MangoOpens with
IncenseHeart
VetiverDries down to
Bertrand DuchaufourThe nose · 120 fragrances · also made Jubilation 40 Man (2023)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
L'Artisan Parfumeur · Sold as unisex
Timbuktu
The quiet intensity of an artisanal workshop where the warmth of spices mingles with the deep, grounding notes of earth and wood.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
TimbuktuPremium · $100–250
44%Similar accords, often for lessEncre Noire A L'Extreme · LaliqueMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 4 of its 10 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
The story behind the bottle.
Timbuktu by L'Artisan Parfumeur, launched in 2004 and crafted by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, is a Woody Chypre fragrance that evokes the rich blend of African aromas. It opens with mango and pink pepper, bringing a burst of tropical brightness before transitioning into an earthy heart of incense, papyrus, and cardamom. The base notes of karo karounde, vetiver, myrrh, patchouli, and benzoin create a warm, smoky embrace that feels both ancient and lasting.
Two sprays will allow the mango and pink pepper to shine initially, but give it time as the smoky base notes emerge. This fragrance is best experienced close to the skin rather than across a room, where its rich complexity can truly be appreciated.
Fig. 01 — Timbuktu, L'Artisan Parfumeur
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Bertrand Duchaufour
The world traveler's noseBertrand Duchaufour is a perfumer-adventurer whose creations read like a travelogue of the senses. Trained at Roure (now Givaudan), his work draws deeply from his journeys through Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa.
“The art of perfumery must be at the same time, innovative, harmonius, and “sent bon”.”
Bertrand Duchaufour · CaFleureBon, October 2010
Designer L'Artisan Parfumeur
More from the house · founded 1976 · France
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Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalTimbuktuL'Artisan Parfumeur · Premium · $100–250Lalique · 2015Encre Noire A L'ExtremeShares 4 of its 10 notes$40–100★ 4.21 (8,358)
With Xerjoff Golden Moka
Adds citrus, coffee and green; shares incense.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 40%, disliked or hated by 13%.