Description
So many people ask for alternatives to traditional chemical flea, tick, and insect control. Cedarwood is such a popular recommendation within animal communities and essential oil world...but often I am completely unhappy with the popular products on the market. One popular brand does not even list the species of Cedarwood contained within their product, and other ingredients include Soybean Oil, Mineral Oil, and Isopropyl Myristate. I guess as a holistic veterinarian - I feel we can do better with the ingredients and selections we choose to spray on our animals! The other most popular Cedarwood based product also does not list the species of Cedarwood used, while also containing ingredients such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Polyglyceryl Oleate, Ethyl Lactate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, and Vitamin E. While some of those ingredients are "fine" to use - there are a few that make my hairs stand up on end. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - whether derived from coconuts or not - is just NOT an ingredient I would select for animals to be exposed to. And - other ingredients just don't pass the "pronunciation test"... If a kid can't pronounce them easily - don't use them!
So... I set out to "build a better mouse trap". Okay - I would actually never trap a mouse! I love mice! And all rodents...but you know...it is a figure of speech! Anyway - when I see a need or a problem within the animal world - especially when it involves essential oils - I feel it is my duty to offer a safer alternative. Apparently - everyone was super attached to having a Cedarwood product to use on animals and in their yards. But Cedarwood alone, is really not all that great. Blends are just so superior to a single oil - and also help to lend safety into the use of essential oils. (Remember...There's Safety in Numbers!) My mission to create the perfect "Cedarwood Dominant" blend began early in 2018. After almost a year of testing, monitoring, and evaluating - Evict and Evict RTU Drops are now available!
Key Search Words: fleas ear mites ticks mosquitoes gnats repellent bugs
Ingredients
Fractionated Coconut Oil, Essential Oils of Cedarwood (Juniperus mexicana), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Eucalyptus citriodora, Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Rosemary-Cineole (Rosmarinus officinalis), Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
The first essential oil within Evict RTU Drops is Cedarwood. This Cedarwood is Juniperus mexicana - which is grown and harvested in Texas. There are indeed different species of Cedarwood - and in the Aromatherapy and Veterinary Aromatic Medicine community - it is completely important and should be required for full species names to be provided. Cedarwood essential oil and a main compound Cedrol, gained attention as being "anti-bug" from a few research papers (see here) - and it was off to the races. All of a sudden, Cedarwood becomes the holy grail against bug issues. And Cedarwood IS a great oil! There is a reason we use Cedar chests to keep moths out of linens and blankets. However, it is not the ONLY oil out there that is effective against bugs! A whole lot of oils are super effective against insects of all sorts - it just so happens that Cedarwood tends to be easily harvested (growing wild all over Texas) and is pretty inexpensive. So, why not make yard sprays and such based on Cedarwood. For me - use with animals is something more. It is not about a product, or a profit margin. It is about making something that is appropriate for the animal to use, safe for the animal to use, hopefully pleasant for the animal (and human) to use, and also effective. That is why I will always feel that using Cedarwood alone - is not the best option for our animals. Used within a blend, it can be such an amazing ingredient! So that is what I did - built a wonderful Cedarwood blend for you!
A note on Cedarwood in general... Cedarwood is quite an interesting oil. It often will be found with crystals in it (some species more than others) - and for proper blending or pouring of the essential oil - it is often required to gently heat the oil to dissolve or "melt" the crystals. If suppliers or manufacturers of products containing Cedarwood oil do not handle this essential oil correctly, the chemical profile could be greatly changed if only the liquid portion of the essential oil is used. I'm not going to lie...heating this oil is sometimes an all day adventure - and takes careful monitoring, mixing, and a lot of patience. When I work with this oil, I just cringe at the thoughts of those who are more lazy and do not know or care to recognize what is needed to use a "complete oil." It is a lot like adding a bunch of sugar to coffee - yet never stirring it. The top part of the coffee will still not taste sweet - and by the time you get to the bottom of your cup - you will get one giant sludgey gulp of coffee-sugar!
