My lady friend has been using this, 1st time I used it, I recognized the smell...but couldn't put My finger on it. Last time it hit Me, Wesley's Bleche-White, same smell......& yes it has Lye in it......
I would wonder about paint damage? I use this from dollar tree to strip chrome from plastic model parts. Put parts in a glass of it and in about 5 minutes or less they are bare plastic, chrome is completely gone.