King's Harem

King's Harem, inspired by Ahwaz Fragrance King's Harem (2016)

King's Harem is built on amber and vanilla, but incense keeps it from reading as a simple dessert. Rose sits in the middle, rounded rather than dewy, and a dusting of spice gives the vanilla a toasted edge. Patchouli adds an earthy, slightly dark floor. The overall effect is resinous and smoky-sweet, closer to a burning censer than to a cake stand.

About the original

Ahwaz Fragrance is a London house founded in 2013 and generally classed as a niche brand, and King's Harem joined its catalogue in 2016. The brand frames it as a harem at night, with amber, spices, sandalwood and burning bakhoor (the scented wood chips burned in Gulf homes). Its name is easy to mix up with Hareem Al Sultan, a name used for separate perfumes by Khadlaj and by Ard Al Zaafaran.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Ahwaz Fragrance stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Lovers of amber and incense will recognise the style at once. It is rich and sweet at heart, so anyone who finds vanilla cloying, or dislikes a smoky edge on skin, may want something drier.

Related scents

• Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
• Kilian Amber Oud

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Notes: Amber, Madagascar Vanilla, Rose, Incense, Spices, Patchouli

The published note list is unordered, so the stages blur together. Spice and rose are the brightest parts, set over vanilla.

Amber and incense give it body: balsamic, faintly smoky and dense. Patchouli gives the drydown its earthy, shadowy depth beneath the vanilla.

Is King's Harem the same as Hareem Al Sultan?

No. King's Harem is by the London house Ahwaz Fragrance. Hareem Al Sultan is the name of separate perfumes from Khadlaj and from Ard Al Zaafaran.

Is Ahwaz King's Harem still made?

We have not been able to confirm whether Ahwaz Fragrance still produces it.

Is it very smoky?

Incense is present but sits behind amber and vanilla. It reads as smoky-sweet rather than ashy.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

AHWAZ and King's Harem are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to AHWAZ in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.