mango (partner reads as berries) and slightly soapy vetiver. Papyrus adds dryness to the vetiver, while the incense and resins give off an arid smokiness. Some light florals that could be the Karo Karounde, but I couldn't say what that smells of. It stays dry and green throughout and ever so soapy in a pleasant way to me, which makes it clean and great for the heat.

Definitely gives visuals of a rich, sunbaked, arid landscape with wafts of incense and mango trees abound

A summer incense, a unique vetiver, or simply a transportive and spiritual scent

Highly recommended, latest bottle and all

Masterpiece. I wear it as a woman but I understand why some woman won’t like this. It this is not a fragrance for someone looking to play it safe or blend in. You will be noticed. It may not be for everyone but I adore the woody, dry airy spice , it smells like a beautiful far-away place where I can be who I truly am.

Excellent scent. It is like discovering more and different notes every wear, but always that great vetiver. Great confidence wear.

As I described it to my husband, “Imagine your great-grandparents after a night out, a night of drinking, smoking, and dirty dancing at the speak easy. They went home. The dirty dancing continued. His cologne, her perfume, their sweat…all mixed together. An earthy, smoky powder bomb explodes.” As he listened and smelled, his eyes widened. Knowing grin, shakes his head in agreement. (In all fairness, I don’t think his great-grandparents were that exciting. They were farmers. Their scandals were more likely to happen in a barn. ;)…lol )
So that’s what I get. It’s way too heavy and masculine for me. Not something either one of us will ever wear. I don’t get much mango, if any.

I don’t really get the mango, but everything else is spot on. A pleasure, a luxury. Something special. Timbuktu proves why Niche matters and is worth extra investment. No designer ever has or will smell like this. Timbuktu hits different.

a wonderful fragrance. an olfactory trip. what a pity silage is so poor on me.

Excellent. Too dry greeny-woody for me (female) to consider wearing, but excellent work. It is the most non-linear essay on perfume I have ever smelled.

P.S.: I have no idea why LT compared this to Bois d'Arménie. I find them to be completely different; Timbuktu is dry-aromatic while Bois d'Arménie is rich and ambery.

There’s no genius of the oriental genre quite like M. Duchaufour. Must be experienced to be believed - somewhere in the neighbourhood of Jubilation XXV but slightly less overindulgent, slightly more gourmand. Total classic.

TL;DR: Smells like sen-sen! Yum!

Very vetiver-forward, tropical green mango. Cool and sharp. Smoke is a bit soapy, and I can sense the attractive cardamom, but this combination is too “green” for me. Like eating a tropical fruit out of season, I feel like there’s something off or missing.

I purchased a full size bottle immediately after trying a decant. To me, this scent is all about the vetiver & subtle incense and green earth. This scent grounds me in a way that no other scent has before. If you enjoy green, earthy, dirt/patchouli fragrances there is a good chance you will love this one. I’ve only worn it throughout winter, so I can’t wait to test drive this summer. This is a power fragrance, for sure.

I do not detect a fruity notes the way that some do. To me there is no rotten fruit or garbage note, but I highly suggest not blind buying!

When I tried a sample a few years ago, I remember it being VERY earthy, smoky, warm, and incense-y, but I don't remember detecting any sort of mango note. It also lasted SO FRIGGIN LONG, whether on skin or clothes, and had an overwhelmingly enormous sillage. To me, it was much more of a novelty fragrance, a daydream of an Egyptian temple in a bottle, rather than a scent I'd want to wear out and about.

Off the top I get a warm, green, incense. The mango is there too but it's not juicy or fresh, more faint and a little damp like just the peels. The mango combines with the cardamom (slightly stale, not spicy) and a little of the patchouli, really adding to the greenness of this scent. To me this smells like exotic food being prepared on a big wooden table in the middle of the jungle.

The opening is interesting and lively but as it dries I just get all the green notes. It smells like damp mango peels left out in the sun for a while. Not really pleasant in the dry down.

Disappointed in this. I enjoy all the notes listed but it feels like the proportions are wrong. I was hoping for smoky and green, but instead it smells green, sticky, and a little gross

The performance is not good. Immediate skin scent

I love this scent - I wore it in my late 20s and am just opening a new bottle for a bit of nostalgia. It is spicy and woody but unique in that it is not overly warm. There is a briskness to the scent that I love. It is definitely a “don’t mess with me” kind of vibe rather than a kicking around the house comfy scent but we all need that vibe in our lives!! Smell before you buy as not for everyone. ❤️

It's a very green fragrance. The opening is very strong, i have citrus notes but I don't get the amber, mango neither. I smell vetiver, cardamom and patchouli smoked by a sprig of incense, mostly in drydown.

Does it smell woody ? Not really, this is more earthy with citrus notes.

💙 Male
🔥 Hot & Humid Seasons
📌 Personal Note: 6,5 / 10

Hmm, well... It's not bad. But not what I was expecting.
This is mostly vetiver and ISO E Super.
There are hints of other things in here, as listed in the notes, but Big Bad Vetiver beats them into submission, and the generic "woody" vibe makes up the rest of it.
I'm not impressed.

Hard to review such a legend. Beautiful on the blotter, green smokey earthy mango, reminiscent of a far far tropical place like GOT’s Yunkai, the name is very well chosen. Like a dark version of Jardin Sur Le Nil.

On my skin the papyrus takes over and it becomes a lot less pleasant, unfortunately. Otherwise it could have been a winner.

Wow, gorgeous. Fresh, clean due to the fruit- pepper notes. Notes combo almost turn in into an aquatic fragrance. Leans more masculine but I would wear it as well when in need for the energy boost.

Oh boy, I just got this (old bottle) and was very surprised, I do not get any mango, but it’s a dry, woody, smoky scent that is very unique. And just down right gorgeous.is anyone else getting versace man in the purple bottle vibe when they smell this?

A true mastrepiece hands down.One of the best creations of great Bertrand Duchaufour.Longevity and sillage are excellent.Try to find pre puig bottles.

Call me a fan. This is a dry cardamom and papyrus scent for me with some woods at the end. I don’t get any mango at all nor any sweetness, I simply get a dry somewhat powdery smell which is wonderful. This is a cooler day scent, I don’t think I would like it in heat more a cool autumn or warmer (50 or below) winter type day. Good longevity and well balanced. Bottle worthy IMO

I get mostly mango scent out of this perfume, a nice sweet mango that’s not too natural because it lacks other unpleasant notes of the real mango. Just say that this perfume highlights the better part of the mango scent.
My use for this perfume is to layer with Ralph Lauren’s Double Black to deepen the mango note in the perfume and somewhat extents its longevity.

Love at first scent. As many others have mentioned, it's a masterpiece. There's a nostalgia here that just makes you proud to be confident. A ROUGH impression but if Indiana Jones was an actual person and not a movie character, I'd imagine him smelling like this.

I'd get this just for the fun of having it! The performance is above average against designers.

One of a kind in all the right ways.
Solid 7.9/10 imo

EDIT: I had to go back and smell this again. It's just so cool. I could never wear it because it's quite green IMO but it dawned on me what this smells like! Who remembers Pacific Cafe??? There's an amazonian yet aquatic nature to this scent. I love it! haha

Yeah, it is really a masterpiece. And you know that when you smell something different that fits you well and gives you different facets during the lifetime, plus makes you feel better and complete.

This is a incense scent with a green vetiver base and supported by fruity and slightly spicy elements. Sometimes I get berries, sometimes I get mango. I'm their website, they list red berries as a note but on Parfumo/Fragrantica they list Mango. I guess the mango association comes to a comparison of another scent that, to me, has a similar vibe and some similar notes. Un jardin sur le Nil by Hermès.

They both have vetiver, fruity elements (mango) and incense. The difference is that the Hermès is more green and watery and a bit more citrusy. This, in contrary, is a bit more resinous and airy. I love both but i find this one a more grown up version of the Hermès.

To me, it's a great summer / mild weather scent. It's refreshing due to the fruity facet and has character with vetiver and incense notes. I always prefer to wear vetiver scents during spring and summer time. They just work. And this one is no exception. Doesn't evolve much since the fresh fruity vibe starts to dry down a bit. But the sillage is superb.

Incense is a very relaxing note. And this combination of fruits, resins (i detect a bit of myrrh), green vetiver and incense is perfect. Duchaufour is a master of incense scents and is capable of create this weird but great combo of fruits and resins (see Jubilation XXV). I just can't get enough of it.

I can't see any imperfections on this one. The performance is good, spillage is perfect, smell it's outstanding and the price is decent for what you get. Overall, a must have fragrance, a classic and a perfect scent.

5/5

thank you, thank you, thank you to mother_love_bone! great context! (latest review below) i am currently testing timbuktu against nishane afrika olifant. tim seems weak, without real heart, not projecting. it's extremely tame and not really interesting in comparison.

It’s so so good sprayed on hair (long, dark). Especially in summer. Really good on winter clothing too, like scarves sweaters and coats. Dry, woods, aromatic, reviving uplifting but not loud, can be a background aroma. I don’t get any sweetness or mango but then mine is a pretty old small bottle that was a gift. Original formula, haven’t tried the reformation.

It's not a scent that pleases most people. It smells exotic, can't determine the location, all I know is that the story must not have happened in Europe.
Timbuktu is roughly a combination of vetiver and dry wood, hard and dark.
Papyrus here is tactile. I haven't actually touched it, but I imagine Papyrus is prone to yellowing and fragmentation and drying. It was previously used to draw some ancient Egyptian secretarial document.
The scene is a barren kingdom, undergoing ancient rituals, communicating with the gods with smoke and praying for something.
Timbuktu is intense, with distinct peppers and incense. I can smell mangoes, which are very sour, turquoise fruit.
It feels primitive and masculinity. Since Timbuktu, I have been interested in Duchaufour and his perfume.

