The Science-Backed Guide Every Pet Parent Should Read Before Their Next Outdoor Adventure

One minute your dog is happily exploring a hiking trail.

The next…

They're scratching.

Swatting at mosquitoes.

Rolling in the grass.

Or worse—a tick has hitched a ride home.

If you're like most pet parents, you've probably searched:

• What's the best natural bug repellent for dogs?
• Are essential oils safe for dogs and cats?
• What essential oils repel ticks and mosquitoes?

The answers aren't always straightforward.

Some essential oils have been studied for their natural insect-repelling properties.

Others can be harmful—even toxic—to pets when used incorrectly.

So how do you know which is which?

Let's separate fact from fiction before your next outdoor adventure.

Can Essential Oils Really Help Repel Bugs?

The short answer is:

Yes—but choosing the right oils is essential.

Plants naturally produce aromatic compounds to protect themselves from insects, and researchers have found that some botanical oils may help repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and biting flies.

Among the most commonly studied are:

🌿 Cedarwood

🌸 Geranium

🍃 Eucalyptus

🌱 Lemongrass

These oils contain naturally occurring plant compounds that insects find unpleasant, making them popular ingredients in botanical outdoor sprays. (National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3059459/)

Natural Doesn't Always Mean Safe

Here's one of the biggest misconceptions in natural pet care:

If it's natural, it must be safe.

Unfortunately, that's simply not true.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts.

When used incorrectly—or in their undiluted form—they may cause skin irritation, respiratory irritation, or even toxicity in dogs and cats.

Cats are especially sensitive because they lack certain liver enzymes needed to metabolize many essential oil compounds efficiently. Organizations such as the ASPCA advise avoiding the direct use of concentrated essential oils on pets unless specifically formulated for them. (ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/news/essentials-essential-oils-around-pets)

This is why formulation matters just as much as ingredient selection.

Essential Oils That May Be Harmful to Pets

Some essential oils are generally not recommended for dogs and cats, particularly in concentrated forms.

These include:

❌ Tea Tree (Melaleuca)

❌ Pennyroyal

❌ Wintergreen

❌ Clove

❌ Cinnamon

❌ Pine

❌ High concentrations of Citrus Oils

These oils have been associated with toxicity or irritation when ingested, inhaled in high concentrations, or applied directly to the skin.

This doesn't mean every product containing these ingredients is automatically unsafe—but it does mean pet parents should choose products specifically formulated for animals rather than using pure essential oils at home.

Meet Myco Pet Outdoor 

At Myco Pet, we wanted to create an outdoor spray that helped pet parents enjoy nature without relying on harsh chemicals.

That's why Outdoor is crafted with a carefully selected blend of organic botanical ingredients known for their natural insect-repelling properties, including:

🌿 Organic Cedarwood

Often used in natural outdoor products to help repel fleas and ticks.

🌸 Organic Geranium

A favorite botanical in many natural tick-repellent blends.

🍃 Organic Eucalyptus

Widely recognized for helping deter mosquitoes and other biting insects.

🌱 Organic Lemongrass

Known for its fresh citrus scent and commonly used in botanical insect-repelling products.

Together, these ingredients help make your dog's coat smell like the scents bugs naturally avoid—without relying on harsh chemical fragrances.

And here's something pet parents love:

Outdoor isn't just for dogs.

It's also designed for humans, so you and your adventure buddy can head outside with one convenient spray.

Whether you're heading to:

🏕️ the cottage

🥾 a hiking trail

🏖️ the beach

🌳 the backyard

🚶 your daily neighborhood walk

Outdoor is designed to become part of your outdoor routine.

Final Thoughts

Nature gives us some incredible tools.

Essential oils are one of them—but only when they're used responsibly.

Choosing the right botanical ingredients, avoiding oils known to be harmful, and using products specifically formulated for pets allows you to enjoy every hike, campground, beach day, and backyard adventure with greater peace of mind.

At Myco Pet, we believe your biggest OUTDOOR memory should be watching your dog chase butterflies...

—not scratching because of bugs