This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get, and the answer is yes...BUT!
But what?!
There are 2 key factors when using essential oils with dogs:
1- Quality
2-Dilution
Lets talk quality:
Not all essential oils are created equally! Currently essential oils are regulated in the cosmetic industry under the FDA. This means that, in my opinion, there is little regulation. A product does not have to contain 100% of the ingredient on the label. For example, you can pick up a bottle with the label Lavender essential oil, yet it may only have 5% Lavender in it.
Creating essential oils is a science and an art. There are many factors that include planting the plant, then harvesting the plant, then distilling the plant. Certain plants need harvested at certain times, or a certain way such as handpicking of flowers. Time in the distiller as well as temperature also make a difference.
This is why you can buy a pure essential oil from 2 different harvests of the plant material, and there can be differences in the aroma. Soil quality and weather even play a role. Due to this, some companies want to standardize an aroma and therefore alter the finished product.
What can you do? For starters, READ the label! This will give you an idea of what is in the product you are buying, and usage recomendations. Avoid any product that has the word fragrance on the label. This is not an essential oil and this simple word can mean the product could contain hundreds of chemicals that are contained in the fragrance.
Unfortunately, reading the label is a place to start, but not a fail safe. Trade secret laws in the cosmetic industry allow companies to not disclose all ingredients, and quality factors such as soil, distillation time, etc. are not reflected on the label. I recommend you buy premium essential oils from a company you trust. Here is a list of questions to ask your essential oil company:
I recommend Young Living™ Essential Oils. They give a Seed To Seal™ guarantee that you can read more about HERE. In fact, I will only use Young Living™ Essential Oils with my dogs because I never worry that I am not getting 100% pure premium essential oil. I've been to several of the farms..even one in Croatia! This open door policy allows you to see firsthand what it takes to make an essential oil and that Young Living™ is dedicated to a 100% pure and premium essential oil. They even have a product line created specifically for pets!
Now let's talk more about dilution:
There are 3 ways we can use essential oils with our dogs:
- Aromatically
- Topically
- As a supplement
If you are using a premium 100% pure essential oil such as Young Living™ you can use all 3 methods with dogs. I recommend you start with aromatically which is simply allowing your dog to inhale the aroma. You do not need to dilute because you are not putting the essential oil on.
To use essential oils aromatically, you can:
Wear as a perfume. It is the easiest way to get started using essential oils with your dog. Their sense of smell is much more than ours and this allows your dog to get comfortable with the different aromas.
Use a diffuser-ultrasonic diffusers are generally best as they do not use heat to disperse the essential oil and the diffuser dilutes the essential oil as it is misted into the environment making it a safe way to use. Always provide your dog an out if they choose to not be near the aroma, and keep in mind that some dogs will choose to stay with us even if the aroma is one they don't like or causing some irritation. Watch your dog for signs of discomfort such as itching, watery eyes, coughing, or sneezing.
If you do not have a diffuser, you can make a spritzer to mist the area. You can also drop several drops onto cotton balls or wooden clothespins and stash in strategic areas as well.
You can also let your dog smell from the bottle, you don't even need to open it....remember they have an amazing sense of smell!
Now let's talk about putting essential oils on our dogs. This is where dilution really comes into play. Why would we want to do that? Because essential oils are powerful extracts from plants and have properties that can be beneficial to health. The molecules are also very small meaning that they are quickly and easily absorbed thru the skin, making them ideal for use.
Since essential oils are so concentrated, after the initial investment of purchasing the essential oil, they can be very cost effective, as you only need a drop or 2 diluted to be effective. You want to start low and go slow. Applying a small amount more frequently rather than a large amount all at once.
If your dog is older, maybe a bit stiff, or recovering from an injury, essential oils can support the muscle and bones. Essential oils can be used for skin and coat care, or even for a minor owie or irritation. Applying essential oils along your dogs spine can be done to support general health. Essential oils are not a substitute for proper veterinary care and should never be used in lieu of veterinary services.