-Opens as a nondescript incense scent, that vaguely reminds me of many others on the market.
-Evolves to become a greener scent, with a 'watery' or 'damp' nature to it. (Could it be the vetiver?)
-I'm surprised to see myrrh in the notes; myrrh doesn't come across prominent to me.
-Definitely not blind-buy safe. It's a bit of an odd one. (-)

I enjoy the concept of connecting the perfume compositions to the cities and places, but this one is not for a blind buy, as the impressions on this complexed composition are totally different.

For me it appeared as a set of separate notes of flowers and spice on the soapy base, no juicy mango at all (i've got an earlier version of Timbuktu with a blue label, TKA216Q). While the person I reselled the flacon describes it as a charming exotic fragrance.

I don't love all parts of Timbuktu's composition, but I find myself craving for that woodsy-mango every so often that's a bit reminiscent of Un jardin sur la nil but better. The woods are a little too dry for me, taking on an almost astringent quality when I breathe it in.

But when that juicy, almost-ripe mango peeks out though... mmmm...

The heavy vetiver mixed with other dark notes remind me of Encre Noire, only this is ultimately much warmer, less sepuchral, and much more palatable. The mango offers some nice and needed lightness to highlight the somberness.

A truly great and unusual masculine scent. It's not an easy crowd-pleaser. But it's something to wear in order to impress (and yet not to depress). Woody, mysterious, and distinguished, this is elegant, and not show-offy.

This is a fragrance its designer should be very, very proud of having created.

IF you buy this, make sure you are into commitments. I love this, but I sprayed one spray on my SKIN this morning, my skin EATS perfume. Since then, 2 different times, hours apart, I have sprayed something totally different from this over top of it to calm it down some, & it is just still screaming on my wrist loudly 8 hrs later. Possibly the Beastiest of them all! It'll be quite a while before I can wear this one again.

Wow, I’m glad I got a decant instead of blind buying this. But I’m pretty bummed that I paid 15 bucks for it.

This smells like pencil shavings soaked in Baldessarini Ultimate, which is a far superior fragrance in my opinion. This is a nondescript, boring woody niche fragrance with a hint of spice and a $170 price tag. It smells like 1000 other dry woody fragrances with absolutely nothing setting it apart.

Honestly it does bear a striking resemblance to Baldessarini Ultimate, but Ultimate is way better. Not as dry, the pink pepper is more prominent, it has more depth, and the florals pop a lot more. The drydown is a lot more interesting too. Timbuktu is maddeningly linear, which sucks because it’s uninteresting at every stage.
Hard pass on this one.

L’artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu (2004) - fruity smoke - #bertrandduchaufour is a master in incense as he is able to make them with so much nuance yet also wearable. This perfume starts with fruity Mango, Pink Pepper and then the heart of Incense, Vetiver mixed with resins of Myrhh and Benzoin. One of the best incense perfumes.

I feel this is overrated. Nothing outstanding about this. It’s just pretty with not so good sillage and performance on my skin. I’d recommend you sample before committing to a full bottle

When I first got this, I thought it was too strong and too masculine so I left it on my shelf for ages. But actually, having worn it out on some cold winter days, I find its actually a very warm, deep invigorating smell which I've steadily grown to love. Very evocative name and very much agree with the arabic connotations of Northern Africa.

Dark vetiver.

Dusty green vetiver, religiously-woody incense/myrrh/papyrus combo, and a mild spiciness of cardamom and pink pepper.

Woody, incense, Arabic smell. Like an aged piece of wood. Like the smell of an Abrahamic religion worship place. Reminds me of Zirh Ikon but softened with vetiver.

This is in the vein of Amouage Jubilation, Tauer's L'Air du Desert Marocain, Lalique's Encre Noire, and so on.

Quite the mature smell. To some, this is might be "too old".

A cool weather wear for the mature, suite men more.

"Like"

The opening is a bit too sour like for my taste. But the dry down is very beautiful.

Me and mango have a love/hate relationship. I love the 'idea' of it and then when I smell it, the sharpness just doesn't impress my nose. While I'm sniffing this, my brain wants to jump past the mango to the smoky smell, but then I lose the 'unisex' idea of this. Not that I am tied in any way to male/female smells, but there is just something a bit offputting about this one.

I have a bottle of this with the turquoise label which is apparently the old formula most people like. I've had it for a while, n get it out every so often to try to see what the attraction is. The story around it is so romantic but the scent itself leaves me on the shelf.. I clearly have the wrong genetic nasal receptors or I'm anosmic to some of it or I get something extra no-one else does 'cos to me this is just.. what is this? It's dry, papery, woody, this is very old books in a musty room with some dusty spices n a bale of hay. I don't find that seductive. It does make me want to travel n look round foreign markets but tbh I always feel like that. I wish the opening stayed around longer.
Addendum: Sold, hopefully it's next owner loves it.

love this perfume smoky mango so good . unfortunately is discontinued what a shame L'Artisan Parfumeur

From here to Timbuktu! One of the most mystical and unique scents I have ever experienced. It's earthy, woody, warm, and spicy with a beautiful tropical accord brought on by the mango and Karo Karounde notes. A very unique and complex fragrance that continues to develop and morph while wearing it. Just an incredible crafted perfume which I can't stop smelling it on myself.

My 3 P's
- Price 8/10
- Projection 8/10
- Performance 8/10

on my 5th bottle of this. i was afraid of the reformulation but i love this so much that i will purchase it until they stop making it. very memory evoking for me. not sure where i have smelled this before but somewhere in my scent memory there is a match. wonderful and odd at the same time.

I've sampled over 100 fragrances in the past year and I can confidently say this is one of the most unique. It's... pretty funky. Dry, mango flavored incense. Not for me. Dislike.

Overly ripe mango hay. Not my thing.

This is for the black bottle version. I see some references to roses and I have the same experience. Perhaps the combination of the karo karounde, pink pepper and mango is presenting illusions of rose but that's all I read - on paper. The moment I apply to skin however, the incense blooms and a reedy papyrus emerges though still shackled to a rose I can't get away from. Generic vetiver and woods base. And surprisingly soft overall. A must try before purchase.

This just went into my Full Bottle Worthy list and unseated Polo Black as my main Mango Frag. Unique, quirky yet classy, somewhat formal spicy Mango-Vetiver. Love, love, love how weird this concoction is!

Didn't really know what to make of it off the spray... its not your typical "love with at first smell" frag. Its more like a friend you didn't know you were in love with until you realize you actually want to spend all your time with her. She's not the prettiest, nor the sexiest, but she's on your mind all the time and you remember every little thing she says. I was sniffing my wrists all day without really knowing why... until I knew.

Lasted all day too. Its 8 hours and counting and its still there as a slightly fading aura.

Sex in the jungle. Dirty, sticky vetiver, salt and sweaty, green mango. First, I can’t decide if I hate or love this one. Think I hate it. Ohh yes I do. Strong scent - you really need attitude to pull this off.

I acquired the formulation in the classic packaging (not the unfortunate reform in the black bottle).

Timbuktu has an olfactory cadence, nothing spikes, juts out, darts into your nose and demands attention; it is smooth, sensuous, and quietly seductive.

It starts with tart mango and pink pepper on a bed of woods and incense, and as time progresses, the smoky papyrus and earthy vetiver become more evident, do not dominate but on the contrary, harmonize.

I revisited the rare Karo Karounde absolute that I have in my perfume ingredients collection and indeed, it is evident here in the heart of the fragrance, mildly indolic and almost creamy. The drydown is deliciously resinous and slightly bitter myrrh married with sweet benzoin, a great coda.

I agree with other reviewers that Timbuktu is a catalyst for reverie, a yearning for a place or time that is only a memory, or may have never existed in this lifetime (perhaps another?). Dig it.

At first this gave a punch of bright fruit, hint of grapefruit, fresh florals. But in thirty minutes it had dried down and was nearly indistinguishable from Comme des Garcons 2. If that initial fruit punch hung around longer and was still present in the dry down, I would like this very much more.

This is the perfect balance between fresh fruity and smoky scent. The most successful blind buy in my life. This to me is a holiday in a bottle. An adventure. Oh my god I’m falling in love with this. The mango notes hits different, and by smoky, i mean a very clean and pleasing smoke that gives you zen meditation. 10/10!

A perfume fit for the great Mansa Musa, the king of Timbuktu and the wealthiest man to ever exist in documented history. This is a high-quality vetiver fragrance through and through. In the beginning you get that green papyrus surrounded by earthy and smoky vetiver. The mango note does not provide a forgiving fruity presence, to me it’s dried mango coated in spices and baked under the Timbuktu sun. The fragrance stays dry and hot throughout its entire composition. What keeps this arid fragrance from falling flat is the base of thick resin and the persistent green element.... Wow I need to go grab some water, I’m starting to feel quite parched ☀️

FRUITY AFRICAN VETIVER


EXPERIENCE: We enter the scene in a dry and dusty African landscape: thick rooty vetiver, a smokey campfire - and some mango for a snack! The ripe mango gives a hearty burst of freshness without getting too sweet. It softens up the dry, earthy composition making this dark vetiver scent light to wear. Papyrus adds to the the dry, arid landscape. And there’s a pervading hint of a lightly metalic musk, shimmering here and there, like wind in the tall vetiver grass.

