Big Cats "Obsessed" over Calvin Klein Cologne

(CBS)  If you want a cologne that drives women wild, Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" may be your best bet. CBS station WBBM's Vince Gerasole was on the scent all day.

We're not talking about one of those Cosmo reader's surveys. The Wildlife Conservation Society is roaring about the impact of Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" in their work with wild lions, tigers and other big cats. Just ask the zookeepers.

If something's in the air at the big cat cage, the zookeepers put it there, and at The Brookfield Zoo, they've got a whole stash of high-priced perfumes to choose from. It's what keeps the snow leopards occupied and playful in parts of the exhibit.

"This bucket really represents a zookeeper's dedication to their job," said keeper Jay Petersen, as we rummaged through a bin that included scents like "Island" by Michael Kors.

Researchers are now letting the cat out of the bag. All kinds of wild felines with advanced senses of smell are attracted to a number of commercial perfumes.

"Different perfumes have a different response in the animals," said Petersen.

And while Fendi may be fetching, and Imari amusing, the hands down feline favorite is Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men."

"This particular scent seems to be strongly attractive to wild animals and what it is is somewhat of a mystery," said Petersen.

Seeing is believing. WBBM watched as a zookeeper sprayed some wood with "Obsession for Men", and seconds later a tiger released into the exhibit, made a beeline for the log. She continued playing with it until accidentally pushing it into the cage's moat.

This is the same "Obsession for Men" that is sensually marketed and sells for $60 a container, promising to bring out the animal in humans, too.

"Sometimes we don't know how to respond to it, but we respond to scents," said Petersen.

Obsession's recipe is a secret, but it's said to contain vanilla and hints of green herbs. Whatever it is, it keeps the animals occupied or amused for up to 10 minutes. In fact, our tiger was pining away for her scented log for quite some time.

Researchers say they aren't sure if the scents have a sexual impact, or if they trigger a playful or predatory response. Whatever the reason, most perfumes have the big cats occupied for just seconds -- but Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men" lasts much longer.

Local Video from CBS 2 in Chicago

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[FauxNews]

By the reaction, I'm guessing the perfume contains pig sweat.

[justy22]

I remember reading an article many years ago which said a key ingredient in many perfumes is "oil from the anal sacs of cats."

Ooh la la!

[NicOfTime]

Color me cynical, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was discovered that one of the ingredients, perhaps unbeknownst to the manufacturer, included some compound from a tiger's gland, extracted from poached tigers, no doubt -- and that the tigers are therefore reacting to the smell of one of their own.

[-SkirtLifter-]

cat urine is a common enough chemical in perfumes...could be that simple.

[bigreddog222]

Dang I thought it attracted cougars. My bad.

[FauxNews]

Funny :)

[mahdeealoo]

I believe there is some musk and amber in there. I like the scent and it reminds me of the musk oil and amber used as perfumes back in the late 60's.

[Arkajun1]

At least now we know what else is in the formula beside vanilla and green herbs....the harmonal excretions from a cat's sex gland. Sounds delicious.

[Myopinion046]

I don't wear that cologne, so no worries.

[I_am_me1953]

But the rest of us wish you would and the go play with the hungry lionesses.

[JustYourAverageReader]

I find any cologne offensive - especially in the work place.

[I_am_me1953]

That's ok, we find you offensive everywhere.

[RoboBlogger]

Take a wiff of Armani's "GIO" it'll change your mind. Obessesion only attracks "animals" that's about it.