It is of the utmost importance that you are using a high quality premium essential oil and that you dilute it properly for application before you put the essential oil on your dog! How do you dilute? You simply mix the essential oil with a carrier oil (olive oil or coconut oil work well and you probably already have them in your pantry). For more info on carrier oils click HERE.
How much do you dilute? Depends on the essential oil being used, your dogs size, age, and health. Some dogs will need more dilution and with some dogs, you can use less. For my dilution guidelines, click HERE.
You can also use an essential oil products that are specifically labeled for use with pets and follow the instructions on the label, such as Young Living's Animal Scents™ product lIne. This product line includes essential oil blends and essential oil infused products created specifically for your pet. They are a safe solution that can be used for grooming, comforting, and treating your fur kids.
Not only is this product line specifically formulated for pets, a portion of all proceeds from the Animal Scents™ products goes to support Vital Ground, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the habitat of grizzly bears and other wide-roaming wildlife.
To learn more about the Animal Scents™ line, click HERE
Using essential oils with your dog can be safe, fun, and effective if you use a high quality premium essential oil, dilute, start low and go slow, and observe!
If you are ready to get started using essential oils with your dog, click HERE and grab my free guide to safely get started!
It's no secret I don't like to cook...but I love to eat a flavorful dish, especially one that's healthy for me. There in lies the dilemma-how do you create a next level dish full of flavor by just throwing a few ingredients together (my style of cooking-lol) ?!
Easy! You add essential oils! Only use essential oils labeled for ingestion, though! Read your labels! I like and use Young Living's Vitality™ Line. A full line of essential oils labeled specifically for ingestion! If you don't have essential oils yet and want to grab some for the below recipes, click HERE, it’ll take ya to a bundle I created listing all of the essential oils used in the recipes below, from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. Simply pick which ones you’d like, add to the cart, and check out! Easy peasy and thanks for supporting my small business! (This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission from your order at no cost to you.)
How do you add the essential oils? Glad you asked :)
One way is by infusing your olive oil. This makes it super easy to add flavor to any meal, whether you are cooking it or buying it ready made. Once infused, you can drizzle it over vegetables, bread, pasta, meats, or make a salad dressing. You can even drizzle it over popcorn instead of butter and salt!
Generally I like to add 2 drops of essential oil per ounce of olive oil, but feel free to experiment. There are some flavors, like Ginger, that I prefer stronger so I add more. Start on the low side though, and then try your olive oil before adding more. You can always add more, it's much harder to dilute out if you add too much. I have also found when adding multiple essential oils, there is usually one I like to add more of and one less. For example, when mixing Lemon & Black Pepper, I like to use the 2 drops per oz. of Lemon, but then only add 1 drop per oz. of Black Pepper.
Here are a few of my favorite flavor combinations: I generally buy several 8 oz. bottles of olive oil and add the drops of essential oil directly to the bottle. Then I gently invert the bottle to mix well. You can use right away, as the essential oil is incorporated very quickly into the olive oil, and the flavor boost is readily apparent. That's one benefit over dried herbs, no need to let sit on the shelf for awhile!
This can also make a great gift! You can by inexpensive cute glass jars on amazon. Depending on the size, just do the math for how much essential oil to add. Then you can dress it up with ribbons or bows and make a label to tape on. You can buy sheets of labels on Amazon, or download my free 'PDF Label Sheet' HERE. Simply print, cut, and adhere to the bottle with contact paper or clear packing tape. Nothing says love like a handmade gift!
The below recipes are for adding to 8 oz. of olive oil. If you have a larger or smaller bottle of olive oil, just do the math and stick to 2 drops per oz. as a guideline.
Lemon & Black Pepper
16 drops Lemon
8 drops Black Pepper
Lemon & Basil
16 drops Lemon
8 drops Basil
Rosemary & Sage
8 drops Rosemary
8 drops Sage
Oregano & Thyme
16 drops each
Lemongrass & Mint
16 drops Lemongrass
8 drops Peppermint
Lemon & Dill
16 drops Lemon
16 drops Dill
And this one is my favorite for drizzling over popcorn...I add the following oils to 8 oz. of olive oil.