COMPOSITION: The composition took 6-7 hours on my skin with 3 main phases. First, an overwhelming burst where the whole composition unfolds, a premonition, as Alice goes down the rabbit-hole… the dry, earthy vetiver says hello, as mango enters the scene, and hangs around for a few hours of pleasant wafts. In the second phase, the smoke intensifies, enveloping the composition in thick smoke. In the third and final phase, there’s a musky leather and vetiver drydown, the fire now fading away and the smoke rising into the cool night air.

WHAT I LEARNED: Timbuktu’s composition had so much promise for me. I love incense, vetiver, earthiness, and I love creative fragrances which transport you somewhere, and wow you! But this fragrance as an example of how smoke can take over. Much like musks, smoke can blanket over and cloud a composition, hindering the clarity of the underlying complexity. Here it was hard to feel the richness of the vetiver, the mango or the earthiness. The smoke blanketed the scene, making it feel more 2D than 3D, and making me crave the simplistic realism of Malle’s VE instead. So as a man on a mission to find the ultimate vetiver, I didn’t quite find what I was seeking here.

VERDICT: Searching for the ultimate vetivers but got more smoke than vetiver here. So far for rugged, dark vetiver I prefer Encre Noir, and for aromatic, green vetiver I like Malle’s Vetiver Ex, with it’s manly kick of cedar! The Search continues!

I'm not too keen on incense, but this is probably one of my favorite incense based scents I have tried so far. By what is now a very popular release, I'd say it's one of Duchaufour's best creations from the house.

Very intriguing blend of notes and the almost sour mango note blends perfectly with the vetiver and a slight sweet accord which could be the benzoin. A ''mysterious'' and dare I say almost exotic composition based on incense and vetiver. A refined fragrance which could easily be a great signature scent. Suitable for all seaons and nearly every occasion, it's definitely a scent which any perfume aficionado should at least sample.

I have the older style bottle so I don't know how the older formulas (it surely has been reformulated at least once since its release) compare to the new black bottles, but it's a scent I always want to have a bottle of. A modern classic in my opinion.

10/10

I was so excited to smell this. In my pursuit of oriental/spicy/incense fragrances for summer, I committed the sin of blind buying the 100 ml 2020 version. What I get from Timbuktu in the drydown is a version of Guerlain Habit Rouge with the citrus notes of Habit Rouge replaced by the green mango note of Timbuktu. Not a bad fragrance but not as original as the reviews/hype inferred.

Papyrus & cypriol bomb! So masculine and distinct. I don’t have anything like this in my collection.
The Vetiver here reminds me of Creed Vetiver & Geranium

Very beautiful scent

Opens very strong, incredibly well-rounded with accords of dark green, bright grassy, lush fruity, strong spicy - it then dries down to a drier, quite soapy vetiver-papyrus.

I've come to love papyrus as a sharp note to complement sweeter notes, a great example is how it pairs with the amber in Bvlgari Pour Homme Soir. I'm also a fan of a good, soapy vetiver drydown and I think this is the first time I've experienced papyrus pairing with that soapy drydown and I really like it.

This is a very strong like for me. I love the opening and I really like the vetiver-papyrus drydown, but the two are very different fragrance experiences, and I just wish I got to experience that dazzling, multifaceted opening for a bit longer. In the opening and mid this projects pretty well but around the three hour mark (on me) it becomes a pretty soft skin scent.

I've got the older transparent bottle with the colorful label, so I don't know if the new version in the new bottle after the ownership change is any different from the experience I've described above.

UPDATE: ellimac, you are right, there is a floral note that only emerges around the 4-hour mark of the drydown. It's remarkable but it was missing entirely until then, now it's standing side-by-side with the vetiver and papyrus. Let's call that "Skin Scent Phase 2" but it makes it much sweeter than the initial drydown,

This must be the Karo-Karounde - which is described in the database as a white floral. Pretty sure this is my first exposure to it. This fragrance continues to be full of surprises.

Is it just me, or does this have a strong geranium-like note in the drydown?

It opens with a very fresh and slightly powdery chord, a greenish bush (papyrus), plenty of pepper and just a remote and weak fruity reference of mango. As this main chord dries, the vetiver chord gets slightly incensed. This vetiver frag is much less inviting than other vetivers with a similar proposal, such as Bal D'Afrique, Vetiver Tonka, Vetiver Fatal, Fat Electrician, etc. The result delivered here is a fresh spicy quite peculiar and a little far from mass-pleasing appeal. Satisfactory performance, projecting quite well.

The original formulation was probably the greatest fragrance of all time. The reformulation has killed a legend and replaced it with a feeble shadow of the original. An embarrassment and a shame. Like Luca Turin said: “if you love it, buy 2 before its reformulated”.

So I only have a tiny sample, bought second-hand and MIGHT have gone off to some degree. But I was kinda relieved to read LoreleiBluebird's review below noting the fatty aldehydes/soapy notes. These really dominate to me - an old-fashioned upscale, powdery and soapy vibe. As I breathe through that I do get some dry, lit match/smoky/incensy accord, and other interesting notes, but overall impression isn't what I expected.

I too wanted to love this.
The opening is fantastic, so much sweet, warm and spicy loveliness.
But if, like me, you are sensitive to the soapy fatty aldehydes then unfortunately what you will largely smell is soap. For that reason it has a very vintage vibe to my nose.
I still like it, but I have other dry and spicy, and even soapy, perfumes that fit this niche.
A rare disappointment from Duchafour and L'Artisan, for me anyway.

Timbuktu will take you to a journey. From the spice markets to the ritual ceremonial incense with refreshing tropical green mangoes. Such a beautiful fragrance!

Sophisticated and warm--leans to the yang rather than the yin--it's got outward force, this stuff.

Sweet spice at the opening, with a hint of rose, that settles into resinous green incense, heavy on the vetiver. Soft patchouli projection for half the day, with honey cardamom on the skin.

Has really nice organic alpha notes, with none of the usual chemical musks--for days when you need a little more power in the flesh.

I heard so much about this fragrance, that when I got the chance to buy Coleciton les misteres d'orient, one of which is Timbuktu, for 50 euro, I just couldn't resist.
So I am reviewing the clear bottle with hexagonal cap and turquoise label with waves. Immediately after I sprayed Timbuktu, I sensed something familiar. I had smelled this opening somewhere. Dry, woody but not herbal, seemingly simple, but actually quite multi-layered. I am sure I've had in the past a fragrance which had some similar quality, but just couldn't remember which one. Must have been Guerlain, but which one?
In the meantime, the fragrance developed on my skin. I think Timbuktu is a very easy fragrance. Definitely not masculine, quite neutral actually, and for me, not a special occasion or urban scent - rather something I would wear on a trip to a faraway land, where will spend lots of time outdoors - around a campfire, or chasing wild animals with my photo camera, or going through almost unexplored paths. This fragrance was so well described by many before me, I can only confirm - yes it is woody, smoky and spicy, dry and exceptionally well blend together. Yes, it is a beauty. Yes, it is easy one to fall for it, a man or a woman. It is very unoffensive, and there is some coolness, some transparency in it, which is very uplifting. It stays close to the skin. A bit too short-lived to my taste, but maybe it will be different in different weather. Also, since I suffer from migraines, I have a great experience with migraine-inducing perfumes. Well, this one is the LEAST migraine-inducing frag I've ever come across. And because Timbuktu kept on developing while I was writing, now I think I know what it reminds me of - the drydown of old Guerlains - Mitsouko and L'heure Bleue, minus the herbs and more dry. I would say - a safe blind buy. If you don't like it, there will be definitely someone around, who would :)

A nice cologne vetiver, but however, I find it a bit too boring. It just goes into more cologne than I would like it too. Might fit better for men. I would recommend to sample this first.

За най-любимите най-трудно се пише:) сигурно така ухаят някои палави елфи

This fragrance is alive, full of motion. It pulsates with rhythm, undulating between dry and wet, warm and cool, masculine and feminine. It is sexy and completely austere at the same time. I have had a bottle of this in my possession for several weeks now, but I don't wear it, not because I don't like it, but I am just not sure what occasion it is best for. It is an artistic scent, no doubt, and these are tough for me to wear to work or causally. For me, Timbuktu is an "occasion" fragrance, but I haven't found the right occasion for it yet. I will certainly keep in in my collection for its uniqueness and quality, and I will undoubtably find the right time to wear it. This is the very definition of art in perfumery.

I have been more than a couple of times in different regions of Africa - actually I was born in Africa. The entire continent is a journey of hot colors and warm scents.
A perfumer must be really sure about his work when such a powerful name like Timbuktu is used. One cannot avoid to recall sand coloured buildings and palaces, colorful fruits, a goat here and there, smiling people, some imposed vivid green, and the omnipresent desert wind scent.
Timbuktu - the fragrance - pierces your nostrils with an opening first moment of strong spices together with a tropical sweet fruit aroma. It's a hot perfume from the start. Later, spices become even enhanced with an exquisite peppery floral touch, along with the lingering scent of frankincense.
As time passes you feel a second strong moment of resins along with the incense seasoned by a fainting sweet vanilla and an "African" dry, woody and smoky green. This balsamic green endures all through the drydown.
The perfume is good enough for 6 to 7 hours of longevity depending on the formulation. Sillage is somewhat discrete but you will get your money's worth with a couple more sprays for a four~five feet scent radius with an hour and a half of projection.
It's hot, it's green, it's dry, it's smoky, it's balsamic, it's woody. It's Central Africa, or even North Bolivia.
I am testing the white label flask pictured here in Parfumo.

