Essential oils have been around and used for centuries for aromatherapy. Today, they have grown in popularity for their beneficial properties and pleasant scents. Many people use essential oils to boost their mood and improve their well-being, or to improve the air quality in their home. Essential oils can help create positive feelings, add tranquility and relaxation, and help to balance and uplift emotions. One of the easiest ways to use essential oils is by diffusing them into our environment. When essential oils are diffused, it means to disperse the essential oil into the air. Diffusing essential oils is a safe and effective way to enjoy their benefits without having to apply them topically.
Did you know that your dog can benefit from diffusing essential oils as well? Our dogs will experience many of the benefits that we enjoy when we diffuse essential oils. Diffusing essential oils around dogs can help calm and relax your dog, promote healthy emotions, support respiratory health, and more. Plus, we are half the equation! Our dogs sense and act on our emotions. If we remain calm and balanced, we help our dogs be that way as well. Diffusing essential oils is also a great way to purify the air and have a great smelling home, even with pets!
There are a variety of ways to diffuse essential oils around dogs.
The easiest method is to become a walking diffuser for your dog by wearing the essential oil yourself. This gets your dog used to essential oils in a safe way. When diffusing essential oils around dogs, it is important to take into consideration their sensitivity to essential oils.
Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is so powerful that they can detect odors that we cannot. This is why dogs are often used as police or search and rescue animals – their noses can lead them to clues that humans would never be able to find. When you wear an essential oil as a perfume, your dog will be inhaling the aroma!
Another way to diffuse essential oils is is to add a few drops of oil to an ultrasonic diffuser designed specifically for dispersing essential oils into the air. These diffusers release a fine mist of oil into the air, which helps to distribute the scent evenly around the room and also dilutes the essential oil for safe use as well. You can check out one of my favorite diffusers from Young Living™, The Desert Mist Diffuser HERE.
When diffusing, always make sure the room is well-ventilated and leave the door open so your dog can leave if they want to. Keep in mind, some dogs will prefer to stay with their owner no matter what, so keep an eye out for any signs that your dog isn't comfortable. For example; sneezing, watery eyes, scratching, pacing, or listlessness. It is important to start slowly and only use a few drops of oil at first. This will help to ensure that your dog does not have an adverse reaction to the scent.
If you're new to diffusing essential oils around dogs, start by diffusing a single oil at a time and a minimal number of drops. You can gradually increase the number of oils you diffuse by creating a blend as your dog becomes more accustomed to them.
Another option is to put a drop of oil on a cotton ball and place it in strategic areas in your home, or near your dog's bed or crate. Wooden clothespins work well too. You can also add a drop of essential oil to your dog's bedding or favorite toy.
You might be asking-Is it safe to diffuse essential oils around my dog?
Yes , diffusing essential oils around your dog CAN be safe. The number one safety factor is QUALITY.
When it comes to essential oils, quality is key. Not all essential oils are created equally and the industry is not well regulated as essential oils fall under cosmetics and trade secret laws. The plant’s location, climate, soil, age, as well as extraction methods and time, all play a role in the essential oil’s composition and potency. It's important to use essential oils extracted from plants that have been grown and processed without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals, and to do your research to make sure that you are using a premium, high quality, and pure essential oil. How do you do that-you ask?
Find a company that you trust and ask the following questions:
- Do you own your farms?
- Can I visit the farms?
- Do you have fully equipped labs?
- Do you have trained staff in aromas?
- Do you visit suppliers distilleries?
- Do you test for peak harvest times?
- Do you harvest at peak times?
- Do you discard mistakes?
- Do you distill without using solvents?
- Do you bottle your own oils?
Remember not all essential oils are created equally and using essential oils safely relies on using a pure, high quality, and premium essential oil that is carefully cultivated from seed to seal.
I use essential oils from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. They own many of the farms where their essential oils come from. I've actually been to several of them, and helped harvest and plant. Young Living™ has a Seed To Seal™ guarantee that you can read about HERE. If you want to qualify your own company, make sure to ask the above questions and that you get a yes to each and every one, like I have with Young Living™.
