Is this an eau de toilette or eau de cologne, and does that affect performance?+−
It's listed as an eau de cologne, which typically means a lighter concentration. That tracks with the performance profile: expect solid projection for the first hour or two as the pepper and incense open up, followed by a warmer, closer-wearing finish. It's not a fragrance that will fill a room all evening, but it lasts well enough for a night out and the drydown is genuinely pleasant to wear at skin level.
Is this suitable for the office or daytime wear?+−
It can work for business casual settings, but it's built more for evenings and leisure. The smoky incense and black pepper combination read as dark and confident rather than fresh and neutral — the kind of scent that fits better with a jacket and dim lighting than a morning commute. Seasonal timing helps: in fall or winter, a light hand could make it office-appropriate, but it's not where this fragrance is most at home.
How does This Is Him! compare to other dark, smoky masculines in its price range?+−
The fragrance community regularly places it favorably alongside designer options like Mr. Burberry and Calvin Klein Defy, often noting it holds its own despite costing less. Its combination of frankincense, vanilla, and sandalwood gives it a more resinous, balsamic character than many of its peers — it's less fresh-spicy and more smoky-oriental. That makes it distinctive within the designer tier rather than just another safe woody fragrance.
Does this fragrance work for women or is it strictly masculine?+−
It's marketed for men and has a distinctly masculine construction — the black pepper and incense combination leans traditionally male. That said, the vanilla and sandalwood base give it warmth and softness that could appeal across genders. Fragrance communities have noted the "This Is" line in general as having a certain shared character, and fans of This Is Her! sometimes enjoy this one as well.
Has this fragrance been reformulated or discontinued?+−
There's no widely documented reformulation or discontinuation to note — This Is Him! remains available as part of Zadig & Voltaire's lineup. That said, as with most designer fragrances, minor adjustments over production runs are possible, though no significant changes appear to have affected the fragrance's reception.
Is it worth buying at full price, or should you hunt for a discount?+−
The community consensus leans toward strong value even at regular retail. It's considered one of the better-performing options in the affordable designer segment, offering a more complex, smoky profile than many fragrances at the same price point. If you can try it first — given the somewhat polarizing synthetic pepper opening — it's generally regarded as a solid buy, especially in fall and winter when you'll actually get the most out of it.
