Timbuktu (2004)
by L'Artisan Parfumeur

Malt vinegar with dusty benzoin and that soft papyrus wood note (the wood that isn't cedar from Gucci pour Homme).
No thanks.

Excited testing this one out especially as it turned out excellently on a friend and contained several notes that I generally enjoy: Pepper, Cardamon, Vetiver, Patchouli.

Not surprised that this turned out to be a very well crafted scent. I did have initial bursts of strong vinegar/ citrus notes that I didn't like and was wondering how it could go so horribly wrong. Timbuktu eventually mellowed into a mildly spicy, woody scent which was very elegant, especially for a guy. I definitely appreciated the slight floral notes that remained very masculine. Many have commented on how it can fade out and get ethereal. I throughly enjoyed that experience, where it lingers around, warm yet transparent and fleeting.

Scents in the oriental style prove a challenge to me – I don’t like sweet and ambery-vanilla notes. So when I find a dry oriental, I am pleased. Timbuktu is a very nice scent. I don’t detect the fruit notes of mango and berries. The spices are light. I enjoy the papyrus wood note: it is tangy, acidic and refreshing. The incense notes are light and combine well with the vetiver. In the final analysis, this dries down to a lovely vetiver scent. At this stage, it seems very similar to Lorenzo Villoresi’s Uomo. My one caveat with this scent is that I would like the frankincense and myrrh to be a bit more pronounced and exotic. This is a lovely, restrained scent, it is not sweet or cloying and not heavy. The drydown is lovely and slightly haunting, and the scent wears very well.

Erm. Not convinced at all. On me it reminds me of soapy Imperial Leather. It's nicely complex though, depending on whether you catch it sideways or head on!

Purchased it after testing it for a few days, and now one of my favourite scents. Unique, refreshing, and generally very well made. Only downside is that it does not last long on my skin.

Very well made mild incense scent. Very niche.

Although it is a quit scent it still is capable to offer several layers and nuances. It’s very rich.

Very warm and aromatic juice with slightly medicinal feel. Etheral smoke and aged wood oils with hint of fruit.

Terrific smell, although it is probably a tad too weak and refined for my personal tastes, plus the lasting power seems to be slightly below average.