What essential oils are good for diffusing around dogs? Depends on what outcome you are looking for....here's a list of some of the essential oils I love to diffuse on a daily basis for me and my dogs based on desired outcome:
(For more information on each essential oil listed or to purchase the essential oil, simply click on the essential oil. This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission from your order at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business! I'm so excited to help you get started, that I'll connect with you once you order and send you something special!)
Calmness and Relaxation
Grounding
Balancing
Pick Me Up
Respiratory System
Immune System
Focus
Positive Atmosphere
Odor
So, if you are looking for another tool in your toolbox for your dog's health and wellbeing, give diffusing essential oils around them a try! Not only will you benefit by diffusing essential oils around your dog, you will also help affect their emotions in a positive way and support their overall health!
If you're ready to dive in and start using essential oils for yourself and with your dogs, check out my mini course "Oily Dog Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your dog...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
As the weather starts to cool and the leaves begin to change, it's time to start thinking about which essential oils best capture the essence of fall. From the warm, spicy scent of clove to the sweet, comforting aroma of vanilla, there are endless possibilities when it comes to creating your perfect fall aroma.
Since there are so many fall scents that can bring the outdoors in and make your home feel cozy, which essential oils are my favorite fall go to's?
Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Nutmeg, and Ginger essential oils are all great essential oil options for fall. Not only do they have warm and spicy scents that are perfect for the colder months, but they can also support your body and keep it above the wellness line.
Cinnamon Bark and Clove essential oil can be used to help support your immune system. Both oils are perfect for diffusing during cold and flu season. Nutmeg essential oil is a perfect addition for creating a cozy, sweet, and warm atmosphere in your home. Ginger essential oil aka the "oil of empowerment" adds depth and comfort to any blend. Inhaling Ginger essential oil may also help to ease motion discomfort and provide feelings of comfort when inhaled for digestion.
Plus, these essential oils can also be used in DIY recipes for everything from diffuser blends to room sprays, and even food recipes (if using essential oils labeled for ingestion). Download my free 'Essential Oil Guide For Fall' HERE for more inspiration.
Vanilla adds a warmth and depth to your fall blends. It's also perfect if you're looking to use a fall diffuser recipe reminiscent of baking like oatmeal cookies or pumpkin pie. Vanilla oleoresin used in diffusers helps create a comforting and inviting ambiance.
Orange essential oil will round out any fall blend. It has a refreshing, lively, and uplifting aroma that adds happiness to any fall recipe. It pairs well with the spicier essential oils and adds an inspiring and heartwarming component to a diffuser blend.
Cardamom has recently become a popular essential oil. Its warm, spicy-sweet aroma is also perfect for fall and winter diffusing. Additionally, research published by Cogent Medicine has supported "the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of Cardamom essential oil."
Black pepper essential oil also makes a good addition to your fall line up. When diffused, black pepper has a hot, dry aroma that warms the senses and can help to promote focus. Research published on PubMed.gov, found that Black Pepper essential oil and Ginger essential oil "significantly inhibited the growth" of certain bacteria.
There are so many ways to enjoy the scents of fall using essential oils! One of the best ways to enjoy these essential oils is to diffuse them into the air. This can be easily done with an ultrasonic diffuser. This electric diffuser disperses the essential oil into the air by using ultrasonic waves to create a fine mist of oil and water.
Check out one of my favorite diffusers, The Lucia Artisan Diffuser HERE. According to Young Living™ Essential Oils "Lucia Artisan Diffusers are handmade by master glassblowers, combining traditional practices with modern technology. To reach the status of master glassblower, an apprentice must complete at least two years of intensive training. In this time, each artisan is trained to know the molten glass intimately in order to work it into a final masterpiece." It adds the perfect fall ambience to your home.
