Little Sweatshop of Horrors

All of which could come as disappointing news to Jan Vollmer, but somehow doesn't. This is, after all, a woman who takes considerable--and understandable--pride in knowing that her sweat glands (not to mention other portions of her anatomy) have played a small but important role in shaping the personal-care-product landscape as we know it today.

"Well, the hot room isn't for everyone," she concedes. Then, forging ahead, "Maybe you'd do better in a patch study. What's your work schedule like? If you can get on a program that lets you come in right before or after work, you can really make some good money for not very much of your time."

After I promise to sleep on it, the product-testing dynamo makes a startling confession that temporarily unites us in the spirit of product-testing brotherhood.

"I guess everybody's got something they'd be uncomfortable testing," she says. "For me, it'd be an early morning breath study--oh, I think that'd be just horrible."

Pause.
"And feet, stinky feet. That and feminine hygiene spray.