The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Zadig & Voltaire built its name on effortless cool, Parisian fashion with a rock-and-roll pulse, wearable luxury that never announces itself. The This Is Him! line captures confident masculinity through a blend of warm woods, smoky incense, and soft vanilla. The 2019 capsule edition amplifies these qualities, wrapping the wearer in a sophisticated haze of smoke and warmth that feels both bold and understated. Notes of cedar and vetiver add depth and earthiness, while the smoky undertones provide a quiet intensity that lingers close to the skin, making a statement without ever needing to shout.
The note structure is deliberately balanced between brightness and depth. Grapefruit and lemon give the opening immediate clarity, clean, awake, masculine in the modern sense rather than the traditional one. Pink pepper adds a tactile warmth that prevents the citrus from feeling disposable. But the heart is where the fragrance earns its name: incense and vanilla in equal measure, with geranium and lavender threading through to keep the smoke sweet and the sweetness grounded. The base doesn't overpower, ambroxan, vetiver, cedar, and patchouli layer into a finish that stays close to skin without retreating entirely. It's composed, warm, and quietly present. Exactly what the name promises.
The evolution
The opening hits clean. Grapefruit, lemon, a flash of pink pepper, bright and immediate, the citrus not particularly nuanced but undeniably effective. Incense and vanilla arrive together, smoke curling under sweetness. The lavender cools it slightly, geranium adds an herbal counterpoint, and for a moment the composition feels like it's negotiating with itself, smoke or comfort? The negotiation resolves in the drydown, where ambroxan takes over. Cedar follows. Patchouli anchors. The vetiver adds a mineral, smoky thread that keeps everything from becoming too soft. What remains is a warm, intimate presence that settles against the skin, a reminder of the journey from bright opening to deep, resonant finish.
Cultural impact
This Is Him! occupies a space where smoky warmth meets accessible composition. The blend of smoke and vanilla creates a distinctive character, while the overall structure keeps it grounded enough for daily wear. It offers a particular kind of comfort, warm and enveloping, without demanding attention or requiring careful occasion selection.