How does Timbuktu faces my ratings?
__________________________________________________________

Scent Opening: 8,5 (fantastic)
Scent Drydown: 9.5 (close to perfection)
Longevity: 7.0 (less than 7 hours in my skin)
Sillage: 7.0 (4~5 feet sillage with 1.5 hours projection)
Uniqueness: 9.5 (quite unique, evoquing some high standard vetiver fragrances, but different)
Wearability: 9.0 (It's an all weather scent although a bit less appropriated in very cold days or nights)
Versatility: 9.5 (all occasions except in the gym)
Compliments: 7.0 (more a self pleaser than an attention grabber)
Quality: 9.0 (above average quality ingredients)
Presentation: 7.5 (€45,00 - 50 ml EDT)
__________________________________________________________

Overall rating: 8,32/10.0
between 7 and 8 =above average;
between 8 and 9 = recommended;
bigger than 9 = don't miss it;
Opinion: One of the best exquisite scents and I like it very much. A vetiver gem.
Recommended? Yes, but only if you like the scent of strong woody & smoky vetiver.
Blind buy worthy? No! Do try it before you buy it.

Music: "Survival" by OSIBISA

Bought a decant to see what the hype is all about.
It's pleasant enough but not really to my taste.
The incense is nice but short-lived. It then becomes too lipsticky on my skin.
It reminds me of Terre De Hermes in that way, and I couldn't get on with that one either.
Try before buying. It's not for me, but could work on someone else.

Somebody below mentioned this reminds them Portrait of a Lady and I cannot but agree. The dry down is very floral, I smell rose with clean vetiver and only tiny hint of smokey incense and spices. I would not classify this as incense heavy fragrance at all. It is most definitely unisex. I can understand why people may like it, but at the same time do not jump on the hypetrain of YouTube reveries. Respect the author, can see the sophistication, but it leaves me cold. Do not blind buy, sample first!

Timbuktu is a masterpiece! Totally amazing fragrance! It calms me down and making me travel! Maybe its that papyrus note blended with green elements spices and woods.. I have no idea what it is but when i want to fall asleep and relax i spray that one! Also a compliment getter! Totally unique you cant find anything similar! 10/10 for sure! And really good price for niche quality!

Just sampled this about an hour ago but here are my first impressions.
Definitely full bottle worthy, love the smell.
spicy fresh smoky incense, after an hour the scent doesnt change much but becomes a little soapy to me, but a luxurious soap sort of like boucheron. Really, really like this
So far I've tried caligna, premier figuier and premier figuier extreme from this house, I'm a lover of the fig note but I like this one better.
It's just a classy, fresh beautiful scent.
Buying a full bottle, but not sure if Ebay is the way to go, seeing a lot of timbuktus from Russia and China at prices to good to be true

Edit: I dont have interlude man to do a side by side but definitely reminds me of it, not identical but gives me the same kind of vibe like I'm not wealthy enough to be wearing this. The name Timbuktu fits perfect. You cant be stuck on a scorching subway platform on times square waiting for the 2 train that's 18 mins delayed and smelling like this.
Scent 10/10
Sillage 7/10
Going on 7 hours with 2 sprays and still kicking

Edit: bought a full bottle - the clear one with gold cap. My skin eats this up and after 1 hour I cant smell a thing. Sprayed it on clothes and it last way longer, guessing that's the only way to wear it

If you have ever been in one of those etno shops, where they sell incense sticks, wood jewelry, harem pants and other stuff... the smell that hits your nose when you enter them...that is exactly this fragrance. But it has more... there is something fresh about it. It's not just a mix of smells, this is actually very complex.

Even though i said it reminded me of etno shops, i wouldn't imagine this on some alternative person. No harem pants, no bare feet, no dreadlocks, no colorful scarves... This would be a sophisticated woman/man with a unique sense of style. I would wear this with a long black tight dress, african-styled golden jewelry, drastic makeup and high heeles on a special ocassion.

What is really intersting about this perfume is that you can wear it in any weather... cold brings out the warm notes and hot the fresh ones.

I still don't know if i like it, but a can't live without it anymore.

9/10

You know a perfume is excellent when there are zero fragrances under the 'this reminds me of'. This is a unique creation, not an easy pill, complex, rich, totally original. Manly, animalic, green, earthy, like walking through an unknown jungle in summer. If Mechant Loup is a melancholic trudge through dry leaves and broken branches in a lonely forrest, Timbuktu is an amble under exotic trees, when your body is warm and sweaty of excitement.

Simply incredible. The most comforting scent I've come across.

I immediately am brought back to sitting on the back porch of my grandparent's house in New Mexico, calmly waiting for the gray clouds to bring the aromatic musk of desert rain as the mourning doves coo. Incense, wood, earthy florals.

A masterpiece, timeless fragrance. I wish if there is a parfum more performance copy of it .

За мен е шедьовър. Може да се носи във всеки сезон.

Love the scent. Fair performance. A light fragrance. Bought the 1.7. Comtemplating a full bottle.

As an avowed frag-head, I wear fragrances on a daily basis, often several each day.

So I'm mildly amazed that no one, apart from my partner and our son, ever comments on my cologne. I mean, no one. I've had zero unprompted feedback from anyone in like the last five years.

Until today. I was at the local greengrocer and the beautiful Indian woman who works there asked me what perfume I was wearing. Timbuktu (vintage) as it happens. She asked me to write down the details so she could buy a bottle for her husband.

Regarding Timbuktu, I've grown to love this scent over the years. It's a much-hyped fragrance that, for me, did not live up to all the raves initially. Eventually it clicked. I now adore the dry, arid smokiness of the papyrus/incense in particular. I like its austerity, it's quite 'monastic'.

Haven't smelt the latest version, hope it's still just as good because I've been getting high on my supply and my bottle's running low.

I have the original clear bottle with teal label, no batch code on the bottle to be found.

When smelled close to the skin, it's herbaceous, earthy and animalic. I'm immediately reminded of walking into horse stalls. The straw bedding, the feed in their buckets, the green alfalfa hay, traces of the manure and even the smell of the horses themselves.

A near-perfect fragrance, in my opinion, but only in warmer weather. In hot and humid weather it really shines, and seems to soak in the heat and moisture like a sponge. In cooler weather it loses its luster and smells like sugared peanuts. I have this same problem with vetiver in general.

A sweet, spicy and smoky vetiver, basically, which transports to somewhere exotic. I suppose I can understand when people say it's feminine, because it doesn't have the typical man smell in it. I think of it as unisex, leaning masculine, due to the vetiver.

One major problem is that this fragrance has been largely destroyed by reformulation. I highly recommend avoiding the newer, green bottle of this, and see if you can find the older clear glass bottle. There really is a significant difference, and I don't say that lightly. It was so much of a difference that I immediately bought two backup bottles of the old formula, the first time I'd ever felt inclined to buy a backup. The new formula seems watered-down, and lacks the smoky bite of the old one, which is what makes it special.

Since I discovered this in recent years, it has become my most-used fragrance in the warmer months. It is very easy to wear, and smells very different from standard fare. The performance is just right, not too loud, not too soft, and manages to stick around most of a day with a few sprays.

Very high recommendation.

very nice scent- dont listen to the ones saying its boring.its unique and unisex

Wonderful fragrance. I love it. However, the new version is neutered. Don't do it. Missing the mango note and is all about incense. Boring.

Timbuktu is a strikingly versatile scent. I think it could easily be unisex, and it transitions well from day into night. Different seasons bring out different notes. This scent is exotic enough to be unique but without too much eccentricity that’s its hard to wear. I would describe it as a green incense scent. Less stark than the likes of CDG Avignon but more crisp that SL l’Orpheline. Truly a fantastic scent.

interesting fragrance and i get the warm incence smell with slight vetiver and myrhh. More feminine then masculine to me and slightly sweet but really fragrant.

Very contemporary vetiver and definitely one for vetiver lovers. I’m not among them but the bottle is still a keeper for me, since there’s so much going on here beside vetiver. Incense and pepper are strong as well as green notes. A perfect scent for spring, but also a mysterious and powerful fragrance.

Wet mango start to change into the main dry heart notes: insense, vetiver, papyrus. The best looking bottle in my collection. I bought it 100 ml for 45 USD - that is a steal. 10/10

I'm so glad I bought a small bottle of this scent after testing it last month. I bought the 3x30mL "eastern mysteries collection" which includes L'eau D'Ambre Extreme, Mon Numero 10, and Timbuktu.

It's so good! This is how I like vetiver. . . with incense and subtle sweetness. In general, many perfumes produced by L'Artisan work well for my nose and style.

This scent to my nose is lush and green despite the incense and myrrh darkening the perfume. The green is not grassy but leafy and it sits on top with the sweet & bitter green mango. I love the green mango note. I conceptualise "earthy" here as lush greenery, the scent of walking through the bush crushing leaves as you go.

Holding the base are papyrus, incense, patchouli that doesn't wreak as body odor. I will confirm that this scent does smell "medicinal."

More than 2 sprays and you will feel the damp skankiness for a little while but it calms down over time. Skanky in* the BEST way though. I really don't mind it. This scent feels real. I understand why people call it a masterpiece. I'm with them.

BOTTLES: So classy. I love the heptagon shape and the gold caps, which feel luxe. I wish I could buy all my perfumes in 30mL sizes. They're just so cute! The box is perfect for displaying. It's so thoughtful.

