This is Him by Zadig & Voltaire

I lick it. For this price, it’s an absolute steal. Smells of ecclesiastical incense, pepper and dry vanilla with woods, all in perfect balance. It’s masculine, winter-appropriate and projects well without being overpowering; very versatile with good longevity. Reminds me of areas in Tom Ford Noir or Man in Black, but without copying them; each has its own stamp, though they fit the same niche environment. Seems incredibly cheap.

I thought it would be a sweet, sexy masculine scent given the notes, but the truth is it came out bitter and very spicy. The grapefruit with the incense reminds me of the strong pipe tobacco in Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford. I agree with those who say it smells like a man: it’s intense, strong and has a bitter touch. I didn’t test it on skin, but for men with a marked personality (of any age) it’s an option.

Exquisite and discreet fragrance. It’s not that it doesn’t smell, it’s that it smells refined and discreet, a little like a baby, and babies smell very good. Apart from that, it’s a powdery, woody scent that dresses up well without being strident, a real treat.

This one has personality. It has few notes: a subtle grapefruit that accompanies the pepper, spicing up the opening and preventing the rest from coming out in a rush. It evolves quickly into a smoked incense, nothing heavy or complex, tamed by a light vanilla and then a creamy, smoked sandalwood. Performance is correct: 8 hours on skin and moderate projection. It’s said that initially it had poor performance and improved with age, perhaps due to lack of maceration at the start. If you buy it in summer with offers, because it doesn’t suit the heat. Let it mature until October so it can ‘wake up’. Goes brilliantly with fresh, nocturnal weddings or baptisms. Dresses well with appropriate clothing. Gives darkness and depth, for mild or cold nights. Not for turning heads, but it has presence. It has personality to not be just another perfume. Simple formula that knows what it wants.

Smells pleasant, but nothing like rock ‘n’ roll. Grapefruit dominates on initial spray and it gradually becomes incense-like. It’s pleasant and kind. It’s the one I use for sleeping; it conveys peace to me.

I love it. It stays away from fleeting trends, very urban and perfect for those rainy days.

It needs more punch and although its scent remains a delight even in this capped version, it’s a shame how brands pull our legs. It’s truly scandalous: they hook you with the first spray and when you’re about to reapply, *zap*, it doesn’t last the same and sometimes doesn’t even smell the same. But well, its price has certainly gone up.

Final batches of 2023, test on skin. Good opening of bergamot, pepper and a sharp hit. It disappears after a minute and returns in small bursts for 1-2 hours of incense and vanilla scent with a woody base and a very, very faint sandalwood accord, and in my opinion, somewhat weak. And after just 2-3 hours, goodbye, mate. Very little, truth be told. Even applying it with gusto, 7-8 times, it doesn’t last me longer than a current Eau de Rochas pour Homme. A mediocrity like Burgos Cathedral. And all that said, the scent, very much in the style of Bvlgari Man In Black, is excellent. Very modern, versatile, masculine, charming, youthful but without smelling like the usual childish, cloyingly sweet, gummy or ambroxan-heavy clichés. Either it causes an awful olfactory fatigue or Z&V ‘This is Him’ in 2024 has been reformulated to the bone and literally had its head chopped off, just like Kennedy or Trotsky. A pity. At least it didn’t cost me much. Otherwise, I’d be cursing the mother of Mr Zadic and Mr Voltaire, by the way, a great French Enlightenment humanist philosopher.

Excellent. The opening with bergamot and black pepper gives it a fresh, mischievous and sparkling touch, although soon incense and vanilla take the stage, perfectly combined. This incense smells like glory to me, in no way overwhelming or suffocating, but it becomes very present. And at the same time, maturing it and generating a very rich scent, the vanilla, in no way cloying or gourmand, intertwines, creating a unique, delicious and very addictive whole. More than dark, this is mysterious, but at the same time cheerful and in no way dense, very cosy. I perceive sandalwood much more in the background working in the shadows. And although it’s not declared, there’s a hint of cardamomo in the dry down. And there’s no need for more, it’s linear throughout its duration. Good performance, 7-8 hours, moderate projection and trail. All ages, in no way outdated but also not cloying and sugary. It’s balanced, I see it more as a night or late afternoon scent and excluding very hot days, for all seasons. It could be versatile, it’s not invasive, although in my case I prefer to save it for the weekend or special days so I don’t get tired of such a rich and well-balanced smell. In my opinion, its virtue lies in its linearity and simplicity. I wouldn’t categorise it as gourmand at all, nor as dark due to the incense. It’s original, simple and deep. It usually pleases people who smell it. I hope it goes unnoticed and receives bad reviews, as I’m scared to see it in every shop and its use becoming massified. I haven’t even noticed its advertising campaign, it’s not relevant to the scent, but I hope they make one where they kill children or something so no one else uses it more than me. -Scent: 9 -Performance: 8.5 Great creation, another one shared by Nathalie Lorson.

