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Essential Oils to Avoid

Here is a non-exhaustive list of oils regularly found andthe use of which is not recommended in the presence of animals1 :

  • Garlic (Allium sativum)
  • Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis): it is often soybean oil with aloe gel, therefore not recommended.
  • Amyris (Amyris balsamifera)
  • Angelica officinalis (Angelica archangelica)
  • Star anise (Illicium verum)
  • Artemisia vulgaris (and other species)
  • Lemon basil (Ocimum X citriodorum)
  • Sacred basil, Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctumtum)
  • Benzoin (Styrax benzoin)
  • Agarwood, Calambac (Aquilaria malaccensisis)
  • Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)
  • Boswellia frereana
  • Boswellia sacra
  • Boswellia serrata
  • Birch (Betula lenta)
  • Cajeput (Melaleuca minor)
  • Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
  • Red cedar, Eastern red cedar (Thuja plicata)
  • Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): often synthesized or adulterated.
  • Cumin (Cuminum cyminumm)
  • Turmeric (Curcuma longaa)
  • Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum verum): often synthesized or adulterated.
  • Hemlock, Red, White, Norwegian spruce, (except Black spruce)
  • Eucalyptus dives
  • Cinnamon leaf (Cinnamomum zeylanica)
  • Galangal (Alpinia galanga)
  • Galbanum (Ferula gummosa)
  • Wintergreen, Woodland tea (Gaultheria procumbens): often synthesized or adulterated, an overdose can cause vomiting
  • Daneth seed (Anethum graveolensns)
  • Caraway seeds (Carum carawai)
  • Helichrysum splendidum
  • Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
  • Hops (Humulus lupuluss)
  • Jasmin (Jasminum officinale): not an oil, but an Absolute, made with solvents and often synthesized or adulterated.
  • Lavender Aspic (Lavandula latifolia): often synthesized or adulterated.
  • Lavandin (Lavandula X intermedia): often synthesized or adulterated.
  • Field mint (Mentha arvensis): often synthesized or adulterated.
  • St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
  • Mustard (Brassica nigra)
  • Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)
  • Neroli (Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantium)
  • Ocotea (Ocotea quixos)
  • Opoponax (Commiphora guidotti)
  • Oregano Onites (Origanum Onites)
  • Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)
  • Pennyroyal, Mint Pouliot (Mentha pulegium, several species)
  • Crown pepper, Indian Wood, Indian laurel (Pimenta racemosa)
  • Allspice, Jamaican Pepper (Pimenta officinalis)
  • Ravensara (Agathophyllum aromatica, Ravensara aromatica)
  • Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora)
  • Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia)
  • Sassafras (several species)
  • Tagetes (Tagetes minuta)
  • Blue tansy (Tanacetum annuumm)
  • Thuja (Tsuga canadensiss)
  • Vanilla (Vanilla planifora): not an oil, but an Absolute, made with solvents and often synthesized or adulterated.
  • Yuzu (Citrus junos)
  • Zdravetz (Geranium macrorrhizum)
  • Zinziba (Lippia javanica)

1SHELTON, M. The Animal Desk Reference II: Essential Oils for Animals. Self Published, 2018. ISBN: 9781986827010.