Bernadette Margaret Evelyn Theresa Freddie Albrighton 2021

I know, I know. Controversial title. But when the upscale department store Ludwig Beck in Munich practically throws a fragrance at you, something must be off with the perfume. Or is it?

To be precise, Bernadette Margaret Evelyn Theresa is currently sitting there for 60 euros, which is half the original price. Additionally, there was a 20% discount last week, so you could take home the bottle for 48 euros. It's actually unbelievable for such a niche fragrance.

But why didn't I take it home, especially considering that I actually rate it quite highly? In short: it smells too funky for me to wear in my daily life.

I really thought about it for a long time, but I couldn't come up with a suitable everyday wearing moment. My acquaintance, who accompanied me that day for the sale sniffing, said it reminded her of the temples in her homeland of Bali. Since I've never been to Bali, I can't relate, but I can imagine it with the mix of woods, cinnamon, cloves, and patchouli.
To me, it smells like dried fruits with a certain animalistic note that slightly reminds me of zoo and circus scents. However, that fades quickly, leaving the fruits, cinnamon, and flowers. And that lasts for a very long time; I could still perceive the scent on my arm even after showering. Time and again, I caught myself smelling it throughout the day. I kept wavering between "wow, that smells awful" and "I absolutely have to go back to Ludwig Beck today to buy it."
I've never experienced something like this with a fragrance. At the same time, it pushed me away while also drawing me in.
The scent cloud that I dragged behind me on the S-Bahn ride home must have been enormous. Perhaps I sparked wonderful memories of their time in Bali for some people. Others probably had to think of their visit to the Hellabrunn Zoo. I still think about the scent and its price. Bernadette Margaret Evelyn Theresa - you are worth so much more!