A skunk.

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1860.  It is a vulgar mistake that the porcupine has the faculty of darting his quills to a distance, as the essence-peddler has of scattering his aromatic wares.—Knick. Mag., lv. 361–2 (April).

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1862.  

        Dough ’thout the emptins of a soul, an’ yit with means about ’em
(Like essence-peddlers) thet ’ll make folks long to be without ’em.
Lowell, ‘Biglow Papers,’ 2nd S., No. 3.    

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1890.  The doctor soon came hurrying back to say that the passage was disputed by a small but well-armed foe, and added that “as soon as that essence-peddler saw fit to move on, the major-general commanding would issue his order to march.”—Mrs. Custer, ‘Following the Guidon,’ p. 200 (N.Y.).

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