Zadig & Voltaire
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Pink pepper ignites immediately with a sharp, peppery bite that awakens the basil into a green, slightly herbal freshness—reminiscent of crushing basil leaves in afternoon sunlight. This initial phase is bright and almost savoury, disarmingly unconventional for a 2024 release.
As the opening fades, rose emerges with surprising gentleness, whilst chestnut introduces an unexpected earthiness that feels almost warm and toasted. The metallic notes crystallise here, lending an austere, slightly futuristic edge that prevents the floral from becoming merely pretty, instead creating an intriguing tension between softness and sharpness.
Labdanum and honey create a caramel-like sweetness whilst sandalwood provides creamy support, the patchouli lending depth and subtle earthiness. Vanilla rounds the composition into something comforting yet ever so slightly dusty, as though you're enveloped in soft amber light—though the projection has substantially diminished by this stage.
This Is Really Her! arrives as a peculiar collision between a herbaceous aperitif and a powdered vanity. The basil-pink pepper opening suggests something verdant and peppery, yet within minutes the composition pivots toward a distinctly feminine rose-chestnut heart that feels unexpectedly architectural. Those metallic notes—a clever, albeit polarising addition—create an almost industrial sheen against the creamy warmth of labdanum and honey in the base, as if you've spritzed yourself with something caught between a Parisian perfumery and a modernist art installation.
The fragrance occupies an uncomfortable middle ground. It's unisex only in the loosest sense; the 88% floral accord leans decidedly feminine, whilst the 76% spicy component suggests someone reaching for something provocative and slightly challenging. The honey-vanilla pairing feels soft and approachable, yet the patchouli keeps things grounded, preventing saccharine excess. This is a scent for someone who enjoys complexity but perhaps expects more payoff than the composition ultimately delivers.
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3.8/5 (644)