I love wearing this to bed! I don't wear it out. Only to bed and I love it!
-

This fragrance is fascinating. Sweet but not too sweet, spicy, smoky, green, floral - both sharp and gentle. I love it, but I don't know when to wear it. It’s more like an experience of a place and time, not like a body scent. It's a special-occasion fragrance for me, for sure.

Very light. Very nice. Performance. Meh. I got 1.7. Bottle. It will go fast. Need lots of sprays for this one

Just got my bottle. Immediate. Thoughts. Total waste of money. Disappeared very quickly. Will keep wearing. Seriously. 6 sprays. Not giving up just yet

Another masterpiece by Bertrand Duchaufour. If I had to pick a note for me that is challenging, I would say it's vetiver. But oh dear, this one makes me appreciate vetiver so much more. It's just shy of being too dry in this one, but the other notes balance it out perfectly. There is a tad bit of sweetness that is just right. This is a masculine leaning scent and I could see it working in all seasons. Note: I recommend for fans of the "in a library/old books" smell.

Fantastic opening. On my skin, it starts with a smoky (incense) vetiver, accompanied by an atypical green note (papyrus I guess, maybe also the karo-karounde, but honestly I don't know what it smells by itself). I also can spot a hint a funky sweetness (sour mango and red pepper I guess, nearly animalistic) in the background, but it disappears quickly.
After a little less than an hour the drydown develop the same vetiver note (slightly toned-down compared to the opening) and brilliantly enhanced by supporting notes (patchouli and benzoin I guess) without being individually identifiable.

An ode to vetiver. Unfortunately, the beginning of the drydown also marks the transition to skin scent (with some occasional whiffs coming out from under the shirt), and like many other L'Artisan fragrances, performance could have been better. That said, since I wear mostly vetiver-centered fragrances during the day (thus at the office), low projection is a strength for me in this case: I can overspray in order to smell it well for myself without offending others around haha! (And anyways, the current price range for L'Artisan frags at online discounters is very reasonable for a niche house, so I will forgive!). Unisex, traditionally leaning towards masculine because of vetiver, but who cares? I can easily see an artistic-minded woman wearing this one.

Highly recommended!
25+, Spring/Fall days

at first i thought i made a mistake bying this one ,i tried it for about a week and was decided to give it away to a friend but since yesterday i think its a keeper..it just takes time to understand it.it lasts very long.and all this time its getting more interesting until the end...which is not near at all.i agree with some reviews that as the weather is getting warmer this is projecting far better than winter.i undersand now all the hype around it!

This is the only L'Artisan Parfumer fragrance I still list in my top 50 fragrances.
There are a few others I like, but they are in my "likes" list.

This incence is like no other incense.
It is true exotic and African.
It's slightly sweet and soft, and very cozy and enjoyable.

Very weird...love it though. It's incredibly confident in itself. Try it but you will HAVE to layer it with something else. It's missing something that's for sure.

Oooh aaah.... Wow, I did not expect to love this scent so much. From the first spray to skin scent dry down, Timbuktu stays wonderful with moderate silage.

Its a modern vetiver.

Timbuktu is living it's name. It's a perfect African weather or better said summer fragrance. I get a very prominent salty mango with an earthy base. It's like a brother of other fresh fragrances like Aventus which is pineapple wood.
2 sprays old bottle:
Projection 2 hours.
Lasting power 5 hours.
Alternative: difficult but maybe Varvatos Artisan Acqua

First 5-10 minutes is earthy soil, Smoke, Vetiver, & a very light well balanced tart fruit which I’m guessing is the mango

Middle - pure Vetiver - the other notes are pushed back & all I get is quality Vetiver on my skin

Dry down after 1.5-2 hours - the other notes start to come back, the Vetiver mellows out, it becomes really well balanced and you get an interesting bouquet of all the notes, in the beginning the mango is tart but by this time it starts to lend more sweet & mineral tones of the fruit & Vetiver

This was not a linear fragrance on my skin which made it really interesting. I would buy a bottle of this.

additional edit: I bought the new version of this and the old version. The new version is more of a linear incense and vetiver scent. The old version with the gold caps has the most beautiful dry down after 3 hours. The vetiver softens up and you get this hazy, soft, sweet incense, benzoin, mango, and vetiver accord. It's DREAMY <333

i´m generally very critical and picky (never satisfied with the smell) but this, there´s neither any note that would scratch my nose ..... it´s a complex, brilliantly balance of quality of the fragrance

i´ve just blind buy it and i´m so glad i did it (after lots of errors with odd blind buys)

this scent = uniqueness and originality - smells like nothing else (even guerlain l´eau boiseé, montale red vetiver and terre d´hermes are below with the originality of the smell of vetiver)

this is unique like nothing else, smells like west-african culture, west african markets and dry desert air .....

Timbuktu is a masterpiece. I get earthy green vibes with a beautiful delicate, sweet incense floating above. Surprisingly long lasting for a EDT. I feel calm when I’m wearing this gorgeous perfume. I love everything about it.

This fragrance is divine journey, spiritual feeling and self - en closed to world. I'm suprised when I read the comments about it, because It smells vetiver, cypriol, incense and citruses in a very good balance. Love it!

It reminds me of the medicinal, patchouli sorta smell you get from Zino. I love it when my wife wears it and I like it too. I cannot say that I get the smoke, mango notes people mention and I don't know what papyrus would smell like. I certainly don't think this is an oakmoss scent like so many have voted.
All I can say is that it does smell a bit dated but that doesn't bother me. Has an older woman's perfume sorta vibe but that is ok with me.

Evergreen/incense/mango goodness. It is much more than the above though. I wrote that just to give a short impression of how it smells to me.

The mango-sweetened incense comes out strong on first application, but after about 2-3 hours the incense mellows, and there is an interesting sweet resiny smell with some vetiver. That smell stays around for another 3 hours.

I'll have to compare this with Jardin sur le Nil to see how the papyrus and mango notes they have in common compare to each other.

I think this fragrance will be loved by fragrance lovers as it is a quality fragrance and is different than others. But I don't think newbs will appreciate it. It's just different enough for the masses to get nervous...which is a shame because it is one of the best scents available.

Try before you buy...a decant or sample should be enough. Just stay with it for more than 10 minutes. You'll be rewarded.

I wore this off a test decant and it isn't at all on my skin what I was hoping for it to be. Very soapy and eerily reminiscent of what some urinal cakes/stones smell like in really nice hotels. It isn't a bad fragrance per se, but it is neither particularly masculine nor does it scream as a fragrance to wear in a suit. Probably best suited for women or anyone in the middle/prime of their life in less formal circumstances.

Timbuktu truly is an experience. How can something so dry, resinous, smoky and balsamic manage to invoke such a clean and fresh feel? Very ceremonial, cleansing and invigorating.

Beautiful for all seasons,climates and settings, I just love this authentic creation for its versatility.

I kept thinking ‘Where have I smelled this before?’ and then realised it was POAL, minus the rose. The dry down ... very similar.

This is an art work from Bertrand Duchaufour! I rememeber that when I try this first time, I was totally captivated with its aura. It is unique, unusual and it doesn't like anything. Timbuktu is a unmatched experience...

A fantastic african fragrance with hot sand, burnt leaves,native spices,valuable resins and something mystical.

I find it last 4 to 8 hours, is affected by heat and really lingers on clothes.

overall, I love this smell and wear it on holidays, art events or summer nights.

This is unisex, but perhaps slightly masculine.

A masterpiece

Okay, I guess it’s vetiver because I get the same impression with Chanel Sycamore, but surely I’m not the only one who smells weed in this. Really, to me this is straight up college dorm room complete with the sad attempt at masking the musty pong with air freshener. This smells like that kid who thought they were so clever when the exhaled through the dryer sheet over cardboard toilet paper rolls, but really they just smelled like weed and fabric softener. Not a safe blind buy unless you want to relive your college days. No judgements! ;D

Lovely scent. Green earthy and complex fragrance. Really reminds me of Jubilation XXV for Men.

@smellme11 - are you sure that's not Bois Farine? Because the last thing I would think when smelling this one is baby/talcum powder. If you got a sample perhaps the samples got mixed up...

I can't for the life of me explain why I get an overwhelming powder blast from this stuff, but that is what is happening. Perhaps it is the variety of patchouli, or the so-called "incense" note, or the Karo-Karounde (whatever that smells like?), but I am going to have to give this bottle away. I was expecting more of a L'aire de Desert Marocain or Amouage Interlude type of similarity, but this isn't deep like those perfumes at all....this is seriously powdery to me, and suffocating, like inhaling talc.

An amazing "watercolor" perfume. Almost smells like nothing at all -- and certainly nothing you can easily identify -- it just smells good. A riskless purchase for most women, and many men will enjoy it as well.

Deservedly popular.

Smells fresh in a natural rather than synthetic way.

Reminds me a little of Coriandre, with a pinch of Casbah's herbs thrown in.

Not sweet and all the more enjoyable for that.

Spring has sprung here in Baltimore, the first 80' day.
Enjoying Timbuktu so much, it's a L'Artisan and Duchaufour classic.

It's a soft incense that's best in warm weather, very unique. Because it's an African incense where it's allways hot, and this is what they enjoy in West Africa.

When a West African nurse came to our home to treat my mother, I was wearing Timbuktu. She said she immediately recognized the swell, that it's just like the potpourri and incense they use. So it is very authentic and exotic.
The mango and floral note, blend beautifully with the resins, to produce a soft fruity incense that is gender neutral.

