Heidi Norton
Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men is a popular fragrance for humans, but it turns out that big cats are also obsessed with the scent. The phenomenon has been observed in big cats in captivity and in the wild, with cats rubbing their faces on scented objects or licking them gently. This behaviour is likely due to a pheromone called civetone, a perfume ingredient that was originally sourced from small mammals called civets, which are prey to big cats. While the vanilla notes in the perfume may also be a factor, it is clear that Obsession for Men has a powerful effect on these large felines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Calvin Klein |
| Product | Obsession for Men |
| Target Audience | Men |
| Big Cats' Reaction | They rub their faces on the scented object, lick it, drool, close their eyes, go into a trance, and spend minutes rubbing up against the scented object |
| Big Cats' Attraction | The perfume contains a pheromone called civetone, which is a longtime perfume ingredient formerly sourced from small mammals called civets (big cat prey) and now made in labs. The vanilla notes in the perfume may also be a factor. |
| Usage in Zoos | Banham Zoo in Norfolk, UK, has solicited perfume donations for their big cats as they respond very positively to unique scents. Zoos spray perfumes on rocks in the cats' enclosures to keep them curious and engaged. |
| Usage in Wildlife Research | Wildlife Conservation Society researchers use Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" to attract big cats to heat-and-motion-sensitive cameras, helping them to identify individual cats and study their behavior. |
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What You'll Learn
- Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men is a favourite among big cats
- The fragrance contains a pheromone called civetone, which is sourced from civets
- Civets are small mammals that are also prey for big cats
- The vanilla notes in Obsession for Men may be the kicker for big cats
- The use of perfume in zoos is controversial due to safety concerns
Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men is a favourite among big cats
It is a well-known fact among zoologists and zookeepers that big cats go crazy for Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men. The cologne has proven to be a hit with captive big cats, such as cheetahs, lions, tigers, and leopards, as well as big cats in the wild, including jaguars.
The phenomenon was first observed in 2003 at the Bronx Zoo, where general curator Pat Thomas decided to test the effects of 24 fragrances on two cheetahs. The results showed that Obsession for Men was the clear winner, with the cats spending an average of 11.1 minutes savouring the scent. The big cats would rub their cheeks against trees that had been sprayed with the cologne, a behaviour that is likely related to marking territory and picking up reproductive cues.
Zoologists and researchers have since utilised this knowledge to their advantage. By spraying the scent in the areas surrounding heat-and-motion-sensitive cameras, they are able to lure big cats towards them and keep them there long enough to identify and study them. This technique has been particularly successful in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala, where the use of Obsession for Men has tripled the number of jaguars lingering in the vicinity of the cameras.
The reason for the big cats' obsession with this particular fragrance remains somewhat of a mystery. One theory suggests that it has something to do with a pheromone called civetone, a longtime perfume ingredient that is also found in small mammals called civets, which are prey to big cats. Another possibility is that the vanilla notes in Obsession for Men are particularly appealing to these animals.
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The fragrance contains a pheromone called civetone, which is sourced from civets
It has been observed that big cats in captivity and in the wild go crazy for Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men". The fragrance contains a pheromone called civetone, which is sourced from civets. Civets are small mammals that are also the prey of big cats. Civetone was once sourced from civets but is now made in laboratories. The presence of civetone, combined with the cologne's vanilla notes, may be the reason for its popularity among big cats.
The phenomenon was first observed in 2003 by Pat Thomas, the general curator of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. Thomas decided to test the effects of 24 fragrances on two cheetahs. The results showed that the cats spent an average of 11.1 minutes savouring the scent, rubbing their cheeks against trees that had been sprayed with it.
The use of Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" has since been adopted by researchers in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest protected regions in South America, to attract jaguars to the area around cameras. The number of cats lingering in the vicinity of the cameras has increased threefold, aiding researchers in better estimating the size of the population of these reclusive cats.
The appeal of Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" to big cats has also been leveraged by zoos to provide olfactory stimulation for their captive big cats, including lions, tigers, and leopards. Banham Zoo in Norfolk, England, has solicited perfume donations from visitors, as they have found that their big cats respond very positively to unique scents when sprayed in their enclosures.
While the exact ingredients and formulas of perfumes are closely guarded by fragrance companies, it is clear that the presence of civetone in Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" plays a significant role in its appeal to big cats.
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Civets are small mammals that are also prey for big cats
Civets are small, lean, mostly nocturnal mammals native to tropical Asia and Africa, especially tropical forests. They are related to cats and hyenas but are considered more primitive, with a longer snout and more teeth. The term civet applies to over a dozen different mammal species, mostly from the family Viverridae. Most of the species' diversity is found in southeast Asia. Civets do not form a monophyletic group, as they consist only of certain members of the Viverridae and Eupleridae.
The African civet, Civettictis civetta, has historically been the main species from which a musky scent used in perfumery, also referred to as "civet", was obtained. The African palm civet (Nandinia binotata) is genetically distinct and belongs to its own monotypic family, Nandiniidae. The Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana) belongs to a separate family, Eupleridae, with other carnivorans of Madagascar. The Malagasy civet was once placed in the subfamily Hemigalinae with the banded palm civets but is now classified as a member of the subfamily Euplerinae.
