Effects of Perfume on Dogs: What You Need to Know

You might have a special fondness for Chanel No. 5, as Chanel herself would say: "This is what I wanted—a perfume that is entirely different from any that came before, a woman's perfume. A scent that is rich, unforgettable, and striking, as memorable as a slap across the face."

As for your furry companion, that scent can be as memorable as a slap to them too.

Dogs have a much keener sense of smell than humans. Just how much keener? They can detect a teaspoon of sugar diluted in two swimming pools' worth of water. And that's not even considering the highly trained scent hounds.

Perfume is a world apart for humans and dogs. While the scents that tickle our senses can evoke joy, the smell of rotting, uncooked meat is often revolting to us. But for dogs, the very smells we find repulsive can be delightful. So, do dogs enjoy the scents we do? Let's delve deeper.

As the contrast shows, humans and dogs have vastly different perceptions of smell. One significant reason for dogs' extraordinary olfactory abilities is the heightened sensitivity to scents that has evolved in them over time.

Imagine if a dog's ancestor would analyze the smell of raw meat from 100 meters away. But today's dogs would simply sprint towards that 100meter mark.

This means that as generations of dogs have evolved, the impact of smell on their brains has become increasingly pronounced, and the neural pathways responsible for processing smell have become more developed.

It's a doubleedged sword for dogs.

And it's not just perfume; air fresheners, hair styling sprays, and the like can have the same effect. Highend products often extract secretions from animals, like musk and ambergris, which can make dogs think, "Why do I suddenly feel surrounded by so many animals?"

Lowerend products, on the other hand, mix ethanol and fragrances, leaving dogs wondering, "What exactly is this smell?"

It's not an exaggeration to say that even the most luxurious perfumes may hold less appeal to dogs than a pile of feces.

Of course, we're not suggesting you abandon your perfumes. If you're going to have close contact with your dog after applying them, it might be best to use them sparingly. After all, who wants to be constantly pondering the 'why' of every scent?

Internationally, the consensus on the impact of scented products on dogs is the same: ensure the dog is not repulsed.