The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Nathalie Lorson created This Is Him! Vibes of Freedom for Zadig & Voltaire in 2022, part of the house's "This Is Him!" line. The fragrance translates the brand's effortless rock-and-roll identity into scent, someone who doesn't need to arrive loudly to matter. The opening is fresh and aromatic, with lavender taking the lead before Somalian frankincense shifts the composition into smoky, resinous territory. Cedar and patchouli anchor the drydown with a woody warmth that lingers close to the skin, giving the fragrance real staying power without ever becoming overwhelming.
What makes this composition unusual is the frankincense placement. In a lavender-led aromatic fougere, you'd expect the heart to soften or sweeten. Instead, Somalian frankincense arrives with an austere quality that reframes the entire structure. The smoke, resin, and spice that follow form a journey from fresh aromatic opening to deeper woody drydown. American cedar and Indonesian patchouli anchor the drydown with a dry-woody resinous character that holds long after the top notes have gone quiet, creating real tension between aromatic freshness and woody depth.
The evolution
French lavender arrives clean, aromatic, with a brief flash of mandarin that disappears before you've fully noted it. The transition to the heart happens faster than expected, Somalian frankincense doesn't wait. Smoke arrives with a quiet authority, settling beside warm cardamom that gives the heart a green, spicy warmth. By the time the drydown sets in, the structure has shifted entirely. American cedar and Indonesian patchouli take over, woody and resinous, close and persistent, still present hours later on skin that retained it.
Cultural impact
This is Him! Vibes of Freedom speaks to wearers who appreciate fragrance as a personal signature rather than a statement. The frankincense-forward drydown reveals a specific taste: aromatic freshness followed by something austere, smoky, and unexpected. Moderate sillage means it doesn't announce itself from across the room, which suits someone who prefers their presence to be felt up close rather than announced from a distance. The fragrance works quietly, revealing its layers gradually as it settles into the skin.
The House
Zadig & VoltaireZadig & Voltaire is a Parisian fashion house founded in 1997 that built its identity on casual sophistication with a rock-and-roll edge. The brand takes its name from Voltaire's philosophical novel Zadig, or Destiny, and translates that literary sensibility into clothing and fragrance with a rebellious yet refined character. Known for wearable luxury basics like cashmere pieces and leather jackets, the house brings an effortless aesthetic to modern urban dressing. Since entering perfumery in 2009, Zadig & Voltaire has expanded its olfactory line to over 39 fragrances, maintaining the brand's bold, fresh identity through scents that blend masculine vigor with feminine elegance.
The Creator
Nathalie LorsonWoody notes are definitely a signature for Lorson, often combined with a touch of spice or sweetness to create depth and complexity. She has a knack for balancing contrasting elements, like dark and light, masculine and feminine, resulting in fragrances that are both intriguin…