If you don't have a diffuser, no worries, but you're gonna want one-lol. Other options are to add a few drops of your essential oil onto cotton balls, wood clothespins, or pieces of fabric and stash them throughout your home. For more ideas on diffusing without a diffuser, click HERE.
Making a room spray is another great way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils without having to use a diffuser. Not only are they easy to make, but they are also very versatile. Grab my step by step guide to making a room spray HERE. Then mist them around your home to enjoy fall scents. Room sprays make great homemade gifts too!
Essential Oil Fall Diffuser Recipes
Warm your home with these cozy fall essential oil blends. From pumpkin spice to chai latte, these diffuser recipes are perfect for the autumn season. Add them to your diffuser and enjoy the aromas of fall!
Orange Spice Essential Oil Fall Diffuser Blend
The uplifting scent of the orange is balanced by the warm spice of the cinnamon. This is a classic blend that is sure to please holiday guests.
-3 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
-3 drops Orange essential oil
Cinnamon Spice Diffuser Recipe
This recipe is great for warming up any room, and it also makes your house smell like holiday baking!
-3 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
-3 drops Clove essential oil
Essential Autumn Diffuser Recipe
This lively and uplifting blend is perfect to say hello to fall.
-3 drops Orange essential oil
-2 drops Cardamom essential oil
-1 drop Black Pepper essential oil
Allspice Diffuser Recipe
If you're looking for a slightly sweeter scent, this blend is for you. The nutmeg adds a touch of sweetness that takes the edge off the cinnamon.
-2 drops Clove essential oil
-2 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
-2 drops Nutmeg essential oil
Ginger Snap
Bring the aroma of fresh baked ginger cookies into your home with this essential oil blend.
-3 drops Ginger essential oil
-2 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
-1 drop Vanilla Oleoresin
Spiced Chai
Crafted with the most popular spices of a chai latte, this blend is sure to make your mouth water.
-2 drops Cardamom essential oil
-2 drops Clove essential oil
-1 drop Cinnamon Bark essential oil
-1 drop Ginger essential oil
-1 drop Nutmeg essential oil
Pumpkin Pie
There's something about the aroma of pumpkin pie baking in the oven that just screams fall. Lucky for us, we can create that aroma without baking a pumpkin pie-haha! Evoke the spirit of autumn with this blend of pumpkin spice wafting through the house.
-2 drops Clove essential oil
-2 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
-1 drop Nutmeg essential oil
-1 drop Ginger essential oil
Room Spray
Turn any of these blends into a room spray by tripling the recipe. Then add the essential oils into a 2 oz. glass spray bottle, fill halfway up with vodka and halfway up with distilled water. Shake well before each use. For a step by step guide to making a room spray, click HERE.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating your perfect fall aroma with essential oils. From the warm and spicy scent of Cinnamon, the uplifting addition of Orange, the sweetness of Nutmeg, or the comforting aroma of Vanilla, there's an essential oil for everyone.
If you don't have essential oils yet and want to get started today, I've put together a bundle of these fall favorites from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for your health! Simply click HERE and get started today. It also includes one of my favorite ultrasonic diffusers, so you'll have everything ya need. (This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission from your order at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business! I'm so excited to help you get started, that I'll connect with you once you order and send you some room spray bottles, you'll have everything ya need!)
Click HERE and get creative and enjoy experimenting with different essential oil combinations until you find your perfect fall scent!
So what are you waiting for? Bring some coziness into your home this fall season by getting your diffuser ready and grab these essential oils perfect for fall today!
Do you have some essential oils and wonder if you can use them with your dog? Or perhaps you are new to essential oils and don't even know what they are? You might be waiting to use essential oils for yourself or with your dog because they seem complicated or difficult to use. If you're an essential oils beginner, have no fear, as you don't need to be a rocket scientist to use essential oils! Just an understanding of a few basics and you'll be ready to get started safely. Essential oils can be uncomplicated, easy, and safe.