Civets have a broadly cat-like appearance, with a slender body and long tail, but they have several anatomical differences. They have longer muzzles, tufts of whiskers along the lower jaw, shorter legs, and five toes on their hind feet. They are also less obligate carnivores, so they have not developed the same dentition to shred meat. Civets are known to eat almost anything, including snakes, and they have an excellent sense of smell. They hunt prey in a stalking manner, like a cat.
Civets produce a musk, named civet after the animal, which is highly valued as a fragrance and stabilizing agent for perfume. Both male and female civets produce the strong-smelling secretion, which is produced by the civet's perineal glands. The use of civet musk in perfumery has been documented since at least 1599, when it was mentioned in Shakespeare's "As You Like It."
Palm civets, a type of civet, are adaptable creatures that live in forests and woodlands in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, southern China, the Philippines, and Indonesia. They have a pale brown or gray coat with dark flank spots and black stripes on their backs. Their faces have a masked, polecat-like appearance. Palm civets are known to eat rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, snails, and fruit, among other things. They are considered crop pests and are sometimes killed. The main natural predators of palm civets are large cats such as tigers, leopards, and clouded leopards, as well as pythons and large raptors.
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The vanilla notes in Obsession for Men may be the kicker for big cats
It is a known fact that big cats love Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men. This phenomenon has been observed in big cats in captivity and in the wild. The common reaction is that they start rubbing their faces on the scented object or licking it tenderly. This behaviour is attributed to a pheromone called civetone, a longtime perfume ingredient that was originally sourced from small mammals called civets (which are big cat prey) but is now synthetically produced in labs.
However, the real attraction for these big cats may be the vanilla notes in Obsession for Men. Ann Gottlieb, the "nose" behind the fragrance, describes it as a "lickable vanilla heart married to this fresh green top note—it creates tension." This combination of sweet and fresh notes may be what makes the fragrance so irresistible to big cats.
The vanilla scent in Obsession for Men has been known to spark curiosity in big cats, with some even drooling and appearing to go into a trance-like state. This reaction has been observed by zoologists and zookeepers, who have noted that of all the different perfumes they have offered to big cats, Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men is the clear favourite.
The vanilla notes in Obsession for Men have also proven effective in drawing big cats towards heat and motion-sensitive cameras. Field researchers have used the fragrance to capture footage of wild cats, with the scent holding their attention for longer than other perfumes. This unique attraction to Obsession for Men has made it a valuable tool for researchers and biologists studying these elusive creatures.
While the exact reason why big cats are so drawn to the vanilla notes in Obsession for Men remains a mystery, it is clear that this fragrance has a powerful effect on these animals. The combination of sweet and fresh notes creates a scent that is simply irresistible to big cats, providing them with a unique and captivating sensory experience.
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The use of perfume in zoos is controversial due to safety concerns
The use of perfume in zoos is a topic of controversy due to safety concerns and ethical implications. While some argue that perfumes can provide olfactory enrichment for animals, particularly big cats, there are valid worries about the potential harm caused by certain ingredients.
It is well-documented that big cats, including those in zoos and in the wild, exhibit a strong attraction to specific perfumes, notably Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men. This reaction is believed to be linked to a pheromone called civetone, a former perfume ingredient sourced from civets, which are small mammals that belong to the big cats' natural prey. The vanilla notes in Obsession for Men may also play a role in enticing these felines.
However, the use of perfume with big cats has sparked concerns among zoologists and zookeepers. Some worry that certain ingredients or chemical compounds in perfumes could be harmful to the health and well-being of these animals. This concern extends beyond big cats, as many perfumes contain animal-derived ingredients or by-products, such as beeswax, milk, honey, and even secretions from beavers and whales. The use of these animal products in perfumes has been criticised for potentially endangering species and contributing to animal cruelty.
To address safety concerns and ethical considerations, many perfume companies are moving towards synthetic alternatives or plant-based, vegan options. These alternatives aim to recreate the desired scents without causing harm to animals. For instance, synthetic musk ingredients or floral notes can be used to create vegan musk perfumes. Additionally, some fragrances now use synthetic ingredients to replicate leather scents without relying on animal-derived ingredients.
While the use of perfume in zoos may provide novel scents for animals, the potential risks associated with certain ingredients cannot be overlooked. It is crucial to prioritise the safety and well-being of the animals, and further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of perfume exposure in these contexts. In the meantime, zoos soliciting perfume donations or utilising perfumes with their animals should carefully consider the potential impact on the health and natural behaviour of the species in their care.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, big cats like lions, tigers, and leopards in captivity respond very positively to Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men".
Big cats like the vanilla notes in Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men". The fragrance contains a pheromone called civetone, which is sourced from small mammals called civets.
In 2003, Pat Thomas, the general curator of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, decided to test the effects of 24 fragrances on two cheetahs. The results showed that "Obsession for Men" was a clear winner, with the cats spending an average of 11.1 minutes savouring the scent.
The scent causes big cats to enter a trance-like state, with their eyes half-closed and drooling. They start rubbing their faces all over the scented object or licking it tenderly.
Fragrances are highly toxic according to some sources. The chemicals in perfumes can be classified as allergens, hormone disruptors, asthma triggers, neurotoxins, and carcinogens. However, it is important to note that the potential toxicity may vary depending on the specific ingredients and formulation of the perfume.
