Essential Oils and Pets: A Calm, Safe Guide for Dogs & Cats | B Calm UK

 

Essential Oils and Pets: A Calm, Conscious Approach

Our pets are family. They sit with us when we slow down, they sense when we’re overwhelmed, and they’re often the first to feel the impact of stress in a busy household.

As a clinical aromatherapist, a mum, and a pet lover, this is a topic I approach with deep care. Essential oils can be powerful allies for wellbeing — but when it comes to animals, less is always more.

In this guide, I’ll share how I use essential oils safely, gently and ethically in my own home with my two beloved companions:

• Pixie, my 15-year-old tuxedo cat, who curls up on my chest when I meditate
• Dolly, my 9-year-old Frenchie, who adores resting on her bed when frankincense is softly diffusing nearby

This is not about treating pets — it’s about creating calm environments they can choose to be part of.

Why Scent Matters So Much to Pets

Animals experience the world very differently to us — especially through scent. Research consistently shows that dogs and cats have 200–300 million olfactory receptors, compared to our 5–6 million. That means aromas affect them faster, deeper and more intensely.

This is why, at B Calm, we don’t use essential oils on pets — we use them to shape the emotional tone of the home.

Studies also show that living with animals reduces human stress levels, supports emotional regulation and even improves cardiovascular health. The relationship is beautifully reciprocal — when we create calm for ourselves, our pets benefit too.

This is exactly why my approach focuses on:

• Aromatic use only
• Short, gentle diffusion
• Open doors and free choice

Calm is something they opt into — never something we impose.

First Things First: Safety & Science

Animals experience the world through scent far more intensely than we do. Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors, compared to our 5–6 million. Cats also metabolise compounds differently and lack certain liver enzymes, which makes them particularly sensitive.

UK veterinary bodies such as the PDSA, RSPCA and BSAVA consistently advise:

• Essential oils should never be forced
• Direct topical use on pets should be avoided unless advised by a vet
• Diffusion must always allow animals to leave the space freely

Veterinary-led education consistently highlights that animals thrive best when essential oils are introduced slowly, respectfully and with choice. Observing body language — leaving the room, approaching the scent, settling or disengaging — is one of the most important safety tools we have as pet owners.

This is why my diffuser is always placed near an open doorway. Pixie comes and goes as she pleases. Dolly settles when she feels comfortable. Their behaviour tells me everything I need to know.

This is why at B Calm, we focus on:

✨ Aromatic use only
✨ Low doses
✨ Choice and observation

How I Use Essential Oils at Home with Pixie & Dolly

My diffuser is never about filling a room with scent.

It’s about setting a tone.

In the evenings, I’ll often diffuse while I sit quietly — sometimes journaling, sometimes meditating. The diffuser is placed near the door, never in a closed room.

Pixie will often jump up onto my chest, purring softly, and if she’s had enough, she simply leaves. That choice is everything.

Dolly prefers her bed. When frankincense is diffusing gently, she settles more deeply, breathing slower, eyes half-closed. No oils on her skin. No oils on her fur. Just a calm atmosphere. That’s the B Calm way.

Managing Stress in Pets — Gently and Naturally

Just like us, pets absorb stress from their environment. Changes in routine, busy households, noise, emotional tension — all of this can show up as restlessness, withdrawal, digestive upset or disrupted sleep.

Veterinary-informed aromatherapy education highlights that calming aromas can help support the nervous system by influencing the limbic brain — the emotional centre shared by both humans and animals.

This is where essential oils can be most supportive — not as treatment, but as part of a calming ritual.

In my home, this looks like:

• Soft lighting in the evening
• Quiet time after dinner
• A diffuser running for 10–15 minutes only
• Familiar, gentle oils like Lavender and Frankincense

Pixie often curls up on my chest while I breathe slowly. Dolly settles into her bed nearby. The house exhales — and so do we.

The Essential Oils I Use Around Pets (From My Collection)

These oils are used aromatically only, in very small amounts:

• Lavender – calming, familiar, gentle
• Frankincense – grounding and emotionally supportive
• Geranium – balancing and comforting
• Sweet Orange – uplifting, soft and cheerful
• Lemon – fresh, clean (used briefly and sparingly)

⚠️ Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree & Live Calm

These oils are not diffused when pets are resting nearby. If used at all, it’s very briefly, with doors wide open and pets choosing another room. UK veterinary guidance flags these as potentially irritating for animals if overused.

DIY Pet-Safe Calming Blends (Aromatic Only)

🌿  Gentle Evening Calm Diffuser Blend

Perfect for winding down at home.

• 1 drop Lavender
• 1 drop Frankincense

Diffuse for 10–15 minutes only, with the door open.

Why it works:

Lavender has been widely studied for its calming effects on the nervous system, while frankincense supports emotional grounding through the limbic system (the part of the brain linked to stress and emotion).