I'm so far behind with my reviews that I don't remember how I acquired my little decant of Timbuktu, but looking at the list of notes I feel sure I didn't pick it out for myself, unless it was to try and broaden my horizons. I don't dislike notes like vetiver, incense, woods and resins, but I usually appreciate them most in combination with softer, sweeter and/or fresher notes to provide some contrast. In Timbuktu there's none of that, and the result is that it's a pretty hard, dry, severe, almost pungent kind of scent.

I can understand why people like it if they're into this kind of thing, because I'm sure it's well-made and it's definitely unique, and maybe it does call to mind that particular part of Africa - who knows, I've never been there, but the notes are certainly natural enough to make it possible. But to make it enjoyable to my own taste, it would need something else, some hint of relief among all those harsh dry elements. If only I could smell the mango that's supposed to be in there, it could have provided that balance and made it more unisex as well, but unfortunately I can't detect it at all.

So Timbuktu is a definite "no" for me personally, but I don't dislike it - in fact, I'd say it's just as definite a must-try for those looking for an uncompromising woody, smoky kind of fragrance, especially if their taste leans more masculine than feminine.

Another masterpiece by Bertrand Duchaufour himself, quality blend and complex aroma, solid longevity and okay projection, to me vetiver is the star of the show. Best application would be summer / spring daytime, safe for the office and I get a lot of compliments from Timbuktu, a must try!

شبیه بوی باروت

I bought this blind and feel happy about it. Dry and warm, it is ideal during wet boring winter which we have now. Very long lasting, more than 12 hours what is very surprising for EDT. Silage is not strong and quite acceptable for the office, but much stronger in wet air.

Pre-2016 Timbuktu, I *love* you. I blind-bought a bottle in 2015 as a birthday gift to myself. It was an expensive gamble: at the time, I had tried several of L’Artisan’s more feminine perfumes. None of them had been quite right, but I was intrigued. There was something compelling about the way the house approached perfume, even if I hadn’t yet found a L’Artisan that worked for me. I knew I liked woods and orientals best, and despite the polarizing reviews, I paid $100 real American money dollars for a bottle of Timbuktu based on the testimony of anonymous people on the Internet. It was the most expensive perfume I’d ever bought.

I didn’t love it at first. It was *weird*. Like nothing I’d ever sampled. There is something about the deep resiny base that is almost old-fashioned. Though I’d tried quite a few niche perfumes before Timbuktu, I hadn’t smelled anything quite so classic from a niche house. At first, I thought it smelled too mature, and too masculine, yet after a few wears, I could not keep myself away from it.

I’ve had plenty of “signature scents” before, but pre-reformulation Timbuktu is *my* scent. This is not a perfume that I wear. This perfume *is* me. It suits me on girl days and boy days and all the days in-between. It suits me in spring, summer, fall, and winter--and smells different every season. In the spring I smell like a lioness in heat lazing on a warm rock in the savannah. In the summer, I am a priestess wandering through a mythical bazaar, reeking with incense and ancient ritual. In the fall, I smell like the smoke from fire that burns burns at night on a safari, musky with the scent of something savage lurking in dark. In the winter, Timbuktu is festive without smelling Christmas-y; it’s the smell of the incense the shepherds bring the boy king.

The opening is a blast of peppercorn and resins and dry, yellow grass. It’s a little sharp, uncomfortable but not unpleasant. The best way I can describe the feeling is “dramatic tension”. It smells like opening the door to an ancient tomb. You know there is going to be something waiting in the dust and the dark, but you don’t know what.

I can’t pick out the mango or the karo-karounde flowers... they don’t seem to come up on my skin. I’m not sure I would recognize karo-karounde (I don’t think I’ve smelled it elsewhere), but there really is nothing gourmand or floral about Timbuktu to my nose. The frankincense, myrrh, and papyrus smoke are the most prominent notes on my chemistry. For some reason, the peppercorns last a long time for me, 3 hours or so. I can smell the vetiver here, but it’s weird, nothing like the green or earthy-green scent I associate with vetiver. This smells like a field of vetiver that wasn’t harvested before the dry season came. It’s vetiver that has dried out in the desert sun and also the scent of the soil turning to dust beneath it.

For a perfume with so many heavy notes, there is something effervescent in Timbuktu’s nature. That effervescence doesn’t “sparkle” like an aldehyde or “bubble” like champagne. Rather, it flickers like a mirage that never gets closer than the horizon or black wisps of incense smoke fading into an endless blue sky.

This is the most powerful L’Artisan fragrance I’ve experienced. The pre-2016 version lasts 10 hours on my skin, though it does fade quite a bit. In hair and clothing, it will last days. Sillage is pretty big at first blast, but then the fragrance settles. It has about a radius of a couple of feet for the first 4 hours of so, then settles closer to the skin as it dries down. People will *notice* this, but not everyone will like it. Although I met my best perfume buddy when she complimented me on this. I immediately gave her a spritz on the condition that she let me smell her (it was much more ladylike on her skin!), and thus a friendship was born.

She warned me that L’Artisan had changed packaging and reformulated, but her nose is much more refined than mine, so I didn’t worry too much about it at the time. Still, when my 2015 bottle began running low, I got a decant of the new bottle just to be safe. In one spray, my heart was broken--this was not Timbuktu.

Post 2016-Timbuktu smells similar to the real thing, close enough that it gives me Pod Person syndrome: this calls itself Timbuktu, and it kind of resembles Timbuktu, but it doesn’t have the same walk or the same inflection in its voice. It’s an imposter. This Timbuktu is but a ghost of itself. It’s a skeleton wrapped in an ancient, tattered cloak, wandering the desert in search of its lost soul.

L'Artisan Parfumeur, you murdered a masterpiece. I now know what it is like to lose a beloved fragrance to a bad reformulation: it's like mourning. I look at my bottle slowly getting lower and I know that there exists only a finite amount of the true Timbuktu left in the world. That makes this juice all the more precious, and I am putting off buying bike parts for six months to invest in a few bottles of the real thing, bottles that I will make last as long as I can. Even then, when it’s all gone and there is no more, Timbuktu will haunt my nostrils until the day I die.

Damn, I am glad that I purchased a few L’Artisan scents before the mass reformulation. This reformulation is so bad that I’m not only in mourning for Timbuktu, but also for the L’Artisan fragrances I did not get to experience beforehand: Mechant Loup, Patchouli Patch, Dzing!, Dzongkha, etc. Part of me really wants to try the old formula of those too, but I'm afraid I'll get hooked on yet another dead fragrance and then have to write another 1000 word obituary for a *smell*....

In Southern California we have hot, dry Fall's/Autumns. The hills have dry grass that is a spark away from going up in flames. That's what I get from Timbuktu.

I used to find this so challenging, but now I don't know what I was thinking. I'm wearing it today on a warm Fall day and it's great. A fruity, spicy, vetiver that wears really well.

The fruit jumps off my skin in the opening and it keeps up a good while into the dry down, but eventually it gives way to becomes more about the spice and vetiver. That's where the dry grass feel comes in.

I love it. So glad I gave it a shot today and will wear it a ton more!

یک رایحه خاص و خاص .بسیار لطیف

Timbuktu, Dzongkha and Dzing! are the great trinity of L'Artisan. There is plenty of excellent fragrances to choose from when it comes to L'Artisan, but these three are the ones to most effortlessly blend the finest aroma with a sense of uniqueness and just the right level of mysticism. Wearing them is spiritual.
They all exist in the same space of creative wonder so it's no surprising they share similarities. As for Timbuktu it is darker in color than Dzongkha, yet is lighter in feeling, woody, smoky, transparent and perfect. Dzongkha is thicker, spicier and perfect. Dzing! is leathery, funny and perfect.
Ah, how i would love to smell them again for the first time.
*****

The vetiver overwhelms all the other notes, making this lean towards the masculine end of things.The incense is the second strongest note. It is cold and airy, it reminds me of Avignon by CDG. I was intrigued by the mango, it's barely there, but it provides some sweetness to balance out the other notes. After about an hour the first two notes become weaker, making this scent a bit more gender-balanced. I would recommend this for men who are just getting into perfumes or for the tomboy in your life. It can be worn year-round.

According to my preferences, I was given a blind choice of 3 fragrances by the Sephora sales woman: Derek Lam's Blackout, Atelier Cologne's Oud Saphir and, the winner for me of the three, Timbuktu. It was my first venturing into niche perfumes. Yves Saint Laurent's M7 is one of my all-time favorites, and I find Timbuktu to be similar in the incense note and the overall structure. It's a little green, though that lightens and brightens it, making it a great alternative to deodorant. It lasts long on skin and has moderate projection.

Chatting to a Fragrantican friend about Timbuktu, she commented that it smells very masculine on her and asked how it was for me; naturally I was compelled to wear it today to answer her properly.

My response is that Timbuktu is more a "smell" than a "perfume". It is asexual, rather than unisex.

Wearing Timbuktu takes me to an unseasonably hot day in early autumn; the sun has scorched the grass over the course of the summer. I am sitting in the shade of an ancient tree, drinking a gin and tonic, which is sparkling and fizzing and the icecubes clink against the sides of the glass, the noise chiming with the lazy chirp of grasshoppers. An old book is cradled in my hands, its pages yellowed and loosened from the spine due to use and the passage of time. The smell from the tree, the sun-scorched vegetation, the dusty earth, the gin and the book are mingling.

That is Timbuktu to me. And I love it.

