It may not be listed in the official job description, but some positions definitely involve being able to deal with smells. While in many cases the aroma can actually be seen as a job perk (fresh soup simmering from your restaurant's kitchen, anyone?), other occupations can leave workers wanting to hold their noses.
Here are some fields in which success never smelled so sweet (or so awful).
The best smelling ...
Baker
Steve Abrams, owner of Magnolia Bakery in New York City, notes that his establishment was designed to involve all the senses but "the most visceral and evocative is that first smell when you walk in the door, which immediately brings you into your mother's kitchen and transports you to your childhood." The product he claims creates that experience best -- his bakery's world-famous cupcakes.
Other jobs with mouth-watering smells: barista, cook, waiter, movie theater concessions worker
Florist
Coffee brewing and lunches that give off any smell are not allowed at Greens Greenhouses & Treasure House in Fremont, Neb. According to florist Joey Schwanke, "We want people who come into our shop to enjoy the fragrance of flowers." Ardith Beveridge of Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist in Minneapolis, Minn., notes that the "fragrance of the season" is usually the most pronounced aroma when entering a shop, such as hyacinth and bulb flowers in spring and fresh wintergreens in winter.
Other jobs touting smells from the great outdoors: groundskeeper, fruit picker, farmer, logger, landscape architect
Aromatherapist
Aromatherapists use plant-derived essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being (usually through direct or indirect inhalation). Some of the smells aromatherapists may encounter while treating clients: lavender (believed to be good for alleviating headaches), peppermint (used in treating indigestion) and eucalyptus (calming to coughs).
Others jobs where your nose gets a "healthy" workout: herbalist, masseuse, health-food store employee
Fragrance Sales
"When it comes to fragrance, there is never one scent that people universally love," states Della Tall, an account sales and public relations associate for Anthousa, a luxury home fragrance company in Seattle, Wash. "Because of the varying preferences of our customers, we offer a wide range of fragrances: everything from floral to woodsy to fruity to musky. Some of our best-sellers include aqua verbena; cucumber and green grass; nectarine and red currant; and pomegranate and mint."
Other jobs where beauty is in the nose of the beholder: hair stylist, perfume demonstrator, candle-maker, cigar/tobacco shop worker
And the worst smelling ...
Zoo Keeper
The hippos at the San Diego Zoo in California are fed twice a day, and each meal fits into a wheelbarrow. Jabba, a male hippo, is fond of marking his territory and swishes his tail back and forth as he poops to make sure he covers the walls and ceiling of his bedroom as well as the floor. And just when it seems clean-up is finished, chances are he will repeat the whole act again -- pooping up to 10 times in a few hours.
Other jobs for those who don't mind the smell of animals: veterinarian, veterinary technician, pet supply store employee, dog walker, fisherman, slaughterhouse worker
Waste or Recycling Collector
It may not be the most pleasant-smelling job in the world, but where would society be without the men and women who collect our garbage and work at dumps? The good news for those in the refuse and recyclable material industry: The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 19 percent increase in the number of jobs by 2018.
Other jobs for people with brave noses: janitor, plumber, locker room or bathroom attendant, shoe salesperson, coroner
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