PRactical P.R. BlogThe Leader in Small Business Public Relations

As many of you know, I have a sense of smell like a bloodhound.  Unfortunately, strong smells are especially uncomfortable to me.

Lately I’ve had to endure some pretty crummy smells from people who provide personal services.  When I am stuck in a dentist’s chair, getting a facial or a massage, I really don’t have the option to turn away. I would love to say something directly to that person, but that seems rude, so I get to write about it here.

From a Public Relations perspective, dealing with bad smells makes for a negative experience, and it provides a reason for people to complain to others about you or your business, which of course does not help you get and keep customers. 

The most common bad smell is garlic.  Now, I love garlic.  And I know it’s healthy.  But if you are going to be face to face with a customer who can’t really move, please realize that it’s not pleasant to smell garlic breath. So maybe you should get a mint, or even abstain from eating garlic right before getting next to a customer.

The next most common bad smell is cigarette smoke.  For some reason, this happens alot with massage therapists (this is not just me - I hear this often from others).  Note to massage therapists or owners of massage therapy shops:  People who smoke should not be working on customers.  When the therapists move around, and even sweat while they are working on customers, the cigarette smoke smell oozes everywhere and is really unpleasant when you’re trying to relax.

I hope this helps service providers in their quest to provide exceptional service.