Dont forget to go ahead and download my free guide to using essential oils with your dog, click HERE.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquid extracts from plants, often steam distilled or cold pressed from various parts of a plant. I like to think of essential oils as the blood of a plant and no, plants don't have blood, but in many ways, essential oils do for the plant what our blood does for us. They bring and exchange nutrients and help to protect the plant and keep it healthy. Essential oils give the plant its aroma, play a role in pollination, and have varying benefits for the plant depending on its needs. Essential oils are the life force of the plant like our blood. Using essential oils is plant therapy :)
HOW CAN ESSENTIAL OILS HELP ME AND MY DOG?
Essential oils are useful for the whole family in a variety of ways. One of my favorite things to use essential oils for is to help our moods. When we smell an essential oil, it goes to the emotional center of our brain very quickly. This means we can quickly use them to affect our emotions by inhaling the aroma. Have ya ever noticed that if you are in a bad mood, your dog knows! We are half the equation in the household and using essential oils to keep us happy, calm, and confident, transfers to our dogs.
A study found on researchgate.net involving shelter dogs "suggested that the welfare of sheltered dogs may be enhanced through exposure to appropriate forms of olfactory stimulation. Lavender and chamomile appear particularly beneficial, resulting in activities suggestive of relaxation and behaviours that are considered desirable by potential adopters."
Running a diffuser during fireworks or thunderstorms can be an invaluable tool, promoting calmness and relaxation. Becoming a walking diffuser for your dog by wearing an essential oil as a perfume, not only helps your dog, but it helps you too. You can pick an essential oil for grounding, calmness, balance, energy, or even focus.
Essential oils are a safer alternative to many chemical products on the market today. For example, air fresheners. Using an essential oil and a diffuser in your home can keep your home safely smelling amazing, even with pets! They can be useful for skin, breathing, and your dogs coat.
ARE ESSENTIAL OILS SAFE?
What you need to know is that not all essential oils are created equally. Essential oils are a science and an art. You need to start with quality plants, grow them properly, harvest them properly, and then distill them properly.
Essential oils is not a well regulated industry. Governed by the FDA, they fall under the cosmetic laws which allow for the companies to not disclose all ingredients as trade secrets. Also essential oils is a booming market and many companies do not want to take the time to properly distill an oil or wait the reqiured amount of time for the plant to produce the best oil yield. Companies also can add ingredients to standardize an aroma since essential oils distilled from different crops of plants can vary in aroma due to environmental factors. Companies want to sell more and have a lower bottom line, and unfortunately this leads to adulteration in the marketplace.
The first place to start is to read the label. while not a fail safe(remember those trade secret loopholes), that gets us started in the right direction. If the labels lists other ingredients or has the word fragrance or essence in it, definitely pass. Also the label may indicate to not use with pets or to not ingest.
Next find a company you love and trust. For me it's Young Living™ Essential Oils. They own their own farms. I've been to many of them and actually helped harvest and plant. Young Living™ has a Seed To Seal™ guarantee that you can read about HERE. If you want to qualify your own company, use the questions below and make sure you get a yes to each and every question like I have with Young Living™.
HOW ARE ESSENTIAL OILS USED?
Essential oils are typically enjoyed in 3 ways; aromatically, topically, and by ingestion.
Aromatically, which simply means to inhale the aroma. This is by far the easiest and safest way to start using essential oils for yourself and with your dog. Simply open the bottle and smell. Or use an essential oil diffuser that transforms the essential oil into a mist. It's best to use an ultrasonic diffuser that doesn't use heat. It will have a metal or ceramic plate that vibrates and disperses the essential in the water and creates a fine mist. This is very diluted and a safe way to use essential oils for yourself and your dog. Use the minimum number of drops called for in your diffuser manual and watch for any signs of discomfort like watery eyes, confusion, itching or scratching. Keep in mind, your dog may choose to be with you even if they are uncomfortable. Always leave a door open and never enclose your pet in an area where they can't escape the diffuser if they want.
