Having been sprayed by a skunk in close quarters, I can tell you the smell is nauseating, noxious, putrid... I could go on... one more, malodorous. It is overwhelming, utterly overwhelming.
While your brain is trying to process this sudden mephitic whiff of Hell that has engulfed your olfactory system, your eyes suddenly start pouring out tears, you may vomit, and you will become dizzy and disoriented.
The source of this aroma? The set of two scent glands located on either side of the skunk's anus. The chemical name of the substance produced in these glands is N-butyl mercaptan, commonly known as skunk spray.
These glands produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as thiols, traditionally called mercaptans, which have a highly offensive smell. Muscles located next to the scent glands allow them to spray with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 3 m (10 ft) [1]
Putting aside the smell, as if you ever could, the spray can also irritate exposed skin and cause temporary blindness. It makes for an effective escape mechanism for a small mammal with average fighting skills, especially against a large predator.
It's worth noting a skunk usually doesn’t spray unless it's surprised or scared out of its wits. This could be because it takes several days for the skunk to replenish the supply in the scent glands, leaving itself vulnerable in the interim.
The thing about skunk spray is it contains several different chemicals that all need to be neutralized to get rid of the smell completely. The main one being thiols, a sulfur based compound that's also present in onions and garlic. It's not too difficult, but it is time consuming.
When I was sprayed, along with 2 others, we made up a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a few drops of Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid. It's important not to store this mixture in a closed container for future use as it carries a high risk of exploding. Mix it, pour it into a bathtub or spray bottle and wash yourself with it. Avoid your hair as the peroxide could have a bleaching effect. We used a mild detergent on our hair followed by loads of conditioner after we were sure the smell had been washed completely away. It’s wise to ask someone who hasn’t been exposed to the smell to make this determination. Olfactory fatigue can prevent you from accurately assessing the presence of the odor.
The story of how and why I was sprayed is here: Logan Forbes' answer to What does it feel like to rescue a wild animal?
Thanks for the A2A Viola
Read other related questions on Quora:
- What are some skunk smell remedies that don't work?
- What do you do if you get sprayed by a skunk?
- Which is worse, to smell of a skunk or to smell of urine?
from Quora http://ift.tt/2bVnTpq
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