Best Essential Oils for Pet Lovers: Creating a Safe and Fragrant Home

As pet lovers, we want our homes to be safe for our animals in every respect, including the products we burn and diffuse. Candles add warmth and fragrance to a room, but some contain ingredients that are harmful to pets, so the choice matters. Here is a guide to scenting your home without compromising your pets' wellbeing.

What makes a candle pet-friendly?

Candles made from natural ingredients and free from harmful chemicals are the safest choice for a home with animals. Here is what to look for.

Safe ingredients to choose

• Soy wax or beeswax: these natural waxes burn cleanly, release fewer toxins and produce less soot, which makes them well suited to pet-friendly homes.
• Essential oils: choose candles scented with oils known to be gentler around pets, such as lavender or chamomile. They give a pleasant aroma and can have a calming effect on animals too.
• Cotton wicks: look for lead-free cotton wicks, which burn cleaner and produce fewer harmful emissions.

Every candle in our natural candle collection is made with natural wax, cotton wicks and pure essential oils, with no synthetic fragrance.

Oils to avoid

• Tea tree oil (melaleuca): highly toxic to pets, especially dogs and cats.
• Pennyroyal oil: dangerous to both cats and dogs.
• Citrus oils such as lemon, orange and grapefruit: can cause irritation or toxicity, particularly in cats.
• Eucalyptus oil: often too strong for pets and can cause respiratory issues.

With that in mind, here are the oils you can use more confidently.

Pet-safe essential oils

These oils are safe for most pets when used properly, and they offer benefits of their own, from calming effects to natural deodorising. You can buy them individually among our pure essential oils.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender is one of the most versatile and safest essential oils for pets. Its calming properties can help reduce anxiety and stress in humans and animals alike. Whether your dog gets anxious during thunderstorms or your cat finds travel stressful, diffusing a small amount of lavender can help settle their nerves. Lavender also has antiseptic properties, which makes it useful for minor skin irritations.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)

Chamomile, like lavender, is known for its calming effects, and it is particularly useful for pets that experience anxiety or hyperactivity. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is the variety most often recommended for pets, and it can help with digestive issues, skin irritations and stress-related behaviours. Diffuse it, or dilute it with a carrier oil for topical use.

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

Frankincense is another gentle, pet-safe oil with a wide range of uses. It is calming, it supports the immune system, and when diffused it helps create a serene environment that reduces anxiety in animals. It is also useful for skin health and can be applied topically, always diluted, to help with skin conditions or minor wounds.

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

Cedarwood is a good choice for pet owners because of its insect-repelling properties: it is safe around animals and helps keep fleas and ticks at bay. It also has a grounding, calming effect that supports restful sleep, so it works well diffused in the rooms where your pets spend most of their time.

How to use essential oils safely around pets

• Diffusion: keep the room well ventilated and always give your pet the option to leave if they find the scent overwhelming. A reed diffuser gives a gentler, steadier release than a heated diffuser.
• Observation: watch your pet's behaviour. If they sneeze, cough or seem lethargic, stop using the oil immediately and ventilate the room.
• Consultation: before introducing a new oil into your home, check with your vet, especially if your pet has existing health conditions.

A calm home for everyone in it

Enjoying essential oils does not have to come at the expense of your pet's health. By choosing gentler oils such as lavender, chamomile and cedarwood, and using them responsibly with proper dilution and ventilation, you can create a peaceful, aromatic home that suits you and your animals.

If you want full control over what is in the candle you burn, you can choose your own oils and pour your own blend at one of our candle making workshops in London.