If you dont have a diffuser or are in a hurry and don't want to take the time to start one. You can use items like:
-cotton balls
-wood clothespins
-cork stickers
Simply add a few drops of essential oil onto the item, stash in strategic areas, and refresh as needed.
You can also make a spray by simply adding essential oils and water into a glass spray bottle and spritzing the area. For a step by step guide to making a spray, click HERE.
Your dog has a much better sense of smell than you and you can simply offer the bottle to your dog for a whiff without even taking the lid off. You can also become a walking diffuser by using diffuser jewelry or adding a drop to your clothes in an inconspicuous area (keep in mind some essential oils stain clothes). You can apply an essential oil topically or make a perfume to wear, which leads us to topical use of essential oils, the second way we can enjoy our essential oils.
Topically, which means to put the essential oil on. Another good option if properly diluted and pure. First and foremost, make sure you are using a pure, premium quality, essential oil. Then you are going to want to dilute it. Some essential oils can be safe to use undiluted but if you are just getting started, or using them with your dog, you'll want to dilute them. This is a good thing...your essential oils will last longer, you will have less of a chance for a reaction, you will be able to use on large areas, and it will be safer for you and your dog. Be sure to download my free guide to using essential oils with your dog, that includes my dilution chart, HERE.
The third way is ingestion, which means taking the essential oil as a supplement. There is some controversy surrounding this, but the essential oil company I like to use has a complete line of essential oils labeled for ingestion. Also, you and your pets are already most likely ingesting essential oils in the food products you are consuming. Rosemary essential oil is a common preservative in many dog kibbles on the market and you will often see essential oils listed as a natural preservative in food products for people and dogs. You just need to remember essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.
I recommend, especially if you are just starting out, that you get comfortable with using essential oils aromatically and topically first. Then if you'd like to use as a supplement, make sure you read the label and only use an essential oil labeled for dietary use like Young Livings Vitality™ line. It's also best to consult your veterinarian and work with a veterinarian trained in using essential oils in this way.
Phototoxicity
Some essential oils, notably most citrus essential oils that are cold pressed, can be phototoxic, which simply means they can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Bergamot is a citrus oil that can cause this sensitivity. Angelica, while not a citrus oil, is a phototoxic oil, so be sure to check the label. The label should tell you if the essential oil you have is a phototoxic essential oil. Citrus oils are fabulous and uplifting to use, so don't let that stop you, simply apply under clothing or at night time. Or use aromatically, instead.
HOW SHOULD ESSENTIAL OILS BE STORED?
Some essential oils will eventually degrade the plastic orifice that regulates the drops coming out, so store your essential oil bottles upright and with the lids on. Any essential oil you buy should be in a dark colored glass bottle and this will protect it from light. Store essential oils in a cool place as heat will degrade the essential oil as well.
DO ESSENTIAL OILS EXPIRE?
Essential oils do have a shelf life, contrary to popular belief. Depending on the essential oil, some seem to last for years, while others like the citrus oils, tend to oxidize and evaporate quicker, even stored properly. It's best to use those up within a year, and I keep my extra citrus oils in the fridge to help. I've reached for an older unopened bottle of Lemon before and found it half gone! Lavender essential oil seems to degrade the plastic orifice reducer rather quickly, while I don't notice a difference with other oils. Some essential oils become thicker and some thinner over time, as oxidation occurs. Are they still safe to use? I think so, but it does change the oil, so keep it in mind. Besides, the essential oils that don't work are the ones that aren't used, so get those oils off the shelf :)
WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS SHOULD YOU START WITH?
I recommend that you purchase a diffuser and pick a few essential oils to start with. My top 5 to start with for myself and my dogs are:
Lavender: A versatile essential oil, known as the 'Swiss Army Knife of essential oils', with a calming and relaxing aroma. A mild oil useful for skin, hair, muscles, and nerves!
