Cape May Zoo: The Animals Would Love Your Old Perfume, Cologne

This is so wacky I had to search it to make sure that the Cape May Zoo wasn't joking.

It turns out it is not a joke, some zoo animals would enjoy the smell of your old fragrances.

Cape May Zoo is asking for donations of your old perfume and cologne bottles. It's okay if the bottles are already open, the animals don't seem to mind.

Cape May Zoo's Scent Enrichment Program

Michelle Valois, a Wisconsin zookeeper says that it's become an inside joke at her zoo.

"We joke that if you can find grandma's perfume that she's had for years and years, and it might not smell very good to us, there a good chance that the hogs are going to love it."

Cape May Zoo, like many zoos around the country, has been using scent enrichment for years, not just on the smelly hogs but on all sorts of animals from primates to big cats and bears, too.

Cape May Zoo shared a video of Roxy, the black bear enjoying playing with a perfumed ball recently and asking for donations of perfume and cologne, even partially used bottles.

Really? Perfume for animals?

"I think scent enrichment is a really good way to promote natural behaviors," says zookeeper Michelle Valois.

She says spraying the perfume, or scent enrichment, is meant to mimic something these animals do in the wild: Mark their territory.

"They are very scent-oriented and so anything that smells new or different and they kind of want to put their own scent on it," Valois says. "So scent really works into their natural behavior."

What Kinds of Fragrance Do Animals Like Best?

What kind of scent will the animals at Cape May Zoo like?

It seems like different animals may prefer different smells -- just like humans -- but one scent came up in searches immediately. Calvin Klein "Obsession" seems to be popular with big cats like lions, tigers, and leopards.

Cape May Zoo doesn't ask for any specific scent, saying only that name-brand perfumes and colognes are usually the ones animals like the most.

What if an animal doesn't like a specific scent?

It shouldn't matter.

Zookeepers usually apply the scents on designated objects, like Roxy's red ball, letting them investigate the smell at their own pace.

How to Donate Fragrances to Cape May Zoo

The Cape May Zoo's Zookeeper Jen says "You can drop off your donation at the Park Office M-F (except holidays) or at the Zoo Entrance, 10 am - 3:30 pm."