Perfume/cosmetics sections at department stores

[alxndr]

I can't remember the last time I went in any shops with perfume counters, they're not really the sort of places I ever need to frequent. I do, however, know that I have to hold my breath if I need to go down an aisle in a supermarket where tampons/pads are kept. Something about the fragrances used in those products really gets to me.

 

[43096]

Had a bad experience in the Debenhams store in Canterbury many years ago. Walked into the store through that department and was, in effect, 'assaulted' by the customer assistant with a spray bottle. They didn't even ask whether I wanted to try the product or not, nor whether I was likely to suffer any form of reaction to the product.

Whenever I walk through such an area in a store, it always reminds me of Arabella Weir's "No offence" character in the Fast Show.

 

[PeterC]

Not too bad for a man, just hold your breath and walk past. My late M-i-L would complain that the staff would come out and spray stuff at her which kicked off a reaction.

 

[cb a1]

For me, it was the smell of coffee - makes me want to vomit. Bookshops were particularly bad for it. Kind of lost much of my sense of smell a few years ago so it's not a problem now (although I do wonder if I'll know if I've got COVID ...).

 

[py_megapixel]

For me, it was the smell of coffee - makes me want to vomit. Bookshops were particularly bad for it. Kind of lost much of my sense of smell a few years ago so it's not a problem now (although I do wonder if I'll know if I've got COVID ...).

Although I don't like the smell of coffee perse, it's more understandable for me as if you're going to serve coffee then it's very difficult to make it not smell! (Of course, I appreciate that this probably makes a lot of environments unbearable to you).

 

[cb a1]

Although I don't like the smell of coffee perse, it's more understandable for me as if you're going to serve coffee then it's very difficult to make it not smell! (Of course, I appreciate that this probably makes a lot of environments unbearable to you).

Naturally I wouldn't want to visit a 'coffee shop', it was more frustrating when shops that aren't nominally coffee shops (mainly bookshops that I noticed this in because I like books) became largely off-limits.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

I like bookshops too, liked the smell of coffee and even classical music, not too loud
I have proprietary ear protectors that reduce the sound quite well, is something similar available to filter out smells?
..
Things we can smell are bad enough, but what about things we can not smell but that may be harmful?

 

[Andy Pacer]

The perfumerys must be rather challenging for those work there

 

[py_megapixel]

I like bookshops too, liked the smell of coffee and even classical music, not too loud
I have proprietary ear protectors that reduce the sound quite well, is something similar available to filter out smells?

I wish there was.

I would also shop in stores an awful lot more if they didn't insist on playing obnoxiously loud pop music. It impairs my ability to think straight which means I feel stressed (and of course don't feel comfortable buying anything)

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

@py_megapixel

Right again, I hate muzak too. Does anyone like it? But food stores are businesses, they pay for it, can one assume they think it increases takings?
I try to get my food ASAP and scarper, in any case the best stores (?), aldi, lidl, do not play muzak

 

[mmh]

Although I don't like the smell of coffee perse, it's more understandable for me as if you're going to serve coffee then it's very difficult to make it not smell! (Of course, I appreciate that this probably makes a lot of environments unbearable to you).

Likewise it is very difficult, impossible even, to sell perfume that doesn't smell! By it's nature, it's something that customers want to know how it smells before buying it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2020 ==

Although I don't like the smell of coffee perse, it's more understandable for me as if you're going to serve coffee then it's very difficult to make it not smell! (Of course, I appreciate that this probably makes a lot of environments unbearable to you).

Likewise it is very difficult, impossible even, to sell perfume that doesn't smell! By it's nature, it's something that customers want to know how it smells before buying it.