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.
