Essential Oils to Avoid Around Dogs
Essential oils flagged as not suitable to use around dogs. Dogs can be harmed by oils applied to them, licked, spilled, or heavily diffused. 48 oils listed.
Not veterinary advice. Never apply essential oils to dogs without guidance; diffuse only briefly in a ventilated space, and consult a veterinarian.
Scale amounts to any container with the dilution calculator.
| Oil | Aroma family | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch (Sweet) | Minty | Avoid | Avoid |
| Birch Tar (Rectified) | Woody | Avoid | Avoid |
| Bitter Almond (FFPA) | Specialty | Avoid | Avoid |
| Black Copal Resinoid | Resinous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Black Currant Bud Absolute | Green | Avoid | Avoid |
| Boronia Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Bran Absolute | Specialty | Avoid | Avoid |
| Buchu Leaf | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Cade | Woody | Avoid | Avoid |
| Calamus / Sweet Flag | Spicy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Carnation Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Cassie Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Choya Ral | Resinous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Cinnamon Bark | Spicy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Cognac Absolute | Specialty | Avoid | Avoid |
| Cyclamen | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Elecampane | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Eucalyptus (Peppermint/Dives) | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Fig Leaf Absolute | Green | Avoid | Avoid |
| Gardenia Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Genet Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Gurjum Balsam | Resinous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Honeysuckle Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Hyacinth Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Jonquil Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Lemongrass | Citrus | Avoid | Avoid |
| Lilac | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Lily of the Valley / Muguet | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Linden Blossom Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Massoia Bark | Woody | Avoid | Avoid |
| Narcissus Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Oakmoss Absolute | Earthy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Oregano | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Papyrus | Green | Avoid | Avoid |
| Peony | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Rose de Mai Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Saffron CO2 | Spicy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Savory (Winter) | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Sweet Pea | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Tagetes (Marigold) | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Tea Tree | Green | Avoid | Avoid |
| Thuja / Cedar Leaf | Woody | Avoid | Avoid |
| Thyme (Thymol) | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
| Treemoss Absolute | Earthy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Violet Flower Absolute | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Wintergreen | Minty | Avoid | Avoid |
| Wisteria | Floral | Avoid | Avoid |
| Wormwood | Herbaceous | Avoid | Avoid |
How these figures are sourced is explained in our safety-data methodology.