The tone has changed – noticeably, quieter, and often unpleasant.

Why politeness in commerce takes effort today, how language has become a requirement, and why respectful encounters nevertheless remain important.

Scent News – Between the scents

There are Sundays when you realize how much energy it now takes to remain polite. Not because you've forgotten how, but because it's encountered less and less frequently in everyday life. This text isn't a settling of scores or a venting of frustration. It's a pause for reflection. An observation from the curated world of fragrances—and people. A space for nuances, memories, and quiet truths. Not as a counterpoint, but as an invitation.

When politeness suddenly takes effort

Politeness was once the bare minimum. Today, it often seems like an added bonus. Many messages begin without a greeting, end without a salutation, and consist solely of demands. The tone is terse, demanding, sometimes aggressive. It frequently becomes clear during the course of the communication that the issue is less about an actual problem and more about a desire for a return and refund – even when products have already been used.

Remaining polite in such situations is no longer a given. It's a conscious decision, one that must be made anew every day. Responding calmly, putting things into perspective, explaining, setting boundaries, all without losing one's composure. This form of professionalism has become more demanding – precisely because it is less and less frequently reciprocated.

What retail once meant

I know I belong to a different generation. I worked in retail for decades, in a time when the customer wasn't an adversary or a supplicant, but at least an equal partner. Advising meant listening. Selling meant building a relationship. The ideal was achieved when a wish could be understood and fulfilled – not as a service promise, but as a shared goal.

Politeness was simply a given. Not as a technique, but as an attitude. A form of address. A greeting. A farewell. Using one's own name. Small gestures that show: Here, one person is speaking to another. I didn't learn this attitude professionally, but at home. And it has stayed with me throughout my entire working life.

Your language reveals your attitude

Language is never neutral. It reveals how we perceive the other person. Writing without a greeting signals distance. Making only demands establishes a power imbalance. Those who don't take responsibility for their own tone have already mentally withdrawn from the dialogue.

This is particularly evident in the digital realm. Anonymity lowers inhibitions. Pre-formulated phrases replace personal words. Communication becomes efficient, but empty. Function replaces relationship. What is lost is not information, but connection.

Between aspiration and expectation

A key shift lies in the difference between expectation and demand. Expectation allows for flexibility. Demand makes demands. Many orders today are no longer seen as decisions, but as options. Returns are factored in, patience is not. Any deviation from the ideal is perceived as a mistake.

This attitude creates pressure – on retailers, on service, on communication. It doesn't change the tone abruptly, but gradually. And it leads to responsibility being increasingly outsourced: to processes, to systems, to others.

Why niche fragrances require time and attention

This trend is particularly evident in the fragrance sector. A fragrance is not a technical product. It is subjective, emotional, dependent on skin, mood, and time. It demands engagement, patience, and openness.

Treating a fragrance like any other product means you won't understand it. Judging it immediately without giving it space means missing its depth. Fragrance is the antithesis of instant logic. And that's precisely why it so often clashes with today's expectations.

The invisible work of courtesy

What's often overlooked is the work that goes into professional friendliness. Staying calm when the tone becomes harsh isn't automatic; it's a conscious effort. Friendliness in business means giving space, even if that space isn't reciprocated. It means formulating responses where others only make demands. It means setting boundaries without raising your voice.

This work has become invisible. It doesn't appear in any process diagram. And yet it determines whether exchange remains possible or escalation occurs, whether contact develops into a relationship – or pure conflict.

The subtle counter-evidence still exists!

And yet, it would be wrong to paint a one-sided picture here. These surprising messages still exist. Personal emails, friendly, approachable, respectful. Lines that convey gratitude, understanding, and patience.

You read them – and for a moment your heart truly opens up. Not because they solve anything or demand anything. But because they show that there's another way. That politeness isn't a matter of age, origin, or education. But a choice. A new one every day.

A conscious boundary

This attitude also includes a clear boundary. Those who consider politeness superfluous, who understand communication solely as a demand, and who don't value a respectful tone, will probably not feel comfortable at scent amor. This isn't a criticism, but an honest assessment.

There are many providers who prioritize speed, interchangeability, and maximum efficiency. We consciously choose not to be one of them. We work with fragrances that require time – and with people who are willing to engage in respectful dialogue. We gladly forgo everything else.

Why this tone matters

This text is neither a counter-proposal nor a lecture. It is an invitation. An invitation to take language seriously again. To become aware of one's own stance. To understand that culture does not disintegrate on a grand scale, but on a small one – in emails, in sentences, in omissions.

Staying polite can be exhausting, especially when it's not reciprocated. And yet, it's worth it. Because of these bright spots. Because of these brief moments that show why you chose this path – and why you continue on it.

Thank you for reading – and see you next time.

Yours truly, Georg R. Wuchsa - Soul of scent amor

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