Mini Pig Smells like Syrup

Question
Why does my mini pig Sassy's back of her neck and head smell like maple syrup for at least 6 months (she is 1 year old)?  We feed her mini pig food and vegetables, not syrup!

Answer
Some mini pigs do have a strong maple syrup smell. It's a genetic trait. Only female pigs have a strong maple odor. Occasionally a male will have a faint maple scent. Momma pigs that have a maple odor are likely to have babies with the maple odor. The scent is usually strongest around the ears, so some people think the smell may have something to do with ear wax.

At this point nobody knows for sure why some pigs have this smell. Diet doesn't make a difference. The odor does not seem to affect the pigs health in any way.