🌸 Soft Comfort Blend (Very Gentle)

For emotionally sensitive pets or older animals.

• 1 drop Geranium
• 1 drop Lavender

Rest Calm:

• 2 drops (geranium, frankincense and lavender blend)

This is one I reach for when the house feels busy or overstimulating.

🍊 Happy Home Blend (Daytime Only)

Light, uplifting and subtle.

• 1 drop Sweet Orange
• 1 drop Frankincense

Breathe Calm:

• 2 drops (sweet orange, frankincense and lavender blend)

Diffuse briefly during the day — never continuously.

Research into aromatic exposure shows that brief, low-dose diffusion can positively influence emotional regulation without overwhelming sensitive nervous systems — particularly when animals are free to leave the space.

Important What-Not-To-Do

❌ Do not apply essential oils directly to your pet
❌ Do not diffuse continuously
❌ Do not trap pets in a closed room
❌ Do not assume “natural” means safe

Signs a pet may be uncomfortable include:

• Leaving the room
• Sneezing, drooling, pawing at the face
• Lethargy or restlessness

If this happens, stop diffusing immediately and ventilate the space.

Veterinary education consistently cautions against overuse, forced exposure or continuous diffusion. More scent does not equal more benefit — in fact, restraint is where safety lives.

Why This Matters

Stress doesn’t just affect us — it affects our animals too.

By slowing down, simplifying, and choosing gentle aromatic rituals, we can support a calmer home environment that benefits everyone — paws included.

At B Calm, we believe in:

🌿 Respecting the intelligence of animals
🌿 Honouring choice
🌿 Using plants wisely, not excessively

That’s how calm becomes a lifestyle — not just a scent.

A Calmer Home Is a Kinder Home

Pets are closer to the ground, closer to surfaces, and far more exposed to household products than we are. Reducing synthetic fragrance, harsh cleaners and artificial air fresheners can significantly lower stress on their systems.

This is one reason I choose essential oils carefully — not to mask smells, but to replace synthetic scent with simplicity.

Sometimes calm is less doing — not more.

A Final Note from Me

Essential oils are not about fixing our pets. They are about supporting the spaces we share — so everyone feels safe, settled and at ease.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

If you ever feel unsure, trust your pet — they’ll always tell you what they need.

And if you’d like help choosing oils or creating calm rituals that work for your home, I’m always here.

With calm,
Becky x

Founder, B Calm 🤍

⸻

Research & Further Reading

The information shared in this blog is grounded in current UK veterinary guidance, aromatherapy best practice and peer-reviewed research. If you’d like to explore the science and safety considerations further, these trusted resources may be helpful.

---

UK Veterinary & Animal Welfare Guidance

• PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals)
  Are essential oils safe for pets?
  https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/other-veterinary-advice/are-essential-oils-safe-for-pets

• PDSA – Cats and Essential Oils
  Guidance on feline sensitivity, exposure routes and warning signs
  https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/kittens-cats/cats-and-essential-oils

• RSPCA UK
  Household hazards and pets
  https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/environment/householdhazards

• BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association)
  Position statements on animal welfare and complementary approaches
  https://www.bsava.com/library/

---

Scientific & Aromatherapy Research

• Lis-Balchin, M. (2006). Aromatherapy Science
  Foundational text on essential oil chemistry, olfaction and safe use.

• Buckle, J. (2015). Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Healthcare
  Explores limbic system responses to aroma and emotional wellbeing.

• Herz, R.S. (2009). Aromatherapy: Facts and Fictions
  Chemical Senses Journal
  Research on aroma, mood and emotional processing.

• Tisserand, R. & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety (2nd ed.)
  Global reference for contraindications, exposure and aromatic use.

---

Animal Olfactory & Behavioural Science

• Horowitz, A. (2016). Being a Dog
  Insight into canine olfactory sensitivity and scent perception.

• Applied Animal Behaviour Science (ScienceDirect)
  Research on how calming aromas (including lavender) influence canine behaviour in shelter environments.

• National Geographic – Animal Smell Science
  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/dog-cat-smell-senses

---

Veterinary Toxicology & Safety Perspectives

• MSD Veterinary Manual – Essential Oil Toxicology
  https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/toxicoses-from-household-hazards/toxicoses-from-essential-oils-in-animals

• NAHA – Animal Aromatherapy Safety Guidelines
  https://naha.org/assets/uploads/Animal_Aromatherapy_Safety_NAHA.pdf

• PetSci (UK)
  Are essential oils safe for dogs?
  https://petsci.co.uk/advice/essential-oils-safe-dogs/

---

Important Note

Essential oils are not a substitute for veterinary care. This blog is intended to support a calm home environment using gentle aromatic rituals only. Always consult your vet if your pet has health conditions, is elderly, pregnant, or on medication.

Diffusion does not guarantee zero risk — use only small amounts, in well-ventilated spaces, with pets free to leave at all times.