I don't think I'd risk going near my boa if I smelled like ferret. They have a VERY strong feeding response, and even though ferrets don't smell like rat...I'm not sure I'd like to find out what my boa thinks of the smell.

They can be very sensitive to different smells. For instance, the one time my boa bit me was the day I came home from IHOP (which has a very strong smell), and snatched her out of her tank to show to a friend. The minute I reached for her she decided she wasn't into it. She didn't recognize my smell and panicked. Or, at least that's what I think must have happened. She was always a bit nervous around new smells and strange people though. So maybe it's just her.