Frankincense: I like to think of 'Frank' as the king of essential oils. Calming, grounding, and balancing. Many dogs love this mild oil. Good for skin and hair. Helpful with timid and shy dogs.
Peppermint: Can support virtually every body system from digestion to breathing. Makes a nice muscle rub or cooling spray in hot weather. Also useful for focus and energy.
Lemon: Perfect for focus, cleaning, and an uplifting aroma thats hard to resist.
Cedarwood: A mild, safe, inexpensive, essential oil that's great for the skin and coat. Has a calming, relaxing, and grounding aroma. Useful for outdoor annoyances.
The best advice is to start using essential oils now, before you have a problem. Especially if you are going to use them with your dogs. By using essential oils during a positive experience with your dog, you can anchor in those feelings so that when you need them during a stressful time , not only will the aroma help you but the feelings it evokes will too. Also start low, go slow, dilute, and observe. If your dog doesn't like an oil , keep going until you find one they do like.
If you're ready to dive in and start using essential oils for yourself and with your dogs, and you need some essential oils, I've put together a bundle of the 5 essential oils mentioned here and a diffuser from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. Simply click HERE and get started today. (This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission from your order at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business! I'm so excited to help you get started, that I'll connect with you once you order and send you something special!)
When I find an essential oil that I just love, I eagerly get to work figuring out how it can also benefit my horses and dogs. Vetiver essential oil (Vetiveria Zizanoides) just so happens to be one of my go tos! When I think of Vetiver, 2 things come to mind...calm and skin! Let's chat my best Vetiver essential oil uses....
What is Vetiver essential oil?
According to Young Living™ Essential Oils "Vetiver is a perennial grass native to the tropical regions of Asia and is now also cultivated extensively in Haiti. It has an extensive root system, making it a useful plant for erosion control. Vetiver essential oil is steam distilled from the roots of the plant, resulting in an essential oil with a deeply earthy aroma that can support a creative, calm, and focused environment for children and is a great addition to your bedtime routine. An important ingredient in several Young Living skin care products, Vetiver also helps promote the appearance of an even skin tone when applied topically."
What can you use vetiver essential oil for?
Vetiver is known as the "Oil of Tranquility" in India and is used in aromatherapy for relaxation. Vetiver oil benefits for the brain have also been studied as well as its effect on ticks, bacteria, and as an antioxidant.
Vetiver has a wonderfully dark, smoky, and earthy scent. If your a horse person and love the smell of Stubben Hamanol, I think its aroma is quite similar to this! This aroma makes vetiver essential oil perfect for meditation, calmness, relaxation, and quieting the mind.
Many horses that I offer it to, eagerly want to inhale the aroma and choose it over other essential oils. Another favorite is Cedarwood.
You can get started using it with your horses and dogs by simply wearing it as a perfume. Both horses and dogs have a way better sense of smell than we do! When you wear it as perfume, you become a walking diffuser for them. Plus, this will help you remain calm too, and you're half the equation.
You can simply add a drop to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and offer to your horses and dogs to smell. Let them inhale the aroma for as long as they like, then rub the residue on the back of your neck and pulse points.
It's also fun to create a perfume blend using Vetiver that you can then wear at home or when you head to the barn. A perfume blend will stay on the skin longer, and you can add additional essential oils that can also benefit emotions. Grab my free guide to making your own perfumes HERE.
I often make this perfume blend that adds the additional tranquil aromas of Lavender essential oil and Bergamot essential oil. (Bergamot essential oil can increase your sensitivity to sunlight, so use this perfume under your clothing.)
CALM.ALL.DAY.LONG Perfume Blend
Vetiver essential oil blends well with Ylang Ylang essential oil and Lavender essential oil. So, a few other perfume blends that I like to use are equal drops Vetiver with equal drops of either Ylang Ylang or Lavender. You can add a drop of each of the oils to the palm of your hand, add a few drops of a carrier oil, rub your hands together, and apply to the back of your neck and pulse points. You can also make this in a roller bottle for ease of use and to try different combinations.