Fresh and spicy opening given by that initial sharp sting from the pepper accompanied by bergamot, giving us a cheerful and refreshing top note. After a few minutes that citrus accord fades and soon the incense takes the lead, which is the most prominent note, persistently flooding all phases of the fragrance in a subtle way, not intrusive or disturbing but with its own character that makes it dark, elegant and masculine. The incense is perceived with total splendour with that smoky, balsamic, slightly sour-sweet and sparkling accord of what’s left of the pepper, until the vanilla appears to give a twist, wrapping itself perfectly with the incense, staying alongside it throughout its journey and adding a discrete, slightly gourmand sweetness without reaching cloying levels. In the dry down phase, the powdery and creamy note of sandalwood is incorporated, leaving us with a woody base, with certain amber nuances, probably the result of the combination of that sweet incense that still prevails alongside the sandalwood. Very characteristic fragrance, pleasant, versatile and with excellent longevity and a moderate trail. It’s one of those fragrances that wearing it transmits me a lot of calm and well-being. I recommend it 100%!

Some say the incense isn’t ecclesiastical but for me it truly is. It’s a church incense accompanied by a very subtle citrus touch at the start that fades in 10 minutes giving way to the vanilla that lasts until the end. That blend of ecclesiastical incense and vanilla is what makes it special and exquisite; it suits perfectly for a Sunday or a special occasion. The longevity is above average without being a beast mode and it shows well. The scent isn’t overly mainstream; if you smell it you know it’s This is Him without being an expert.

There’s little more to add to detailed reviews. I’ve worn it at work for several winter days and I love it. It’s not the seventh wonder of the world but it’s very pleasant and comforting. I like the mix of vanilla and incense seasoned with that little citrus note. Beyond personal taste I think it’s hard for anyone to find it offensive. It’s suitable for the office a date and is unisex. If you find it on offer it’s worth it.

It’s not a bad fragrance. The citrus opening seemed short to me because the vanilla soon dominated everything. From my point of view it’s a sweet and invasive vanilla but nothing unpleasant. I haven’t been able to identify the other notes without thinking of the vanilla and finding contrast. Although personally I don’t find it sensual it does have elegance. It’s clear it’s well thought out and executed. It’s a scent for young boys who aren’t trying too hard for an aspiring gentleman. Better for the evening formal or semi-formal occasions and cold climates. It’s a different proposal with good taste and excellent value for money but I don’t see it for those over thirty.

The more I try this fragrance the more I like it. The opening despite the pepper and grapefruit isn’t strong and passes quickly leaving a delicious and persistent mix of incense and vanilla that is sustained by the very subtle pepper. It’s sweet but with a spicy hint that makes it very masculine. It’s extremely pleasant and keeps me smelling without stopping; I’m not one for sweet perfumes but this is a soft woody oriental if applied with moderation. Its longevity and trail are well above average. A few sprays are enough because it smells perfectly after hours even around you and it can become cloying. Paradoxically all the good things can be its downside: if you fall in love you’ll know it will be hard to get if it’s discontinued as it’s not from a best-selling house and nowadays (end of 2020) it’s complicated to get it for under 50 euros without offers. A sublime work by Nathalie Lorsson with very few notes but an excellent result. In the heart and dry down it reminds me a lot of Ani by Nishane. EDIT: more than 6 hours after two sprays on the wrist it leaves a trail when passing and is smelled at conversation distance. EDIT 2: Autumn 2025. I haven’t had it for a long time as I opted for Ani but yesterday I tried it in a perfumerie two sprays and today after more than 14 hours it still smells perfectly at half a metre. Au revoir.

I’m daring to write my first review with this perfume. I won’t talk about notes because unfortunately I don’t have a trained olfactory sense. I’ll talk about sensations and they are very positive. I put it on and thanks to it I am me: that 30-year-old young man cheerful pleasant and who makes me feel more secure about myself. It has a splendid trail a pleasant noticeable and not intrusive scent that doesn’t become heavy for those who smell it and has given me many compliments. The only notes I notice are that very good incense nothing ecclesiastical and that vanilla that gives it a sweet touch but nothing cloying. I find it very hard to find a fragrance that goes with me and it’s curious that this Zadig despite negative reviews is one of them. 100% recommended. It encouraged the doubtful to test it again. Greetings from this scent ignoramus.