Should Your Dog Wear Dolce & Gabbana’s New Luxury Dog Perfume—Or Any Perfume at All?

The latest in haute couture from Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana® (D&G) isn’t a runway-ready gown or set of expensive sunglasses. In fact, it’s not for you at all—it’s Fefé, a perfume for your dog.  

Priced at $99 for 3.4 ounces, it has pet parents divided: Some say perfume for dogs is absurd, while others just want to pamper their pups. But where do vets stand on dog perfumes—are they necessary or even safe for your pet? 

What’s In Fefé Dog Perfume?

According to its website, Fefé contains olfactory notes of: 

• Ylang ylang 

• Musk 

• Sandalwood 

According to the Associated Press, Fefé “follows a Safe Pet Cosmetics protocol designed to ensure a degree of safety of cosmetic products for animals.” The perfume is also alcohol-free, D&G says, and comes with a D&G collar and tag. 

Should Dogs Wear Perfume?

A $100 perfume for your pup might seem extravagant, but D&G is just the latest company to enter the dog perfume market. Companies like iGroom and Pet Silk also sell canine colognes and perfumes (albeit at much lower prices).  

But is perfume safe for dogs? That depends on several factors, says Veronica Higgs, DVM, veterinary services manager at Chewy. 

“As a fur mom to small dogs who frequently get groomed, I love when they come home smelling amazing and appreciate a little fragrance from time to time,” she says. Still, she adds, perfumes for dogs should be used with caution:  

• Always use a product made for canines—not a human product.  

• Make sure that your dog does not dislike using the product. “If you apply perfume and your dog immediately starts rolling on the ground or trying to get it off, then they may not be a fan of the scent so I would not recommend using it,” Dr. Higgs says.  

• If your dog has an unpleasant smell, consult your vet before using perfume. “It is crucial that pet parents are not trying to cover up a bad odor on their pet that may have a medical origin,” Dr. Higgs says. “For example, dogs with allergies may be prone to skin infections which may present as a corn chip or musty odor.  Addressing the cause of this objectionable smell with your vet is much better for the health of the dog than masking the odor with a nice perfume.” 

Before using perfume on your dog, consider the following:  

Perfume Ingredients 

Certain essential oils can be used safely on dogs, while others can cause problems.  

Essential oils, an ingredient in many perfumes, “can be very dangerous," says Michelle Lugones, DVM, a veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Society in New York. "They're easily inhaled and absorbed through the skin, and can be ingested.”  

Interacting with a dangerous essential oil can lead to the following symptoms in your dog: 

• Skin irritation 

• Vomiting/diarrhea  

• Lethargy 

• Difficulty breathing 

• Tremors/seizures   

That’s why you should never spray your own perfume or cologne on your dog, or any other scent that’s not explicitly designed for dogs. 

Application 

There are a few general rules for applying dog perfume to a dog: 

• Apply as little as possible. This is to avoid overloading a dog’s powerful sense of smell. (Did you know it’s as much as 100,000 times more powerful than humans’?) 

• Never spray a dog near their face, mouth, eyes or ears. 

• When possible, spray it on your hands or their brush and apply from the middle of their body to their tail.   

Your Dog’s Sensitivities 

Dogs are unique individuals who may experience reactions to certain ingredients in perfumes if they are allergic or otherwise sensitive to them.  

Vet-Approved Tips to Keep Your Dog Smelling Fresh

The good news: You don’t need perfume to keep your dog smelling great. Try these tips to improve your pup’s odor. 

• Talk to your veterinarian: A strange odor on your dog may be caused by a medical issue like dental disease or a yeast infection. Rule out this possibility first by discussing the problem with your vet. Depending on the issue, a waterless antibactieral, antifungal mousse may be more beneficial than a perfume to help clean and freshen the skin.  

• Brush their teeth: Vets recommend brushing your dog’s teeth at least two to three times per week. If that stinky smell is coming from their mouth, routine dental care may help to clear it up. Be sure to use a pet specific-toothpaste and consider a water additive to keep their breath fresh.   

• Bathe your dog: Depending on your dog’s breed, they may need a bath anywhere from once a month to once every six months or longer. Ask your vet what the best timeline is for your dog. Remember to use a pet-specific shampoo and ask your vet about a medicated shampoo if they think your pup has an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast on their skin contributing to odor.  

• Use wet wipes: To spot clean stinky spots between baths, use wet wipes on your dog’s fur.