Next in Evict RTU Drops is Catnip essential oil. Catnip has up and coming research showing it is quite effective against bugs - but it is a pungent and strong essential oil - often not used alone without great dilution for animals. Within blends we can gain all of the benefits while mellowing it out a bit. Nepetalactone within Catnip oil is definitely being researched consistently. And as we can usually recognize, Catnip is often a favorite and safe herb of cats especially - so when used appropriately can be a great addition to anti-bug protocols with all animal species.
Actually, many oils show insect repellency. As in this research article. So to round out this blend, and make it super pleasant in scent and handling - I added a few other major players in insect repellency. Eucalyptus citriodora (also called Lemon Eucalyptus) is an essential oil from Australia, which carries well known constituents that repel insects, including PMD (p-Menthane 3,8 diol). Both Catnip and Eucalyptus citriodora are being reported to be as or more effective than DEET! Geranium is another essential oil that is often recommended for insects. However, Geranium by itself is not truly all that animal friendly. It is a gorgeous oil, but not always the scent that most animals would "like" to smell like. I find that most people simply use Geranium oil incorrectly for animals - dripping it onto bandanas or collars and forcing an animal to be in very close proximity to the quite intense smell. By including Geranium within this blend, we can gain the benefits, while also taming it down a bit. To me, a very pleasant alternative.
Rosemary (this is the Cineole chemotype) - has been found to be a wonderful insect repellent as well - and we've seen it be especially effective in repelling Asian Beetles. Within this blend, it adds its benefits while being present in safe amounts for all animals (yes, even those with health issues). Rosemary actually gets a misplaced "bad rap" - and it is not harmful or worrisome when used properly. People often want to avoid use of Rosemary with animals with seizures, and I am here to tell you - it is just not a founded concern. The sheer number of animals who are exposed properly to Rosemary essential oil through diffusion or properly dosed topical use (as with Evict RTU Drops) who actually benefit from the exposure - far outweighs the risks or issues I have ever witnessed. In Tisserand & Young's book Essential Oil Safety - 2nd Edition - the essential oil and seizure issue is well discussed in The Nervous System chapter. Basically, reports, misuse, and over-dosage (especially orally) of various constituents (not often the whole oil) are used to incriminate an essential oil. In clinical practice - we just simply do not see that proper use of oils is harmful - and actually quite the opposite - are usually helpful to a variety of health concerns. I would be far more concerned for a pet with seizures to be exposed to traditional chemical bug repellents than to Rosemary any day of the week!
Finally - we have witnessed Oregano be so incredibly effective against so many bugs! With dogs and cats with flea infestations, applications of blends containing the proper ratios and doses of Oregano are super helpful against insect bites, reactions, and repellency. Oregano ended up being one of my favorite hidden "notes" to this blend. It's just a wonderful oil when we know how to use it correctly!
Why Use Evict RTU Drops???
The unfortunate truth is that many people do not follow directions. And even when they do, I have encountered pretty significant errors in diluting essential oil blends for use with animals. I feel that having a "Ready To Use" product available for use - really helps not only in convenience, but to avoid the accidental dilution errors that can occur. Even for me - an experienced veterinarian - I greatly prefer to have an RTU blend that I can grab quickly!
General Comments About Evict RTU Drops:
In general - if you have become familiar with using the Away blend diluted in Fractionated Coconut Oil - you can Evict RTU Drops in all of the same ways. For sensitive species - I will still rely on suggesting the use of Away as an initial recommendation. We simply have more use data accumulated for Away than for the Evict blends at this time. While you can dilute the Evict blend yourself, Evict RTU Drops are provided to eliminate errors in diluting as well as the additional time and materials to make your own dilutions. I personally use this blend for my own human insect repelling needs - and am completely in love with it! It is super effective, and I just love the scent! I hope you will enjoy this blend as I do! I have never witnessed a more effective blend against the flies that plague my horses and cow! Farriers are sure to love you when your horses legs are not only fly free, but smell OH SO GOOD!
Instructions for Use
Evict RTU Drops
PrintEvict RTU Drops contain Fractionated Coconut Oil - so should NOT be diffused.
Evict RTU Drops is a "Ready To Use" product - which is already diluted within Fractionated Coconut Oil for topical use - directly from the bottle. Evict RTU Drops are perfect for almost all topical application methods.
