Understanding the Impact of Essential Oils on Pets
As a holistic health practitioner, I'm often asked about creating a calming home environment using essential oils. It's one of my favourite topics — but it comes with an important caveat that I always raise with my clients: what works beautifully for us humans can be quite different for our beloved pets.
Pets, especially cats and dogs, have metabolisms and sensitivities that differ significantly from ours. Knowing which essential oils to avoid diffusing around pets is genuinely one of the most important things you can do as a pet owner who loves aromatherapy. I learned this myself when I started rebuilding my home wellness rituals after my breast cancer journey — it made me far more mindful about everything I brought into my living space, including what my animals were breathing in.
Essential Oils to Avoid Around Pets
Many essential oils can be harmful to animals when diffused, inhaled in significant amounts, or absorbed through the skin. In my practice, I always share this list with clients before they set up their first diffuser at home.
Here are the key essential oils to avoid around pets:
- Tea Tree Oil: Widely used for its antibacterial properties, but research suggests it may cause neurological issues in cats and dogs.
- Pine Oil: That fresh, forest scent many of us love can lead to serious digestive upset in pets.
- Citrus Oils: Lemon, orange, and grapefruit oils — uplifting as they are for us — are considered harmful to both cats and dogs.
- Lavender Oil: This one surprises people. While many dogs tolerate it, lavender may not be suitable for cats, so please do check with your vet first.
- Peppermint Oil: A client of mine, a busy mum working in London, used to diffuse peppermint every morning to feel energised before the school run — but had to stop when she noticed her cat becoming unsettled. Peppermint can cause respiratory distress in pets.
- Clove Oil: Its warm, spicy aroma is lovely for us, but clove oil carries a risk of liver damage if ingested by pets.
Safe Diffusing Practices with Pets
I always say to my clients: you don't have to choose between your wellness rituals and the safety of your animals. You simply need a thoughtful approach. Here's what I recommend:
- Research first: Before using any oil, check its safety for your specific type of pet. Cats and dogs have very different sensitivities, and what's fine for one may not suit the other.
- Choose a quality diffuser: I love recommending the doTERRA Volo Diffuser to my clients because it allows for controlled, gentle diffusion rather than overwhelming the room.
- Always give pets an exit: This is non-negotiable in my view. Your pet must be able to leave the room freely. Never diffuse in an enclosed space where they can't escape the scent.
- Start low and go slow: Begin with the lowest concentration possible and observe your pet's behaviour before increasing anything.
- Watch closely for reactions: A client of mine, a teacher from Bristol with two rescue dogs, told me she noticed one of her dogs pawing at his nose shortly after she started diffusing. She stopped immediately — exactly the right call. If your pet seems unsettled, lethargic, or shows any physical symptoms, stop diffusing straight away and contact your vet.
Good ventilation is essential. I'd also suggest diffusing only for short intervals rather than running your diffuser continuously throughout the day.
Pet Safe Essential Oils
The good news is that there are pet safe essential oils that many people enjoy using in homes with animals. Here are a few worth exploring — always in consultation with your vet:
- Lavender Essential Oil: Many dogs appear to tolerate lavender well, and it's a firm favourite for supporting a calming home routine. I recommend the doTERRA Lavender Essential Oil 15 ml for its quality and purity. Remember, always check with your vet if you have cats.
- Frankincense Oil: One of my personal favourites for its grounding, centring quality — and it's generally considered to have a lower risk profile for both cats and dogs.
- Cardamom Oil: A gentler, warm oil that is widely regarded as safer around pets.
- Myrrh Oil: Traditionally valued for its soothing properties, myrrh has a low toxicity risk for pets according to available guidance.
A client of mine, a healthcare professional and dog mum from Edinburgh, now diffuses frankincense for 20 minutes each evening in her sitting room — with the door open so her spaniel can wander freely. She tells me it's become a lovely wind-down ritual for both of them.
Quick Reference: Oils to Avoid vs. Generally Safer Options
| Oils to Avoid Around Pets | Generally Considered Safer (with vet guidance) |
|---|---|
| Tea Tree | Frankincense |
| Pine | Myrrh |
| Citrus Oils (Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit) | Cardamom |
| Peppermint | Lavender (dogs only — check with vet for cats) |
| Clove |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use essential oils around my pets?
Yes, many people do — but it requires care and research. Choosing pet safe essential oils, ensuring good ventilation, and always giving your pet the freedom to leave the room are the foundations of safe practice. And please, always check with your vet if you're unsure.
How can I safely diffuse essential oils with pets?
Use a quality diffuser like the doTERRA Volo Diffuser, keep the space well-ventilated, diffuse for short intervals only, start with very low concentrations, and watch your pet's behaviour closely. Their comfort matters just as much as yours.
Are there safe alternatives to essential oils for creating a calming environment for pets?
Absolutely. Calming music, a cosy quiet corner, familiar blankets, and pet-specific calming products that don't contain essential oils are all worth exploring. Many people find a combination of approaches works best.
A Final Word from Me
Creating a nurturing, aromatic home is something I'm deeply passionate about — it was a cornerstone of my own healing. But I always come back to this: true holistic wellbeing includes every member of the household, paws and all. By being informed about which essential oils to avoid diffusing around pets and choosing pet safe essential oils thoughtfully, you can enjoy your aromatherapy practice without compromising your animals' comfort.
When in doubt, check with your vet. And as always, be curious, be gentle, and be kind — to yourself and to your furry companions.
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Written by
Gloria Halim
Gloria Halim is an award-winning, board-certified holistic health practitioner, women’s health advocate, corporate wellbeing strategist, author and TEDx speaker, specialising in hormone health, perimenopause and women’s wellbeing. She helps high-achieving women navigate hormonal changes, reduce stress, improve energy and feel more in control of their health through practical, natural and holistic approaches. Gloria also works with organisations to create holistic wellbeing strategies that support healthier, more engaged and resilient workplaces. A breast cancer thriver, Gloria’s own health journey inspired her to look beyond symptoms and explore the powerful connection between nutrition, lifestyle, stress and overall wellbeing. She is the author of Healing Foods Healthy Foods and host of the Beyond Hormone Symptoms podcast. Gloria trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). She also holds specialist certifications in hormone health, menopause coaching, essential emotions and aromatherapy.