Most animals will have a distinctive odor about them - dogs, even cats to a
lesser extent.  Kits seem to have a stronger musky odor than do adult
ferrets.  Most of ours grew out of it by 4-6 months.
 
I've found in older ferrets, the objectionable odor is a result of bathing
them too often.  The scent seems to reach a peak in the first 2-4 weeks
after the bath then subsides.  Unless we take one to a show, we don't bathe
ours more than a couple of times a year.
 
Do change the bedding often.  That seems to be the source of much of the
odor.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1428]