A harem is a secluded area within a house reserved for women. A soirée is an evening event in the bourgeois, upper-class society.
Now I could be pedantic and claim that the women of a household gathered in a closed area of their residence with the women of another friendly family to practice children's songs together and exchange the latest cooking recipes.
Marketing a perfume with this fantastic background might not be entirely easy. Therefore, Arte Profumi is likely to rely more on the fantasies and myths surrounding an Ottoman harem in the minds of many Europeans - that is, a bunch of half-naked, lascivious, seductive women ready for love services in a private evening gathering. This is a much stronger selling point.
Sex sells. Well then …
At first, I thought I had grabbed the wrong tester. A huge cloud of incense hit me right in the face. A glance at the label dispelled any doubt - Harem Soirée.
What came towards me felt little oriental, rather like a full blast of incense of the Roman Catholic kind. Arte Profumi is also from Italy. If I should be wrong about the incense classification, please forgive me. I am with the competition.
What is this scent supposed to express? A harem in the bishop's palace? - Interesting line of thought.
For the eroticism and the feminine aspect, the perfume offers a bit of rose: intensely perceptible now and then through the much too strong incense fog, a brief hint like in Fate Woman, but not really beautiful. I had expected better from a “Harem Soirée.”
Incense, amber, and myrrh exist in many compositions and can be more pleasant. In my opinion, Amouage processes such ingredients more elegantly. Even Jubilation 25 Woman, which certainly does not skimp on incense, comes across as more bearable for me.
Those who can endure Fumoir will also manage with Harem Soirée. For everyone else, this is likely to be a short night.
I don't get it. It's smoky but mainly balsamic-resinous and soft, definitely has character but still very warm and erotic on my skin. Reminds me of Ambre Fétiche, Ambra Aurea, Marquis de Sade by Etat Libre d'Orange, and La Nuit n°1 by Roja Dove. If it weren't for the price, I'd buy it right away.
Oh, that's fine. Frankincense has been used for various rituals long before the Catholic Church was established. Maybe the ladies embalmed their harem chief at a secret evening event. :-))
Maybe the ladies embalmed their harem chief at a secret evening event. :-))