10 drops Vetiver
10 drops of Lavender
10 drops of Vetiver
10 drops of Ylang Ylang
5 drops Vetiver
10 drops Lavender
5 drops Ylang Ylang
Add the essential oils into a roller bottle and fill up with a carrier oil. These roller bottles also come in handy for skin care. You can use it on your dogs, horses, or yourself, by simply rolling on the area of skin that needs help.
Diffusing in the house for my scaredy chi's can be really helpful too! Roofers, loud noises, fireworks, thunder, you name it-if it's loud- several of my chi's turn into shaking messes..breaks my heart :(....Running an essential oil diffuser can really support them during these times.
You can diffuse Vetiver alone, but I like to add a few other essential oils that seem to make a winning combo for my chi's....I also use these diffuser oil recipes for times when I have trouble going to sleep.
My go to Vetiver essential oil diffuser blends:
2 drops Vetiver
1 Drops Vanilla
1 Drops Myrrh
2 Drops Vetiver
1 drops Bergamot
1 Drops Cedarwood
2 drops Vetiver
2 drops Frankincense
2 drops Vetiver
2 drops Lavender
Vetiver is a thick oil and comes out of the bottle fairly slowly. To combat this and my patience, I took off the orifice reducer and lid and replaced it with an inexpensive glass dropper top. These are available on Amazon and I like to do this with all my thick essential oils such as Myrrh and Sandalwood too.
Making a salve is another easy way to help skin health with vetiver oil. Simply mix 5 drops into 2 TBS of coconut oil. Adding 5 drops of Frankincense essential oil will supercharge your salve. Did you know that a review of research on vegetable oils including coconut oil on PubMed, found that "In many cases, vegetable oils proved to be more effective than synthetic wound-healing compounds used as controls. The fatty-acid components of vegetable oils are assumed to play a major role in the wound-healing process, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid."
If you're just getting started using essential oils with your dogs and horses, be sure to download my free PDF guides.... everything you need to know like safety and dilution, at your fingertips....click HERE FOR HORSES and HERE FOR DOGS)
The information in this blog is not meant to provide medical advice nor be a substitute for veterinary care.
You may have heard of essential oils and that they can be used to help calm your horse. As an avid equestrian and horse owner, there's certainly a long list of situations I can think of that would benefit from that! Vet visits, farrier visits, clinics, horse shows, trailering, weather-who loves the wind #notme! Even grooming with some horses! If you haven't really heard of essential oils yet and are wondering exactly what they are, go HERE!),otherwise let's go over my top 7 essential oils I use to help calm my horses, and how you use them.
First, you might be asking, do essential oils even work on horses? That's a big yes from me...but don't take my word for it, according to ScienceDaily® "research recently published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science found significant signs of stress reduction in horses that inhaled lavender from a diffuser."
A study on PubMed.gov, using Ylang Ylang essential oil concluded that "These findings are likely to represent a relaxing effect of the ylang ylang oil and provide some evidence for the usage of the ylang ylang oil in aromatherapy such as causing a relief of depression and stress in humans." While this study was done with people, relaxing us is never a bad idea as we are half the equation with our horses and it's logical to assume that a relaxing aroma for us could be relaxing for our horses as well.
There can also be additional health benefits to using essential oils with horses. In addition to calming; insect bites, muscle pain, skin care, and our horses immune systems may benefit from some 'equine aromatherapy'.
If you go to PubMed.gov and put 'health benefits of essential oils' in the search bar, you get 302 results of studies done using essential oils for various health benefits. Many of these studies were done with people and on other animals, but it's a logical conclusion that horses could benefit as well.
So, now that you know essential oils can be a natural boost to equine wellness, you might be wondering how to use essential oils with your horse and are they safe?