For Birds & Exotics: Evict RTU Drops can be considered when topical insect control is desired. Evict RTU Drops can be added to shampoos - however we will generally recommend the use of Evict (which is the undiluted blend) for use within Shampoo creations. Evict RTU Drops are still being evaluated with many exotic animal species, and our results so far are really excellent for a variety of insects including flies, fleas, mosquitoes, lice, gnats, and more. However, for these delicate species - we have a longer experience base and understanding of the Away blend - and will typically suggest Away as the preferred blend to start with. If you have an small exotic animal such as a rabbit - please start with the use of Away or Away RTU Drops first - and only move to the use of Evict or Evict RTU Drops if Away has not proven effective for your needs.
Cats: For most cat situations, I would suggest starting with the Away blend when insect repellent actions are needed beyond the basic KittyBoost recommendations. Evict RTU Drops are recommended for use when topical applications are necessary for cats. Evict RTU Drops could be added to shampoos for cats (if they are accepting of bathing) - however we generally recommend the use of Evict (the undiluted blend) for use within Shampoo creations. Please see the Shampoo Instructions page and the Evict product page for more information.
Although it would be safe to mist a cat with a water mist made from the Evict RTU Drops - we find that most cats just don't appreciate being sprayed. We always attempt to make the applications of essential oils as happy and well accepted as possible. You can certainly use your discretion on if your cat would be accepting of a spray, if you find yourself in need of it - but most of the time, we attempt to select other "cat friendly" products and methods instead. I suggest applications of KittyBoost when general insect repellency is needed. Away RTU Drops will be another excellent option for you to explore, along with the various ways we can use Away.
Evict RTU Drops are being evaluated for use for feline ear mites at this time (end of 2018) - and while this is undergoing clinical evaluations - I suggest the use of Away RTU Drops for any ear mite concerns.
Dogs: Evict RTU Drops can be used for direct topical application to dogs, generally without any further dilution required. Evict RTU Drops carry a wonderful Cedar scent. Just like Cedar chips are placed into dog beds to make them smell nice - the Evict blend can provide a gorgeous Cedarwood smell to your home, dog beds, couches, bedding, etc. Evict RTU Drops can be mixed with distilled water to create a water mist - but in general I will suggest creating water mists with the neat (undiluted) version of the blend.
For use directly on a dog - place between 4-10 drops of Evict RTU Drops into your hands - rub them together to distribute a film of oil, and then pet your dogs coat. For insect repellent; rubbing down the legs, neck, shoulders, and back are good locations to concentrate on. I especially focus on the "ankle" area of my dogs, since ticks will often contact this area first, as they start to climb up the legs. You can also pay special attention to ear tips or the rear end where insects often attack most. You can repeat these applications to each region you need to apply to. Put more drops into your hands, rub them around, then massage into your dogs coat. Simple as that!
Horses & Large Animals: These animals can use Evict RTU Drops in all of the ways described for dogs. I enjoy the convenience of a RTU bottle for quick applications on the trail, or to the ears or face of my horses when bugs are bad. However, most of the time I will add the undiluted Evict to a large spray bottle of Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO) - in up to a 20% concentration - and then mist it onto them. See the Evict page for more information on that.
With large animals - "Petting" Evict RTU Drops directly onto places of need is very effective. I will often put approximately 10-20 drops into my hands, rub my hands together, then rub down the legs or wherever bugs are bothering them. For each location, I may repeat placing 10-20 drops into my hands. For gnats and little bugs that bite inside ears, and on chests, adding the undiluted Evict to Raw Coconut Oil (the kind that is solid below room temperature) or to another natural ointment or salve, and using this to coat the inside of the ears or chest area is highly effective. Evict RTU Drops are great for "spot treatment" of areas such as the chest or inside of ears.
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tsibley (verified owner) –
This is the only thing I use for Flea Prevention, and they Love me Petting it on them!!! They Smell Great and It Works!!!! Thank You So Much!!!!
Destiny White (verified owner) –
perfect ready to use cedar based bug prevention product!