The story of Zadig & Voltaire
Thierry Gillier founded Zadig & Voltaire in Paris in 1997. The name comes from Voltaire's philosophical tale Zadig. The look relies on cashmere, worn-in T-shirts and a very Parisian rock attitude. Stores spread quickly across France and then abroad. Perfume arrived in stages. A first licence went to Clarins in 2010. In 2014 the brand handed its fragrances to Beauté Prestige International, a subsidiary of Japan's Shiseido. The This is Her and This is Him duo came out of that deal. The women's scent was composed by Michel Almairac and Sidonie Lancesseur. It became the label's big fragrance success and returns every year in limited editions. There is an irony here. A brand known for its rock spirit sells mostly a soft and comforting chestnut vanilla.
An olfactory signature
This is Her is an autumn gourmand, woodier than it is sweet. Pink pepper and jasmine make for a bright, almost prickly start. In the heart, whipped cream and vanilla wrap around roasted chestnut, the real find of the scent. Sandalwood and cashmere wood in the base suggest a soft jumper more than a dessert. It is a vanilla for people who avoid outright sugar. On dry skin it helps to spray some on clothing too.
Which Zadig & Voltaire perfume to choose?
Our database features Zadig & Voltaire through This is Her, a 2016 eau de parfum. Choose it if you like creamy vanillas with a woody base. It is best from October to March, at work or in the evening. Two sprays on skin and one on a scarf will stretch the chestnut. If it feels too soft, try Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, which has more coffee and more sugar. Repetto Eau de Parfum goes the other way, with a lighter powdery floral of plum and almond.