Zadig & Voltaire Fragrance review

Zadig & Voltaire This Is Really Her! Review: Rose & Honey

A honeyed rose-patchouli gourmand that turns up the volume on the original

By Vivir ·
Zadig & Voltaire has spent the better part of a decade building one of the most recognisable gourmand families in designer fragrance. It began with This Is Her! in 2016, a creamy chestnut-and-vanilla composition that became a quiet cult favourite — the kind of scent people recognise on a stranger before they recognise the bottle. In 2024, the house returned to the well with This Is Really Her!, an Eau de Parfum Intense that takes the original's soft signature and pushes it in a darker, more floral direction. The result is a rose-forward gourmand built on honey, patchouli and vanilla, signed by the same perfumer who composed the original: Sidonie Lancesseur. Where the first This Is Her! was soft and skin-like, This Is Really Her! is louder, sweeter and noticeably more textured — a fragrance that announces itself in the opening and then settles into a warm, balsamic hum. In this review we break down the confirmed note pyramid, how the scent evolves across a wearing, its measured performance on skin, who it suits, and how it stacks up against the original and its closest competitors. All note, accord and performance data below comes from the fragrance's Fragrantica listing and community reporting.
Longevity
3.5
Projection
3.0
Sillage
3.0
$60-$130
SpringSummerFallWinter

Accords

Rose Honey Patchouli Sweet Floral Vanilla Warm Spicy Woody Balsamic Soft Spicy

Notes Pyramid

Top
Pink PepperBasil
Heart
RoseChestnut
Base
HoneyPatchouliVanilla

Scent Journey

1
Opening 0-30 min

The first 15 to 30 minutes belong to pink pepper and basil. It is a bright, slightly green, peppery lift — drier than you might expect from a honey-and-vanilla gourmand. The basil reads as a fresh herbal edge rather than a kitchen note, and it keeps the opening from tipping straight into syrup. Rose is already visible underneath, but at this stage it is a suggestion rather than the main event.

2
Heart 1-2 hrs

Roughly one to two hours in, the heart takes over and the fragrance becomes what its name promises: a full, jammy rose wrapped in chestnut. The chestnut adds a creamy, nutty sweetness that bridges the floral centre and the gourmand base. This is the most 'perfume-y' phase — rich, dense and clearly floral, with the pink pepper fading to a faint tingle in the background.

3
Drydown 4+ hrs

From around the four-hour mark, honey, patchouli and vanilla take control. The honey is thick and slightly animalic rather than clean-sweet, and the patchouli gives it an earthy, slightly balsamic backbone that stops the composition from becoming a straightforward dessert. The vanilla smooths everything into a warm, close-to-skin finish that lingers longest on fabric.

Performance Dashboard

Longevity 3.5/5

4-6 hours on skin, noticeably longer on clothing

Projection 3.0/5

moderate; strong for the first hour, then intimate and close to the body

Sillage 3.0/5

moderate — leaves a clear trail without filling a room

When to Wear

SpringOK
SummerAvoid
FallBest
WinterBest
date nighteveningspecial occasionsfall/winter daily wear

Pros & Cons

  • Distinctive honeyed rose that stands apart from generic sweet florals
  • Patchouli and honey base gives it depth beyond a simple gourmand
  • Moderate projection makes it wearable in most social settings
  • Lasts considerably longer on clothing than on skin
  • Longevity of 4-6 hours on skin is modest for an EDP Intense
  • Opening basil note can read sharp or unusual to some noses
  • Patchouli in the base will not suit those who dislike earthy notes
  • Community rating of 3.57/5 suggests a polarising reception

Price & Value

$60-$130
Positioned in the mid-tier designer bracket for a 100ml EDP Intense, with discounters frequently undercutting the retail price.

“Fair value at the lower end of the range. At full retail it competes with stronger performers, so buying at discount is the smarter play.”

Reformulation History

No significant batch variations reported.

Who It's For

Ideal For

  • Fans of the original This Is Her! who want a richer, more floral version
  • Anyone who loves rose paired with honey, patchouli and vanilla
  • Wearers who prefer warm, sweet gourmands in cool weather
  • People who want a noticeable but not overwhelming signature for evenings

Not Recommended For

  • Those who dislike patchouli or earthy bases
  • Wearers looking for a fresh, clean or citrus-forward scent
  • Anyone who needs 10+ hours of longevity from a single application
  • People who prefer very light, skin-scent florals for daytime office wear

The Family

This Is Her! This Is Her! Zadig & Voltaire
This Is Him! Zadig & Voltaire
This Is Us! Zadig & Voltaire
This Is Her! Vibes of Freedom Zadig & Voltaire
This Is Him! Vibes of Freedom Zadig & Voltaire

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Similar Fragrances

This Is Her! This Is Her! Zadig & Voltaire
Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privée Givenchy
Malia Nobile 1942

Layering Ideas

Final Verdict

Zadig & Voltaire This Is Really Her! is a confident, well-built rose gourmand that gives the original This Is Her! a darker, more floral sibling. The honey-patchouli-vanilla base delivers real depth, and the pink pepper and basil opening keeps things from becoming cloying — though the modest 4-6 hour skin longevity and a 3.57/5 community rating show it will not win everyone over. If you like sweet florals with an earthy backbone and you buy it at a discount, it is an easy recommendation for fall and winter evenings.

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Zadig & VoltaireThis Is Really Her!rosehoneypatchouligourmandwomen's fragrance2024 releaseSidonie LancesseurEDP Intense