Essential oils can be safely used with our horses. With a few key factors, such as quality, and dilution with a carrier oil, we can safely incorporate essential oils into our horses health care regime. To dive more into what you need to know to use essential oils safely and easily with your horse, download my free guide HERE
Not all essential oils are created equally! There is minimal regulation in the industry as they fall under cosmetic guidelines and trade secret laws. I like to use Young Living Essential Oils™. They have a Seed To Seal™ guarantee (check it out HERE) which insures that I'm using a high quality and premium essential oil that's safe for my horses.
Now that we know essential oils work, can be safe, and may be a natural solution with health benefits, let's get into how we can use them to help calm our horses.
Every horse is different and can respond differently to an essential oil. I find its best to have several calming oils to pick from. Then let your horses choose, and use the one that they like too. Remember we are in a partnership with our horse! The great thing is that when we use oils to help calm our horses, they help us remain calm and be a calm and confident leader! Thats half the equation!
Pick two oils from the list below and put one in each hand, then offer to your horse and see which one they smell more intently. Some of my horses actually try and grab the bottle from me, so hang on!
When our horses inhale the aroma, it passes over their olfactory bulbs and heads straight to the emotional center of the brain in about 5 seconds, this is the powerful part that allows us to use essential oils to affect our horses emotions quickly.
Let your horse inhale the aroma for as long as they like. Make sure that you get a nice long inhalation as well....how you are feeling affects how your horse is feeling!
Dont wait, start using essential oils now. If you get your horse used to essential oils now and use them during times that are positive and relaxing, you can anchor those feelings in. Then when you use them in a stressful situation, not only is the aroma calming, balancing, and grounding, but it can bring back all those positive feelings.
Once your horse has picked an essential oil, be a walking diffuser. You can do this by applying to yourself, making a perfume, or wearing diffuser jewelry, check out more info about this HERE
Another easy way to wear oils as a perfume is by making a roller bottle. Click HERE for a step by step guide.
When using essential oils to help calm our horses, having them inhale the aroma and us wearing it as a perfume, may be enough. If inhaling the aroma doesn't seem to be working, we may want an additional boost by using the essential oil topically with our horse. To do that, it's best to dilute the essential oil.
If you're wondering how to dilute essential oils with your horse, you can simply take a dollop or squirt of a carrier oil, like coconut oil, (for more info on carrier oils, click here) in your palm, add a couple of drops of essential oil, rub your hands together, let your horse inhale first..then apply to your horses skin. The chest or poll area work well. Be aware that if you are at a show, some governing bodies prohibit the use of essential oils (like Lavender) topically. In that case, let your horse inhale the aroma as many times as needed and make sure you are wearing the aroma as well.
What essential oils are calming for horses?
This is my go to list of essential oils horses tend to like and can work well for calming:
Valor is a go to blend for me from Young Living™. Containing powerhouse essential oils of Frankincense, Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, and Geranium. According to Young Living™ Valor® "was formulated based on historical writings about Roman soldiers who were said to apply plant extracts and botanticals to instill feelings of courage and confidence before going into battle, and a foundational daily blend that features a positive aroma to inspire confidence and courage.
I find this blend helps to overall balance my horses emotions. Remember our horses are half the equation. We are the other half and together, we form a partnership. We can use essential oils to balance and ground us and keep us calm, then use them to help our horses in the same ways too.
This list isn't all inclusive, it's my favorites that I've seen my horses gravitate to a lot. Each and every one of us is different and has a different dynamic with our horse, so don't be afraid to experiment or even just try the essential oil that you have and see what happens! Tree oils like Cypress, Spruce, Fir, Sandalwood, and Myrrh, can also be very calming to a horse.
If you're new to using essential oils with your horse, download my free guide where we go over what you need to know to use essential oils safely and easily with your horse, including safety and dilution, click HERE.
Horse health and dealing with their emotions can be tricky. Lucky for us, there are natural tools available that can help. Using essential oils as part of our equine wellness program can tip the scales in our favor!
If you're ready to dive deeper into using essential oils with your horse, check out my mini course "Oily Horse Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your horse...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
