"I’d like to tell you" I said to the perky sales associate "that this is the best shaving cream I’ve ever used. But I loathe coming in to buy it because of your store’s over-powering assault on my nose!" Seeing her dismay I quickly added "You see, I work with wine, where a sensitive and well-trained nose is a valuable tool."
My comment had been offered in sympathy for the workers in this boutique shop, which features hand-made soaps and cosmetics with no packaging. I figured they too must dread the over-powering essence of jasmine, watermelon, cucumber, Ylang-Ylang and dozens of other scents figuratively screaming for the attention of every nostril within 50 feet. But my words were not taken kindly. Visibly bristling, the Sales Associate gave me a look she likely reserved for the heathen, the non-believers…
