The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
This Is Really Him! arrived as a continuation of a collection that began with Nathalie Lorson's original This Is Him!. The first fragrance established a framework of citrus brightness and woody warmth that wearers kept returning to, a signature that became recognizable across the brand's offerings. This sequel was built from that same foundation but pushed into unfamiliar territory where the cool electricity of metallic notes meets the creamy intimacy of orange blossom. The combination creates something that resists easy categorization, a contradiction the brand decided not to resolve. Instead, it became the point.
What makes the composition unusual is the metallic-orange blossom pairing at its center. Metallic notes are rarely given prominence in mainstream men's fragrance. They read as cool, almost sterile, an industrial counterpoint to the warmth expected in masculine scents. Orange blossom is floral, creamy, almost sweet. Placing them side by side creates a fragrance that refuses easy categorization. It's neither purely fresh nor purely warm. The top citrus is straightforward and inviting, but the heart is where This Is Really Him! makes its statement.
The evolution
The opening hits quickly. Grapefruit and lemon arrive clean and bright, the kind of citrus that reads as morning rather than nightlife. There's no slow build here. The heart takes over within minutes and that's where the surprise lives. The metallic-orange blossom accord arrives like a cool current cutting through the warmth, electric, unexpected, almost clinical in its clarity before the orange blossom softens it into something creamy and white. Then the handoff. Around the one to two hour mark, the citrus fades and the woods emerge. Palo Santo brings a subtle smokiness that tempers the amberwood's sweetness. The metallic quality doesn't disappear entirely. It settles underneath the base like a quiet wire still running. The drydown lasts, though the projection drops considerably. On skin, it becomes an intimate companion rather than a statement.
Cultural impact
This Is Really Him! makes a structural choice that sets it apart from many masculine fragrances: the metallic-orange blossom heart creates a distinctly modern cool that stands out in its category. The fragrance defies easy classification, neither purely fresh nor purely warm, offering instead a tension between industrial edge and creamy intimacy. Those who wear it project quiet confidence, the kind that suggests someone with clear preferences rather than someone still exploring. The scent reads as intentional, a choice made rather than a default reached.
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…
