Residents of an Etobicoke neighbourhood are working themselves into a lather over the smell emanating from a nearby factory.

“It’s like walking into a wall of very strong soap,” said Joanne Currie, describing the scent on her street since Lush Cosmetics moved its factory to nearby Jutland Rd. three years ago.

Currie and other residents have been complaining to the city and the Ministry of Environment about the soapy situation since 2014. Now they’re considering taking their concerns into the courtroom.

“We can’t open our windows in the summer. There have been reports of headaches and migraines. One woman says she’s broken out in hives,” Currie said.

Lawyer Phil Trotter, who represents the residents, said Lush appears to be in compliance with municipal bylaws and environmental regulations. But, he said, other legal avenues are available to residents fed up with the smell of blueberry bath bombs.

“The common law of nuisance applies … as long as there’s interference with someone’s reasonable use of their property,” he said. “People say they can’t even have a barbecue outside because if they’re eating steak it tastes like soap.”

In an email to Metro, Lush spokeswoman Brandi Halls said the company is aware of the problem and met with affected residents last week.

In the past year, the company has taken steps to “reduce sound and scent from escaping the building,” Halls said.

Those steps have included “further sealing of the building and relocation of one of our production ranges.”

The company is “in the process of identifying and reviewing additional options allowing us to further reduce any impact on our neighbours,” she said.

Currie said she and others don’t want to wind up in court.

“I hope we can find a resolution that doesn’t involve anything legal,” she said. “We really just want the smell to stop.”