There is nothing worse than having skunk smells permeate into every crevice in your home. It’s easy to see why so many people find the smells to be a living nightmare. You can eliminate this issue with the help of essential oils, but which are the right ones for the job?
In my opinion, the best essential oil for skunk smells is the Pure Body Naturals Peppermint Essential Oil. It’s a 100% pure and natural skunk repellent used for deodorizing, cleaning, and purifying the air. It also irritates the sinus cavities of skunks, making them stay away.
This article will go over the best essential oils for getting rid of skunk smells. I’ll explain why the Pure Body Naturals peppermint essential oils are the best choice for most people, but I’ll also give you a few alternatives.
Best Overall Essential Oil
Pure Body Naturals Peppermint Essential Oil
If you’re looking for an all-natural skunk repellent, the Pure Body Natural Peppermint Essential oil is right for you. Here’s what I like about it:
It comes with a glass dropper: This helps you measure the drops of peppermint oil you need to use.
For about 15-20 drops, you can mix it with one cup of water, put it in a clean spray bottle, and spray the solution all over the house to dissipate the skunk smell. It works best to remove odors. (sources: Pets on Mom, Tips Bulletin)
It is a natural repellant: The peppermint essential oil is extracted from the peppermint herbal plant. It also consists of menthol, a mint aroma that provides a cooling effect. The smell irritates skunks but has many benefits for humans.
It helps with digestion and nausea. Peppermint oil has been shown to work in treating gastrointestinal conditions and reducing nausea. (source: PubMed)
Its only downside: If you are not careful, you could spill it by accident. The inside plastic top under the cap is not attached to the bottle.
The refreshing scent of peppermint oil can help you relieve stress and depression. It’s a refreshing smell that will lift up your energy and alertness. If you have a runny nose or a headache, peppermint essential oil can help lighten your head.
Best Diffusing Essential Oil
Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals Lemon Essential Oil
If you prefer the freshness of citrus fragrances for your home, consider getting the Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals Lemon Essential Oil.
Lemon is one of the most versatile essential oils you can get. Besides diffusing it into the air, you can use it topically or add it to a beverage. This essential oil contains extracts from pressed citrus lemon juice, which comes with many health benefits:
- You only need to use a little. Adding only 3 to 4 drops to your diffuser is enough to eliminate skunk odors and keep your house smelling clean and fresh.
- It can help reduce stress and relieve pain. Lemon is a natural analgesic, and it can affect how our bodies respond to pain. (source: PubMed)
- It can help with colds and sore throats. While lemon essential oil won’t cure your cold, it can certainly help relieve symptoms by relaxing the muscles in your throat.
Lemon essential oil is known to have a purifying effect. It will give your home a vitalizing sensation of cleanliness. More importantly, for treating skunk smells, lemon essential oil is a highly effective deodorant.
Best Antibacterial Essential Oil
Victoria’s Lavender Room Fragrance (Lavender Lime)
This fragrance contains lavender essential oils, which provide an antiviral and antibacterial calming effect.
This product allows you to spray your bedding, pillows, under the bed directly, and closets in your bedroom in case of a lingering skunk smell. Since it is a pump spray, you can musk the skunk smell and create a soothing environment with only ten pumps.
If you’re picky about scents, you may find it hard to add new fragrances to your home, but lavender oil goes well with almost anybody. It’s a refreshing smell that encourages calm and the release of tension.
Best Non-toxic Essential Oil
Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals Brazilian Orange Essential Oil
This essential oil is made from Brazilian orange peelings, and carries many of the benefits of this citrus fruit:
- It can relieve stress and pain.
- It’s an effective antimicrobial against harmful bacteria. (source: PubMed)
- As an antioxidant, it can’t help prevent diseases such as cancer and heart issues.
What makes Brazilian orange essential oil unique is that it doubles as a cleaning agent. You can add a couple of drops to vinegar when cleaning surfaces with lingering skunk smells. The product comes in a 118ml (3.99 oz) bottle, giving it great value for the price.
This oil is considered to be of the highest quality and non-toxic, and it’s great at clearing unpleasant smells in your household. Knowing oranges smell fruity and citrusy, this essential oil will give your home a soothing aroma.
Best Priced Essential Oil
SVA Organics Tangerine Essential Oil
For an effective and affordable essential oil, consider the SVA Organics Tangerine Essential Oil. Similar to peppermint, this tangerine essential oil is a 100% uncontaminated and natural product. Here are some of the things I like about it:
- It’s multipurpose. Other than diffusing or spraying it to dispel skunk smells, you can apply it on the skin and massage your body and face.
- It’s used in aromatherapy. This essential oil has a soothing feeling, providing a cooling effect to areas where you may have been skunk sprayed—especially on your face.
- It’s affordable. This essential oil comes at a low price when compared to others, but it still boasts exceptional quality.
You’ll love the sweet, fruity, and fresh scent of this essential oil. Packaged in staunch dark amber glass, with a branded cap and a separate glass dropper, you can immediately tell that this product comes from a company that cares about customer satisfaction.
Will Vinegar or Other Acids Get Rid of Skunk Smells?
Skunk smells are some of the vilest and most tough smells to get rid of. Vinegar and other acids are often cited as a solution, but do they really work?
You can use vinegar and other acids to get rid of skunk smells. Apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, and acids such as hydrogen peroxide are common home remedies for neutralizing skunk smells.
(Source: Critter Clean Out)
You can boil a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a pan and let the vapor diffuse through your house. Ensure that you reduce the heat and allow the apple cider vinegar to sit for approximately 2 hours. (Source: Vintage Kitchen)
If your dog was sprayed by a skunk and made his way into the house, here’s a non-invasive solution: mix one quart of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of dish soap and a quarter cup of baking soda to make a homemade skunk smell remover shampoo. (Source: DailyDelish.US)
Apply this mixture to your dog’s fur using gloves. Let it sit for about fifteen minutes, and then rinse it off. The acid solution will neutralize the skunk smell.
Now that you know the right essential oils for the job, you’re on your way to getting rid of skunk smells and any other foul odors in your home.