Odor is one of the major characteristics of animals - they use it either to attract mates for courtship, repel predators or to defend their territories. While most of the time animal smells offensive and awful, some animals produce scents that are so savoring that will make your mouth water.
Here is a collection of animals who emit smells that will make you think you're in the kitchen or in a snacks grocery store.
Yellow ants = Lemons
Yellow ants are also called citronella ants, thanks to the lemony scent they create whey they spray formic acid in self-defense. Most people notice the scent when they dig in the garden and uncover a colony, or crush worker ants underfoot. So if you're ever working in the yard and suddenly get a strong whiff of lemons, yet there's no lemon tree in sight, look for these little yellow guys running around.
Spadefoot toad = Peanut butter
Several species of spadefoot toad have a scent you'd likely never associate with frogs. They don't smell fishy or mossy or even noxious. When they're stressed, they exude a secretion that smells like peanut butter. It might seem alluring at first whiff, but these same secretions are an irritant that causes sneezing and burning eyes in anyone who comes in contact with it. It smells good, but it doesn't feel good!
Of all the things that the body fluids of a bearcat could smell like, perhaps the last thing you’d expect would be hot buttered popcorn. But if you walk past a binturong, that’s precisely the scent you’ll catch a whiff of.
When a binturong urinates, it gets it on its feet and tail in order to better spread the scent around, leaving little scented notes for other binturongs. Why exactly does this animal smell so much like popcorn? Because this animal share a chemical compound, 2-AP along side its urine.
“The chemical compound 2-AP is the same substance that gives fresh popcorn its yummy smell, according to the scientists,” reports National Geographic. “When a popcorn kernel is heated, the proteins and sugars create a chemical reaction that in turn forms 2-AP. In the case of the binturong, researchers think the compound may be produced when the animal's urine reacts with bacteria in the animal's gut, skin, or fur, or with other microorganisms.”
Peppermint stick insects = Peppermint
A peppermint stick that's alive! When disturbed, this green stick insect sprays a fine mist that smells strongly of peppermint and irritates whatever predator might be trying to make a meal of it.
They have great aim with this mist, so don't try to get in close for a sniff. You might get it right in the face! The video shows how skilled they are at using peppermint mist as a defense mechanism.
Copperhead = Cucumber
If you're close enough to a copperhead to verify this fact, you might be too close. According to the National Zoo, "The copperhead is the cause of many snakebites yearly but they are rarely fatal. Bites occur when people accidentally step on or touch the snake, which tends to be well camouflaged in its surroundings. When touched, the copperhead quickly strikes or remains quiet and tries to crawl away. Sometimes when touched, they emit a musk that smells like cucumbers."
Kakapo = Honey
This flightless nocturnal parrot has a strong odor that, unfortunately, makes it easy for introduced predators to find it. Some say it has a sweet, musky smell like honey.
Bed bugs = Coriander
The relaxing scent of lavender is a good smell to have in your bedroom, or the calming scent of sandalwood, or perhaps sage. What is not a good smell to have in your bedroom is coriander. If you catch a whiff of this spice, it's time to reach out to your insecticides.
Honey bees = Bananas
Butterflies aren't the only bug with an appetizing smell. Honey bees, including Africanized honey bees, release an alarm pheromone that smells like bananas. And if you're close enough to a bee to smell this, you might be in a spot of trouble. The pheromone attracts other bees to respond to the potential danger. If you're stung by a honey bee, you definitely need to wash your clothes as the pheromone can stay on clothing.
Beaver = Vanilla
Beaver butts smell like vanilla and the anal excretions are used in food flavoring. You might think we're just pulling your leg but no, it's true.
From a scent gland called castor sacs, located under the tail, beavers make a molasses-like goo that they use to mark their territory. But this goo smells a lot like vanilla. So much so that it has historically been collected for food flavoring and perfume scents.