16 drops Cinnamon, 16 drops Orange, and 8 drops Cardamom
I feel like this is a healthier alternative versus butter and salt..and great for vegans.
Don't be afraid to experiment, but make smaller batches, just in case ya don't like what you created.
You can also easily infuse salt, butter, tea, and even your water! For more tips on using essential oils with your food, download my free guide 'Boost Your Flavor' HERE
This easy DIY will have your mirrors and glass clean and streak free. Using ingredients you most likely already have in your house, you can get the same clean for a fraction of the cost of buying the blue stuff...and your house will smell aah-mazing.
Instead of having to open the windows to air out your house, having to wear gloves, and worry about possible health effects, you can sit back and just inhale the beautiful aroma left over from cleaning your glasses and mirrors.
All ya need is:
2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup alcohol (rubbing or vodka)
1/2 cup white vinegar
15 drops Lemon Essential Oil
15 drops Orange Essential Oil
Simply add all of the ingredients into a quart size spray bottle, shake well each time you use, spray and wipe. Easy peasy!
I prefer to use vodka in my recipes because rubbing alcohol has a more pungent aroma.
You can also use any essential oils that you would like but the citrus oils work well to help remove residues and grime, and they are the least expensive essential oils you can buy!
Tap water is ok too, but ya might get some streaks, so distilled water is preferred. You can also omit the alcohol but it contributes to streak free and helps the mixture dry quickly.
For more recipes, tips, tricks, and essential oil hacks, sign up here for 'The Weekly Oiler'.
Have you ever turned over one of the cleaning products you have bought and actually read the label? The first time I did that-yikes! 'Hazardous to humans' 'May cause cancer'... If ya haven't, I encourage you to read your labels...When I saw those warnings, there was no way I was using that! With a whole herd of dogs and cats in my house tho, I still needed to clean. Thankfully with some basic household ingredients that are inexpensive and essential oils, easy DIY cleaners are at our fingertips!
One of the easiest cleaners to make is equal parts white vinegar and water. I like to add Lemon essential oil or Pine essential oil, and sometimes I will add both for an outstanding aroma and a cleaning boost. If you have natural stone, granite, or marble, vinegar isn't recommended as it can scratch and dull the countertop, and affect the sealers. You will want to use plain ol' soap and water.
When I'm using soap and water, I like to take a quart size spray bottle, add a couple of tablespoons of liquid Castile soap, then fill with water. Simply squirt and wipe, easy peasy! For more info on Castile soap and my favorite hand soap recipe click HERE
Side note: Sometimes I have an 'ant attack' in my kitchen..I make the above soap spray and add about 30 drops of Peppermint essential oil. It hasn't failed me yet-lol.
Alcohol (at least 60%) is one of the most effective alternatives to chemical cleaners. You can use 2 parts vodka to 1 part water and let it sit on the surface for about 30 seconds. I also add about 30 drops of essential oil. You can use isopropyl rubbing alcohol instead of vodka, but I find its aroma a bit more pungent, so I stick with Vodka or Everclear. My fave essential oil to add to this is a blend from Young Living™ called Thieves™. Lemon and Orange also work well and fill the house with a happy and uplifting aroma.
You can also make an effective cleaner with hydrogen peroxide. The CDC acknowledges that hydrogen peroxide does effectively kill viruses and bacteria. You will need to let the peroxide sit for at least one minute before wiping away. Since light breaks down hydrogen peroxide, you will want to keep it in a dark colored bottle, or you can simply take the bottle you buy the peroxide in and add a spray top. You can add a cleaning boost and aroma with any essential oils that you like, try Pine! To stretch your peroxide further, or make a milder solution-mix a half a cup with 2.5 cups of water, and make a spray.