Zār : In the cultures of the Horn of Africa and adjacent regions of the Middle East,[1] Zār (Arabic زار , Ethiopic ዛር) is the term for a demon or spirit assumed to possess individuals, mostly women, and to cause discomfort or illness. The so-called zār ritual or zār cult is the practice of exorcising such spirits from the possessed individual.[2]

Zār exorcism has become popular in the contemporary urban culture of Cairo and other major cities of the Islamic world as a form of women-only entertainment. Zār gatherings involve food and musical performances, and they culminate in ecstatic dancing, lasting between three and seven nights.[2] The tanbura, a six-string lyre (6-stringed "bowl-lyre"[3]), is often used in the ritual.[4] Other instruments include the mangour, a leather belt sewn with many goat hooves, and various percussion instruments.[4].... Wikipedia

I don't have this one yet but am quite intrigued by the notes..

However, upon reading the description above.. I'm curious as to what a 'rape mango' would smell like..
Hopefully similar to a ripe mango(?)
LOL

My taste in perfume is completely polarised - I love clean, soapy, talc scents but also dark woody, incense based fragrances. I've found in the past that when I settle on one I start to crave the opposite. Somehow on my skin's chemistry Timbuktu managers to satisfy both tastes. It opens as mango, pepper, patchouli and then dries down to an earthy soapy gorgeousness. Some reviews are declaring it's manliness but I think it's a very mysterious fragrance and totally unisex, depending on the person of course. I'm totally in love. Thank you L'Artisan.

A mixture of baked clay and paper is pretty much all I get from Timbuktu. This baked clay smell reminds me somewhat of Tauer's brilliant L'Air du Desert Marocain, which itself has a desert sand being baked by the sun vibe.

However, this is where the parallels end. Timbuktu doesn't have the depth or complexity of the Tauer offering. The long and short of it is, that unfortunately, Timbuktu just isn't very nice. Last about 4-5hrs, with weak to moderate projection.

Nothing to compare with the older version. The new one smells saliva on my skin. What a pity... I bought the big bottle. Similar experience with the Voleur des roses. Either they change their formula or they turn easily.

This is a beautiful fragrance but, to be honest, it's not unisex. It should be proud of its masculinity! The strongest note is vetiver, followed by papyrus and spices. I don't get any exotic associations - to me, this is simply a gorgeous green woody-spicy scent.

Favorite perfume! With YSL Rive Gauche collection line and Mancera Sand oud. Mancera Cedrat Boisee of course :D

Quite easily the number one fragrance in my collection.
The main things i get are vetiver, incense and that green mango. But for me this is not about the individual notes and how they blend together. There are no real stars of this composition. It is at once clean, bracing, juicy, exotic and a little bit mystical.
Opens like you are walking through 100% humidity in a tropical rain forest and then transforms to an earthy, green grassland with the humidity turning to enchanting smoke.
This is voodoo for the nose.
10/10

This reminds me of Kenzo Jungle PH, but with the dry fiery rawness turned down, and as others have said, more swampy, humid rainforest skank.
Not sure how I feel about this one, it feels a little on the damp and dingey side. When I'm perceiving it as incense and mangos I enjoy it. I could probably only imagine wearing this to a music festival or a gig.

Update: The word which keeps popping into my head is 'fusty'. It actually reminds me of a specific damp room full of old music books in a charity shop. The dankness is like the inside of a book, the incense smells like confused cloud of 'all the incenses' the front of the shop, and the soapiness smells like old man soap. Possibly 'medimix', ayurvedic medicated soap.

Luca Turin must have skin that smells of lavender and strawberries to actually benefit from this stuff.

Timbuktu is another one on Luca Turins 5 Star rated frags and it has been on my wish list for a while. Finally picked it up last month. I am reviewing the current formulation and I dont know what has changed in relation to the original.

I dont really get any of the top notes listed here. What hits me straight away is the smoky incense and a dry, thick, woody note which I am assuming is the papyrus. I have not really smelled it in any other frag to be frank and once it settles into your skin, is quite nice. This Papyrus incense blend sits atop a bed of resinous Myrhh, patchouli and a very dry but strong vetiver. The fragrance is blended quite well so none of the notes stick out as such, they just meld into an impression of dry, resinous incense. Projection is kind of strong in the first hour or so and then it gets down to about 6 inches for most of it's scent life. Longevity on me is good, 7-8 hours most of the time. This is strictly a cooler weather or air conditioned environment frag.

Now comes the crux.Unlike most of the others On luca Turin's 5 star rated fragrance list, this is not a safe blind buy. If you like Incense and Oud notes, especially the South asian and middle eastern kind, you'll probably like this one. ( This is not barnyard skanky or anything like that) I have not been to Morocco but like the name Timbuktu, this does conjure up the vibe of a market or souk in south Asia or the middle east, the smells of spices, sack cloth and cardboard boxes, burning incense, etc. Very exotic smelling. I for one love this but it is definitely a try before you buy fragrance. One of a kind by and large. If you like incense notes and dont mind experimenting a little, do check this one out.

Like so many others this has had to be re-formulated. I got a large bottle sample from Sephora. Couldn't really smell it, almost had anosmia to it--the entire thing. I thought maybe it was me, the day, the night--whatever, maybe a bad sample. But I got another bottle from STC identical to the one I purchased at Sephora. Same thing.
This has essentially no silage on me. I have to bury my nose to my wrist--and given the early and passionate reviews of Timbuktu, it must have been redone. I do have skin that just eats up perfume; only the richest scents tend to last on me, but this was insane: light and low. The longevity is reasonable but it's a skin scent, and very faint at that.

What I CAN smell is sexy, amberish-patch with a dirty sweet mango note at top of opening. Drydown--what I can dectect is spicy deliciousness with an animalic facet--very nice. I really wanted to love this--the notes are just my thing, but I after two separate small bottles, I can't see forking over for a scent that wears like a cologne. STC and Sephora both have actual small original manufacturer bottles--so try before you commit to a bigger jug of juice.

Opening is a very harsh wood to me, I guess the papyrus. Too much damp earth / dirt style scent in the opening for it to be enjoyable for me, but the dry down is ok very vetivery. If you do enjoy the opening, Al-Rehab Dehn al Oud sell 6ml of this stuff for very cheap, I'd say resemblance is 95%. Don't get many of the other notes upon first try. Will test again and revert.

The best way I could describe Timbuktu's opening is: hot glass which is heated by a huge amount of incense (don't ask me how that would be possible). The drydown is smoked vetiver and patchouli, so it's a bit nasty which won't please a lot of people but at the same time it's fascinating.

It lasts a good 8-10 hours on my skin.

Timbuktu is one of those Niche fragrances that is supposed to be art and it achieves that but it's wearable which is rarely the case for artistic fragrances.

Timbuktu is a fragrance of modern conception and almost without evolution.

The opening is slightly fruity and above all spiced, it lasts little since the aromatic green and dry touch of the papyrus is installed, a papyrus that marks the aroma resulting from this fragrance, all this along with a considerable mixture of balms that soften it, They warm and sweeten like myrrh and benzo, next to them is the vetiveril acetate that feels quite integrated but exploiting a woody facet softer and less earthy than the vetiver Bourbon.

Finally and during the drying the incense is united, producing a very smoky soft edge, giving an effect that I compare to the facets of the oak moss, for my taste the best of Timbuktu.

I have found a well-made fragrance, without being excellent, I also find it serious and elegant, but at the same time it maintains a slight rustic and informal touch.

The duration is good but the projection could be improved, the encounter for multistake use.

Rating: 7

Timbuktu rocketed right to my sky-high "love + fav" shelf, and straight to the very modestly equipped "summer stuff" department.
I was not sure when I ordered the sample because I was utterly unable to create any picture of how it smells based on reviews here.

But... Oh!
Opening:
Bam! Bam! Ba-bam! Bitter, strong, herbal, dense... Vavooom!
That's why I spray it 15 minutes before going out.
Drydown:
The most specifically beautiful combination of bitterish but sweet-like (not sweet) warm herbs and aromatics on woods, but with something fresh-like to lift it up and keep it up.

I don't sense Timbuktu, or Africa (and how could I?), but I do clearly smell very well known South Mediterranean inlands:
Sun-drenched and dried aromatic bitter/sweet bushes and herbs evaporating above the dry soil into the heat, and some breeze making thick hot air bearable.
Timbuktu brought me this high-noon feeling of the sun right above your head, when you think that you cant't take it anymore, but, in fact, you know you will, and you do.
Because that's the peak of the dry hot summer, and when it's gone, in the middle of winter, when the gray coldness makes you crave for high noon in the peak of the summer, you won't remember cold drink by the swimming pool, or air conditioned view to the sea - you'll remember t-h-i-s.

Nothing commonly floral, nothing commonly fruity.
Timbuktu is egzotic, naturalistic, elemental, but also well tempered, very airy and not a bit heavy. It is at the same time very intense, and very light, and there lies the true artistry of this perfume.

For me, Timbuktu turned out to be oddly sensual and highly addictive - someone bellow mentioned "animalic earthiness", and I think that might be it. Animalic - yes, but "earthy", not "dirty".

Absolutely wearable sensous challenge.

On me Timbuktu performs without masculine suggestions, so I guess this is truly adaptable unisex which fits you,or not.
The oppinions in my surroundings are polarisied, but clearly because Timbuktu, being recognizebly different from the mainstream scents, is not a typical crowd pleaser.
I get "interesting" as a comment a lot, but that's because Timbuktu IS interesting.

So far, the best weardly interesting description I've heard is:
"It smells like some African medicine-woman or witch was told to make Aromatics Elixir out of what she gathered around her."
I can't argue this one, it seems somehow really appropriate, though the fragrances are not similar.

