Timbuktu - Old vs New

As with a lot of brand re-packaging in perfume, there are inevitably fears of re-formulation, weakened performance etc.
I decided to let my nose decide on one of my very favourite perfumes.

[@magic_powers]

Nice to hear about a reformulation that *doesn't* totally destroy a good fragrance

[@adrianpocea2287]

Oh my...I just received my set with three 30ml, old bottles, with Timbuktu, Mon Numero 10 and L'Eau d'Ambre Extreme. Wow, I mean wow about Timbuktu!!! This is amazing, mind blowing, pitch perfect. This is me, totally ME written all over it. As you stated many times about Lubin Idole or Hermes Equipage Geranium, this is my best representation in a perfume, alongside Tsar by Van Cleef and Arpels. Timbuktu that is. I wonder how good can Dzing or Dzongha can be if they overcame Timbuktu in your rankings

[@sarahrosebee]

Great vid. These are the things fragrant minds want to know. Thanks for doing the research out in the field and sharing your thoughts on this.

[@FernandoGarcia-qe3oc]

I've had this scent for years. I keep it in the box away from light and in a wine cooler fridge. At medium temp. It is awesome. One of may favorite. I hear you Pep.

[@cigiswald]

Thank you, this was really the video I was looking for! I wanted to buy a new bottle, but was a bit afraid of the reform! Excellent video as always!

[@dartheinnulfr8986]

Finally!! I've been really wanting to try this and heard the reformulation was trash! I needed this review!

[@ScentitarFragrance]

I was anxious about this video. I really don't want this one to be ruined. I happy to hear it is similar or maybe good enough.

[@RichMitch]

I want vintage everything

[@dusanninic5372]

That's my man.

[@lisaesposito7317]

Love that you had your daughter spray so you didnt have biased opinion- this is why I love this channel! 👍

[@TheScentinel]

Thank you Lisa

[@armallthetime]

Oddly, where I live it's much easier to find old bottles of Timbuktu than the new ones. So I can only speak for the old formulation, great great fragrance.

[@builtfit1291]

Good video Pep. I have had this one on my radar for a while but had heard rumors of reformulation ruining it. Thank you for confirming it is pretty similar!

[@tinamanske2865]

I just purchased a back up of the old bottle, but glad to hear the differences are not as big as I feared. Good attitude by the way, makes complete sense. Did somebody say Dior Homme 2020? :)

[@TheScentinel]

😁

[@TheMrZanshin]

Stop reading my mind you creeper!!! I’ve been researching this the last few weeks lol. Thank you for your time and sharing this information.

[@TheScentinel]

I will read your mind and you will like it.😁

[@cindyvincenzo2852]

The old one is way better than the new one. To my nose they’re totally different

[@TheScentinel]

It's a shame you notice it

[@michaelbullock8011]

Great video and I enjoyed it and I'm going to try it and have a blessed day

[@pmrp12]

Interesting to hear your take. I have a decant from an unidentified bottle that I fell head over heels for. I proceeded to order a bottle (same design as yours) from a gray market site and was shocked by the difference. The original sample had a gorgeous tart mango and wispy incense, whereas the latter was flatter, muddier, and more resinous with no sharp mango opening. I returned it and got another bottle-same result. I then ordered a Luckyscent sample thinking maybe my issue was a spoiled gray market batch. Same result. Finally, I went to a local niche boutique and sampled directly from the new darker bottle-similar to the others, but still unlike my original decant. At this point, I have two theories: 1) my original sample was mislabeled and is in fact something else or 2) this composition is highly volatile and subject to environmental factors-light, age, climate, etc. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤔

[@TheScentinel]

I am now wondering if you had an original vintage, which i havent smelled.

[@pmrp12]

The Scentinel could be... the decanter I purchased from ghosted me when I asked him to confirm the batch. Even offered to buy his partial bottle... radio silence.

