Potpourri Plant Shut After Its Neighbors Raise a Stink

The smell of potpourri isn’t everyone’s idea of heaven, especially when it’s being stirred up in one’s neighborhood.

Aromax, a potpourri manufacturing company in Visalia, Calif., was shut down Thursday by the Tulare County Air Pollution Control District.

The district found that the firm--which has produced cloyingly-sweet potpourri since 1981, and later incense and dyed, scented salt crystals--was also emitting more than 300 pounds of volatile hydrocarbons a day. The emissions came from the solvent used to dye and perfume wood chips and flowers used in the mix.

The neighbors complained when the factory greatly expanded.

“When we first went out there a year ago,” said David Fishel, Tulare County environmental health director, the solvent mix was being poured from sprinkler cans over chips spread out on the factory floor and in the parking lot.

“It was running down the driveway, into the gutter and into the storm drains,” he said. “I’ll tell you, in that neighborhood, (the odor) is downright unbearable. . . . I wonder why the place didn’t burn up.”

Owners of Aromax were unavailable for comment Friday, a receptionist said.

“And do me a favor, will you?” she added. “Don’t get all upset about it. Have a nice weekend, OK?”