When you walk into a bakery, you expect to be greeted by pleasant smells. In fact, that is one of the attractions that you miss out on when you buy baked goods pre-wrapped. Which is why Century Bakery in Bridgeton, N.J., is asking customers wearing copious amounts of cologne or perfume to keep out or use the drive-thru. In a Facebook post directed at customers, the bakery writes:
**Attention Customers,**
We kindly ask that if you wear strong perfumes or colognes, please utilize our drive-thru service. Several cashiers in our bakery suffer from asthma, and this time of year can be particularly challenging for them due to the high pollen count. The addition of strong fragrances can make it even more difficult for them to breathe, as their airways are already irritated.
Please note that these fragrances tend to linger in the building even after you leave, which can lead to coughing and discomfort for our team members. While they are attentive to their health by covering their coughs and maintaining hygiene, we appreciate your understanding in keeping comments regarding coughing to yourselves if you choose to enter the building wearing heavy scents.
Thank you for your consideration, and have a wonderful week!
The post, which went viral, received mostly positive reactions from readers, many of whom are customers. Naturally, there was the occasional humbug (e.g., “No body [sic] wants your stupid donuts”), but the company has taken pains to assure the public that this is a request and not a strict policy.