[@JohmathanBSwift]

I have 2 12 ml bottles directly from L'Artisan , of which I got a deal on. I got them , for I had a sample set , those 2 ml tubes , from Twisted Lily. Loved Timbuktu from the sample set. The 12 ml bottles are strong, and the vetiver is very forward The sample set was in a very nice tin. I did give it away to a reviewer here on You Tube. Kinda wish I kept it now. Got it for $12 It was on older sample set. The 12 mls don't really have that nice incense as much. I got the 12 ml bottles for $12 too. Might get a decant of it from Fragrancenet. I can get it for $12.95. Se if there's a difference Fragrancenet used to have so many L'Artisan's for such a little cost. Not so much now. Don't know if any of this helped

[@pmrp12]

Johmathan .B. Swift good to know. The two bottles that weren’t like my original sample were from FragranceNet, but because I bought them one after the other, I thought maybe they were both spoiled in transit or storage somehow. Same bottle design as Pep shows here. I know there was a previous bottle and cap design to this, but no idea what that snells like.

[@brainfragrances]

great video, this is one I was going to look into this year, so it's good to know I'll probably be okay if it turns out to be the new one

[@cranborile]

Great vid Pep & very much appreciated. Already have a second 30ml as a backup but will now consider a new 100. I think you're probably right on with your thoughts about the differences being age. I can say with absolute certainty that my first 30ml has lost some of the sparkle it had from when Ii first got it & the mango note is also harder to pick up now than it was originally.

[@TheScentinel]

I definitely notice it more in the newer one

[@metalsmithnick8714]

Sounds like how I found AN 2019 vs 2015 bud. Marginal if any differences. Prob just maceration stuff aswell. ☺ thanks as always for your studiousness 👍

[@aarianjohn7783]

Tks for the review great information also like what you said about walking away from the fragrance if they water it down not too many people would say that anyway tks again

[@kozziezeeable]

I've sent L'artisan P an email asking them to confirm whether this has or has not been reformulated.

[@psterud]

Anything?

[@wutru3142]

Renier Oud Rain is a good alternative!

[@THELUVOFG]

Scentinel, Hello & Happy New Year's! Thanks for the review on this fragrance, which I own as well. Just so you know if not aware, the original Timbuktu(*WHICH I OWN) came in octagon=8 sided bottle and crowned with a round cap. The 1st reform of it was then put in 7 sided bottle with cap change also, and then afterwards came the bottles we see now. Not sure if your 50ML is original or 1st reform but regardless, if you like then rock it. 😉! A2! (*Gave J. Copland Creed V. Geranium mentioned in your compilation vid years back) : > )

[@TheScentinel]

Great info. Yes i am aware of that original bottle, but never tried that one. I do love my blue label and happy that all seems well.

[@brainfragrances]

tried this today for the first time. Really enjoyed it, need to get my hands on a sample

[@poobin1]

Brilliant Pep that’s what I wanted to find out.....thanks very much

[@mardienyc]

I bought the original formula for my husband when it first came out and it's all he's worn since then; women totally hit on him because of it (I'm OK with that). I could definitely tell the new formula is different, and at first I didn't mind. But he's now had the bottle for several months, and it's gone kind of....off! It smells stale somehow, and watery. Time to find him a new scent. :-(

[@TheScentinel]

Maybe try Dzongkha from the same brand.

[@mardienyc]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out.

[@MsDuke112]

Thanks for the good news!

[@theamazingrobin927]

Great review. Looking for a sample to try myself

[@wreza97]

Great news, thank you!

[@YoToddYo]

What year batch was the older bottle version you tested?

[@Lommy9999]

Can you please do the same with old and new bottles of Mechant Loup and Dzonkha? Thank you!

[@TheScentinel]

I'd like to, but it isn't that easy finding samples of them if you dont have the bottles

[@dusanninic5372]

I have two different versions of vintage Mechant Loup, and vintage Dzongkha of course. I would like to send you some decants for your review, mister Pep.

[@grant_chamberlain]

Do you think I'll like this if I love Jubilation?

[@TheScentinel]

Hmm, yes actually i'd say yes.

[@grant_chamberlain]

@@TheScentinel thanks for responding so quickly. I went ahead and just blind bought a bottle. I’m sure I’ll like it

[@TheScentinel]

@@grant_chamberlain good luck!

[@grant_chamberlain]

@@TheScentinel if I don’t like it, I’m selling it to you ha