Are Fragrance Oils Safe For Dogs?
No, fragrance oils are not safe for dogs … and they’re not safe for people either. These chemicals can cause all sorts of health issues. Here are some of the worst ones.
One of the most serious issues with many artificial fragrances is the way they mimic various hormones in the body. They then hook onto receptors for those hormones and cause all sorts of problems.
The chemicals in fragrance oils for dogs are implicated in cancers, birth defects, developmental disorders, neurological damage and immune system disruption. I’m one of many veterinarians who believes these substances are often a factor in many chronic illnesses in dogs.
So, how do you avoid them?
Artificial fragrances are everywhere … lurking in just about any household or personal product you can think of …
The secret to finding them is to become an avid label reader. If you see the word fragrance or parfum on a label, the product contains artificial fragrances.
I strongly recommend that you detox your life from all of them. Find them and throw them all in the trash.
Be ruthless! All of your cosmetics, skin products and perfumes are highly likely to contain artificial fragrances… and yes, this includes the super expensive ones. Shed a tear but do it for your dog’s sake – in the bin they go!
Go through your house and get rid of shampoos, conditioners and hair sprays.
Air fresheners … especially the plug-in ones that pump out a spray of that vile smelly stuff at regular intervals, and the ones with wands that stand up in the bottle.
Laundry products, cleaning products, dish detergents, ironing sprays, scented candles, and so on.
Read Every Label Treat every scented product you buy with the utmost suspicion. You’ll need to read the labels of everything!
Watch for that red flag … the word fragrance or parfum. You may need a magnifying glass for this job. The writing is often so small it isn’t readable. It’s not just your own products. Don’t forget to check all your dog shampoos as well.
Your groomer may use products with artificial fragrances too. Ever notice that salon smell your dog comes home with? It’s probably fake. So buy some natural shampoo and ask your groomer to use it next time. Ask her to skip the after-grooming cologne spritz too!
You’ll probably find a LOT of products that are actually poisonous to you and your pets. You you may be very attached to some of them … especially your own perfumes and beauty products.
But never fear, there are healthy alternatives!
DNM RECOMMENDS: For your dog’s bathtime, try a safe, all-natural organic shampoo like 4-Legger Dog Shampoo. Buy 4-Legger now >>
Replace the artificial fragrances with products that contain only 100% natural scents. Beware products that say nature identical. These are synthetic and will nearly always contain unsafe contaminants.
100% pure organic essential oils are your best bet … but be aware that some essential oils may harm your dog. Some to avoid are:
Many oils are safe, but be sure to do your research and only buy essential oils safe for dogs! Don’t be surprised if you find some of these unsafe essential oils in your dog’s natural insect repellents or shampoos. Ditch those as well.
Caution: A Word About Diffusing Essential Oils Essential oils are energetically very powerful for animals. So please don’t diffuse essential oils in your home without giving your pets a way to leave the room. They need an escape route if they don’t like the scent … or it makes them feel ill. This is also true if you burn candles with essential oils.
I don’t recommend any essential oils from MLMs (multilevel marketing companies). They are generally hideously overpriced … and may not be as “pure” as they say they are.
There are plenty of great sources for organic 100% pure essential oils that are safe for dogs. Simply google organic pure essential oils and your country name and you’ll find lots of options.
Natural Options To Replace Artificial Fragrance OilsSo, how can you find fragrances safe for dogs? Here are a few products with natural scents.
There are plenty of other options out there if you’re willing to dig in and do some research.
A note for our readers: If you have an urgent question and are unable to ask your veterinarian, you can use the Ask a Vet service that will give you access to a veterinarian for 7 days for $1.
Our mission is to help save dogs and cats’ lives through our educational content. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases – at no cost to you.
Beth Turner is a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience. She graduated from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine and following graduation, she began her career as an associate veterinarian and worked closely with the local shelter.
In 2007 she accomplished her dream of practice ownership, designing and building her own clinic. Another meaningful role, while running her clinic, was serving as her countys shelter veterinarian. This gave her the opportunity to help improve the lives of many animals in her community as well as work with the rescue she loved. She sold her practice in 2019 to move across the country.
Pet Safe Essential Oils for Diffuser: Dogs
Essential oils that are safe for dogs include:
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Pet owners know what a bad smell is â from an uncleaned cat litter box to a muddy pup, some pet smells are just unbearable at times. Thatâs where air fresheners and candles come in. Pet-safe air fresheners and pet-safe candles can really do wonders for your home as far as smells go, but you need to know what youâre looking for so both your nose and your pet are happy campers.
There are certain things to look out for in your search for good pet-friendly products. For example, when it comes to pet-safe candles, stay away from paraffin wax and reach for those made from soy, vegetable, or beeswax instead. When it comes to pet-safe plug in air fresheners and pet-safe essential oils, choose options that use naturally derived ingredients instead of chemicals, and make sure the essential oils you pick arenât harmful to your animals. Keep reading on to see our list of the best pet-safe air fresheners and candles and see answers to frequently asked questions from the Grove community.
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