Of course I do own a big bottle now.
I enjoy Timbuktu so much. It is my match, one hell of the match.

*LOVE
*silage: moderate+ (arms lenght, at least)
*longevity: long lasting (up to 8 hours)
*weather/season/time: Shows it's best in moderately warm /warm weather, suitable even for hot days (+30 C). Day. Night. Casual to formal.

While Timbuktu is nowhere near Egypt, this is definitely giving me ancient Egyptian vibes! The mango, papyrus, and vetiver combine to make something really strange and unique. Very underrepresented in the perfume world too. It has a dry, incense paper smell. The fruit isn't juicy, it's pulpy. Like the skin, rind, or part where the stem meets the plant. The rest of the components combine to make a strange background. It definitely smells exotic to me! I haven't been to Africa, but this is very evocative of how I picture the perfume's namesake.

A wonderful transparent incense scent that reminds me in passing of the original Sables by Goutal, which is similarly hot and dry. On me, the main notes are incense, papyrus and vetiver, plus a bit of a soapy note - I'm not getting any fruity or green notes. It's delicious. I have the bottle with the tree, which I think is at least two formulations ago.

Right now as it's drying down it very much reminds me of Le Labo Rose 31, with smoke, incense and some bitter-sweet-dry vetiver. But still, the overall "accord" to me smells like that pleasant musky intense soapy Le Labo accord...

This is review of the reformulated fragrance.

The first few minutes of this are difficult to live with if you don't know what's coming. It goes on like a very cheap aftershave but dries down into something very beautiful and mysterious. I had a sample of the original and it didn't have the loud off putting opening but apart from that they are very similar.

There is a definite similarity to L'air du Desert Marocain in it's smokey wistfulness. It would be a great fragrance to wear for meditation.

Of all the fragrances I wear regularly this is by far the most masculine but it is still unisex.
The longevity on this is very good 10-12 hours but it does wear close to the skin.
I love most l'artisan perfumes that I have tried and this one is probably a very close second after patchouli patch.

This is strange and unique. Smoky, dry, spicy, woody. A bit dirty. The papyrus gives it a sort of 'old books' feel. This is something I would usually never go for, but it is intriguing. Addicting.

I think a man or a woman could pull this off, but despite what the notes say I am not getting mango of any kind here. If you are looking for sweetness look elsewhere. There's nothing remotely sweet here.

Hugh Jackman wears this.

March 2017 Sample Pack 2017

A pretty famous youtuber compared this to Grey Vetiver. He couldn't be further off. Grey Vetiver is a very clean-cut, white collar vetiver. This stuff is for older guys on the prowl. It has that perfect amount of musk and that perfect amount of dirtiness accompanying the dark vetiver. It's a cougar killer. I can almost pull it off, and I'm 21. Very versatile, but definitely not for the office. It's very similar to lalique encre noir l'extreme, just muskier, more ambery (?), and less professional. The ideal amount of stank for a man over 40 in the year 2017

Although true to notes, it's not for everyone and I wouldn't recommend a blind buy.
Nice, unique but not the way I want to smell!

Since this is the first fragrance I have purchased in the last 6 years or so of sampling, the first being one I won on eBay in a bid, I feel like I should do a quick review of it. This is also my first quick review of a fragrance on this site. I bought this because from memory it was the cheapest and most unique fragrance of the ones I have tried in the same price range.

For anyone reading this wanting to purchase Timbuktu, be warned that the new formulation with the new label without the little tree on it will smell differently than the older or "vintage stuff", and not in a good or better way. The one I got is the 1.7 ounce one in the clear bottle, not any of the new dark bottles which might only be 3.4 ounce.

Anyway, this opened up with a very sour smell, a sort of a urinal "stank", that soon dried down into a sour and soapy floral fragrance that is a bit like the sample I tried out years ago of the original juice. Upon a close sniff, I get a very strong body odor vibe coming off of it that I don't recall getting from the older juice. Honestly smelling this next to any of the other perfumes only made it smell even worse in comparison.

Bottom line for right now is that I either have a bad bottle of Timbuktu, or a fake, or it is just how the reformulated version smells to me. I have tried layering it with other scents such as Encre Nior and M7 Absolue and have had some pleasant results. I will eventually get a bottle of original and try a side by side evaluation, but until then I have to "unlove" this and only like it.

This is WILD, very different, rich and extremely mascular. I have a like/dislike relationship with it. It is not naturally pleasing to me and I'm not drawn to it, but at the same time it is very rich and unique and I get a lot of compliments wearing it. It is sexy and makes me think I'm a big sexy African man when I'm wearing it (-:

This smell like a chicken farm , just WTF. Smell 80% like my grandma farm.
YUCK , horrible.

TIMBUKTU

این اولین تست بنده از عطرهای خانه ی ل آرتیزان هست که به لطف عزیزانم در این سایت خوب یکی از مشهورترین کارای این برند رو تست کردم.
برندی که گفته میشه دست عطارها رو برای نو آوری و خلق روایح جدید باز میگذاره و چقد اون عطر وسوسه کننده تر میشه وقتی بدونیم خالق اون جناب برتراند دوشافو هست!
همه ی اینا باعث میشن تا بی معطلی عطر رو اسپری کنم و از لحظات خوبی که میسازه لذت ببرم...

تیمبوکتو؛شروعی ادویه ای داره که نقش اول اون هل هست و کمی تندی فلفل.این شروع ادویه ای رو یه تم میوه ای خفیف همراهی میکنه که کمی کار رو از اون تندی دور میکنه و حدود ده دقیقه اوضاع به همین منوال جلو میره که کم کم یه فضای انیمالیک و دودی خودشون رو به کار نزدیک و نزدیکتر میکنن در ابتدا رایحه ی چرکین که از همراهی پچولی با فضای اسپایسی و گیاهی ایجاد میشه؛قویتر هست اما رایحه ی دودی و بالزامیک رفته رفته هم تراز رایحه ی انیمالیک میشن و حالا نوبت حضور وتیور با رایحه ی خاکی و آشناش میشه.
این حضور وتیور ممکنه لحظاتی برای شما یادآور تق هرمس بشه اما خیلی زود تفاوتهای خودش رو نمایان میکنه!
وتیور اینجا جدی تر و تلخ تره؛اسموکی و کمی تند و گیاهیه و البته انیمالیک.
همه ی این ویژگیها برای بنده یادآور رایحه ای هستن که ممکنه عجیب باشه براتون ولی میانه های عطر دقیقا چنین رایحه ای رو برام داره:
گل و لای کناره و کف رودخونه!!
رایحه ای گل آلود و چرکین و البته تند!این فضا رو بی تردید وتیور؛پچولی و بخور ایجاد کردن که برام خیلی متفاوت و جالب بود!
رفته رفته عطر از این فضا فاصله می گیره و کمی دودی تر میشه و اون فضا به حاشیه میره و عطر در این لحظه کمی شیرین و کمی الکلی میشه.
عطری دودی؛خاکی-چرکین و کمی الکلی که بسیار بسیار زیباست و دوسش دارم.

شاید جناب دوشافو با در ذهن داشتن خاطرات شبی در طبیعت افریقا کنار آتش چوبهای پر صمغ و بعضا نیمه خشک؛از حضور در محیطی که پره از سر و صدا و بوی گوزنهای یال دار و گورخرها؛دست به ساخت چنین عطری زده!!!
این فضا به مرور ملایمتر میشه
وتیور و پچولی و اون بوی خاکی و اسموکی ملایم میشن و عطر کمی شیرین و میوه ای میشه با کمی تندی...

تیمبوکتو عطر خوشبو و متفاوتیه.
رایحه ای تقریبا خطی اما با کیفیت داره که میشه گفت مردونه و البته جدی و رسمیه.
یه عطر ملایم و چهار فصله که تو هوای خنک و شبهای بهاری؛بیشتر خودشو نشون میده.
پخش بوش با ارفاق متوسطه و ماندگاریش روی پوست حدود 6 ساعته...
کامنت: م.ع
(سایت لوکس بایر (با امکان تست سمپل

What a polarizing-ly exquisite and peerless fragrance, this fragrance has now just sparked a new journey in my fragrance hobby to pursue more fragrance in this genre (suggestions are more than welcome). If you like Terre d'Hermes, Declaration or Encre Noire like me, then you'll certainly be taken by this too.

I love how it's so different from the usual sweet fragrances with no character we've been receiving from fragrance houses lately... Timbuktu is certainly an acquired taste but will surely standout among the mass produced tonka bean clutter.

عطری عجیب! خود جومونگه :|
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Scent & Qualiy: 8/10
Longevity: 8/10
Sillage: 6/10
Creativity & Uniqueness: 9/10
Affordability: 6/10
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Overall:7.4/10

My immediate impression of this is "Irish Spring" soap " (do not get me wrong, it is absolutely pleasant, but none the less..)

Since reading the AZ guide ten (?!) years ago, I've been dying to try this one. I lived in Africa and I was ready to love. Blind ordered a bottle and...it smelled like soap. Figured I was ripped off. Today while meditating in a perfume aisle I saw a L'artisan Perfumery display. The holy grail! Created a tiny veil of Timbuktu...and it smells like soap. Four hours later, still soap. Maybe it's one of those cilantro-gene things.

I have the original formulation ; Cant say if it is any different than the new stuf ,But it has a very distinctive scent , I have never recognized in any other fragrance , I love and wore it today , 12 hours later and still going strong.
Scent 10/10
Silage 10/10
Longlasting 10/10
Thanks,

Save your money, this is to femme to be unisex.