Yes Stinky is the name of my ferret.  Not very nice you may think because
it reaks of unpleasant odours.  It unnecessarily focussues the attenton of
the uninitiated to the typicla ferret smell.  But I did not make up this
name myself.  It was a Moroccan girl in the street who dropped my pet to
the floor waving her arms and shouting: but it stinks !'  The other children
consequently named my ferret Stinky and the name stuck.
 
I do have a very sensitive nose myself, but ferrets do not offend it as do
dogs.  Even if Stinky greeted me with a nausiating reek a few days ago,
after she had rummaged around in the rubbish bin.  My repulsion of the
stench was very clear even to (or possibly especially to) a ferret.  She
agreed, because she started licking and rubbing herself intensively and
willingly jumped under a running tape for a shower, which she rarely does.
 
Realising that Stinky cared about her BO, I started to experiment with
perfumes.  Some she likes and some that she hates.  She is not very fond of
fresh minty smells, hates eucalyptus or ginger, probably too pungent.  She
is not too keen on flowers either.  Vanilla is fine.  She likes the aroma
of thyme and rosemary, probably because it reminds her of running through
the herb garden, which see has been doing since she was a little girl.  Her
favourites however seem to be heavy aromas like cinnamon, frankincense,
myrrh and musk.  The last is used a lot as an ingredient for soap.  Maybe
that is why so many ferrets like to eat soap.
 
Does anyone else have experience with perfuming their ferret?  I never wash
mine with soap or shampoo (I'm very European) but she takes regular showers
with me for fun.  I don't want to rob her of her scents, but just add some.
 
The little madam has a lot of success with her fragrances. Her favourites
are very becoming on her. They mix well with the original ferret smell, so
we only have to use the most minimal amounts of perfume. Now when I
meet people in the street they say:
 
 What a nice animal, what is it called?
- 'It is a ferret and she is called Stinky'
- 'Stinky, I see, and does it...?'
-  Well, some people like the smell, here, put her under your nose.
- 'Oh but that's wonderful.  Ferrets smell great.'
 
Quod Erat Demonstradum
patrick faas
[Posted in FML issue 2876]