Humans aren’t the only ones who can enjoy luxury scents. Essential oils and other high-quality fragrances can be as beneficial for pets as they are for their owners—if you use them correctly.
However, before you start using your favorite fragrances around your beloved companions, you need to make sure you’re choosing the right scents and following the right practices. Make the fragrance experience as safe and enjoyable as possible for every member of your household with this guide to safe essential oils and diffusers for homes with pets.
How Do Essential Oils Affect Pets?
Pets have a more heightened sense of smell than humans do, which makes them more sensitive to essential oils and other fragrances. Some scents are simply irritating when they’re too potent, but others can cause serious health issues such as respiratory issues, skin reactions, nervous system issues, and more.
That doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid essential oil diffusers, fragrance reed diffusers, or candles around pets, though. Knowing which fragrance ingredients are hazardous for dogs, cats, birds, fish, and other pets helps you choose the right scents for every member of your household.
Always talk to your veterinarian before using essential oils or other fragrance products to ensure you’re making smart choices for your pets. Additionally, look for high-quality fragrance oils, diffusers, and other products from trusted brands like Hotel Collection to make sure the products you use are safe for you, your pets, and everyone in your home.
Animals That Are Most at Risk
Any animal can have an adverse reaction to essential oils, so it’s important to always take care when using fragrance products around your pets. However, there are some pets that are more likely to run into issues than others.
For example, young pets, such as dogs or cats younger than ten weeks, are particularly sensitive to essential oils. You should also take special care around smaller dog breeds or short-nosed dogs who are predisposed to respiratory issues. Other animals that have a higher risk of reacting poorly to essential oils include pregnant animals, older animals, or animals who have or are recovering from illnesses or infections.
Keep in mind that all pets react differently to fragrances. A scented oil that’s safe for your dog might be hazardous for your cat and vice versa. Consider the needs and sensitivities of all your pets before choosing a fragrance solution for your home.
The Safest Essential Oils for Pets
There are a handful of essential oils that are commonly safe for a wide range of pets. In addition to being safe for many pets, these essential oils offer benefits for your furry, scaly, or feathery friends. The right fragrance oil can help calm anxiety or hyperactivity, soothe inflammation or skin irritation, ease nausea, help with aggression or distress, reduce joint pain, and keep pesky, biting insects at bay.
Examples of essential oils that are commonly beneficial for pets include:
- Cedarwood
- Cardamom
- Clary Sage
- Coconut
- Chamomile
- Frankincense
- Ginger
- Petitgrain
However, this is only a general rule; always check specific ingredients and talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s needs before using these and other fragrances.
Cats Are at an Increased Risk
Though the above essential oils are good for many pets, cats have particularly heightened sense of smell and are therefore more at risk of an adverse reaction to certain scents. Oils that are toxic for cats include:
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Wintergreen
- Citrus, including lemon, orange, and bergamot
- Pennyroyal
- Cinnamon
- Pine
- Tea tree
- Ylang ylang
- Rosemary
Some of the essential oils in this list are safe for dogs, birds, fish, rabbits, and other small mammals. If you have cats as well as other pets, take extra care when choosing your fragrances so you can pick a product that works for all of them.
Tips for Using Essential Oils Around Pets
In addition to choosing the right oils, you also have to use them correctly. Store your fragrance oils in a cool, dark place away from direct heat and sunlight to preserve the quality of the ingredients. Keep your oils, diffusers, and other fragrance products out of reach of pets to avoid accidental ingestion. It’s also important to pay attention to specific instructions and expiration dates on all your fragrance products.
When you use a new fragrance, start small with more subtle scents. Watch your pet for adverse reactions such as drooling, difficulty breathing, clumsiness or trouble walking, vomiting, and skin irritation.
Using Diffusers Around Pets
The type of diffuser you use is an important part of making sure essential oils are safe for homes with pets. Use a clean, waterless and heatless diffuser that doesn’t leave an oily residue, such as Hotel Collection’s cold air scent diffusers. Additionally, make sure your diffuser is out of reach of your pets and be careful with cords to avoid tripping hazards.
Use your diffuser in an open space that has plenty of ventilation. This will prevent the fragrance from becoming overwhelming for your pet. Additionally, remember that your pet has a more sensitive nose than you do; what’s subtle for you might be too intense for them. Keep the intensity settings low initially and keep an eye on your pet to make sure they’re adjusting happily to the new scent.
Using Fragrance Reed Diffusers Around Pets
Like with cold air scent diffusers, it’s important to keep your fragrance reed diffusers out of reach of your pets. Place them in the middle of tables, shelves, or counters where your pet can’t bump into them or knock them over. Keep your fragrance lighter and more subtle by using a smaller number of reeds initially to help your pet adjust to the diffuser.
Using Room Sprays Around Pets
If you prefer using room sprays to enjoy your favorite fragrances, avoid spraying too much or too often. This will help keep the scent from becoming overwhelming for your pet. Don’t spray directly onto fabrics your pet can bite, such as toys or pillows, because this can lead to accidental ingestion. Similarly, don’t spray onto pet beds, blankets, around food dishes, or anywhere else your pet sleeps or eats.
Choose High-Quality Fragrances
When it comes to using fragrances around your pets, quality is of the utmost importance. That’s why so many pet owners choose Hotel Collection fragrance products for their home.
Our luxury fragrances feature expertly crafted formulas that balance natural essential oils with perfume-quality fragrance oils. We deliver fragrance solutions that are vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and safe for your pets and everyone else in your home. Shop our high-end fragrance solutions when you visit Hotel Collection today.
