The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Conceived in 2016 by Nathalie Lorson and Aurélien Guichard for Zadig & Voltaire, This Is Him! was born from the house's desire to split the line between bright and brooding. The Paris brand, founded in 1997, has always fused rock-and-roll edge with easy luxury. The brief asked for a scent that could sit beside its feminine twin yet carve its own path, a clean citrus-pepper spark that would capture both the confidence and the effortless cool the house is known for. Lorson and Guichard answered with black pepper and grapefruit as the opening, building a foundation that was both sharp and approachable.
The philosophy behind This Is Him! rests on deliberate contrast. Black pepper and grapefruit are paired to create immediate tension between sharp spice and bright citrus, setting a tone of confident energy. Frankincense and vanilla follow in the heart as a warm, slightly spiritual combination that balances the initial brightness with depth. The drydown leans into sandalwood as a creamy counterweight to any harsh edges, creating a finish that feels neither heavy nor superficial. The result is a fragrance built on balance, where each note justifies its place and no single element dominates the narrative.
The evolution
The fragrance opens fast and bright, black pepper and grapefruit hitting immediately to create a spark of clean energy. As the minutes pass, the frankincense settles in, bringing a warm resinous quality that tames the citrus brightness while the vanilla adds a subtle sweetness that creates intimacy without sweetness overload. By the drydown, the sandalwood takes over, providing a creamy woody foundation that carries the vanilla warmth forward and keeps the entire arc grounded. Each phase shifts the character from confident and bright to warm and intimate to smooth and lingering.
Cultural impact
Since its 2016 debut, This Is Him! has become a go‑to for fans of modern incense, praised for pairing a crisp citrus‑pepper opening with a smoky, vanilla‑sweet heart. The fragrance sits alongside its sister scent This Is Her! and the shared “This is Zadig!” campaign, reinforcing the brand’s rebellious yet refined image. Wearers often cite it as the scent that announces a confident entrance without shouting, making it a staple in urban night‑out wardrobes.