And if DIY isn't your thing at all but you still want an effective household cleaner that's safe for you and your pets...Thieves™ Household cleaner to the rescue. Using plant based ingredients and the power of Thieves™ essential oil blend, you can safely and effectively clean. It comes super concentrated, simply add 1 or 2 capfuls to a quart size spray bottle and fill with water. It's also highly economical, costing less than 2.00 per each quart sized spray bottle ya make.
Last week we chatted about your shopping list to start swapping out 1 product at a time, room by room in your house. If ya missed it click HERE
Why do we want to do this, you ask? Good question!
Unfortunately, todays household products contain many chemicals that are well researched to be bad for us! Known cancer causing agents and hormone disrupters are found quite commonly in the majority of products on the market. Trade secret laws give companies the option of not fully disclosing all ingredients. Did you know that literally hundreds of chemicals can be added to a product and listed on the label with ONE word....FRAGRANCE...
Lucky for us, using a few household pantry items most of us have on hand anyways, and natures life essence of plants aka essential oils, we can make our own cleaning products that work just as well. I would even argue better, and usually (after a bulk buy of basic ingredients) cheaper in the long run. We can also reuse the recipe containers over and over again, which is better for the environment.
Let's start with the basics...the number one caustic, dangerous, yucky chemical I used to use, was BLEACH....lucky for us, there's a fast and easy recipe, that's much less caustic and much safer, with all the germ fighting capabilities.
A close second is our hand soap, especially in todays times where we seem to be washing our hands all the time. This hand soap recipe is great for dry or sensitive skin, and I like to add essential oils known to support skin.
The main ingredients you're going to need today are...
For the bleach alternative:
Hydrogen Peroxide
Lemon Essential Oil (any essential oil you have and like will do-tho!)
For the hand soap
Castile soap
Olive Oil (optional- but I like to add for extra moisturizing)
Lavender Essential Oil (any essential oil you have and like will do-tho!)
Lets take a closer look at those ingredients...
Hydrogen Peroxide: It is widely acknowledged as a safer substitute for bleach and kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The oxidation from the extra oxygen molecule kills germs and bleaches color from porous surfaces (like fabrics).
The extra oxygen does break down over time so keep the recipes you make in dark colored spray bottles to avoid exposing to light. It used to be touted as a great wound cleanser but research has shown that it actually can keep wounds from healing so it is best used for cleaning.
Castile Soap: an eco friendly plant based soap traditionally made from olives and named after the Castile region of Spain where it originated from. Today, it can be made from coconut, castor, or hemp oils as well. Since it's naturally hydrating and mild, it works well for sensitive and dry skin, and is safe for kids and pets.
I like Dr. Bronner's as it's readily available in most health food stores and cost effective. I also buy the unscented so that I can choose the aroma and properties of the essential oil that I want.
Lemon essential oil: Extracted from the peel of lemons and known for its cleansing properties. It's widely used in home cleaning solutions. Its fresh, uplifting aroma is also an effective odor neutralizer. It also works well to remove sticky residues.
Lavender essential oil: Whats not to love- with a soothing aroma and soothing to the skin, Lavender provides many skin care benefits. It contains cleansing and antioxidant properties.
Bleach Alternative
16 oz. dark colored spray bottle
1 cup Hydrogen Peroxide
1 cup distilled water (tap can be used as well)
20 drops Lemon essential oil
Hand Soap
8 oz foaming pump dispenser (or a spray bottle can be used)
2 TBS Liquid Castile Soap
1 TBS Olive Oil (you can use any liquid carrier oil you have on hand hand such as grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, or fractionated coconut oil)
Distilled water (tap can be used as well)
20 drops essential oil ( My fave are Lavender essential oil-good for the skin, or Thieves™ essential oil blend from Young Living™)
Give the recipes a try...you'll find it a nice surprise that it actually smells good to clean your home and your hands will be squeaky clean and moisturized!
For recipes, tips, tricks, and essential oil hacks delivered straight to your inbox, click HERE for 'The Weekly Oiler'.
