New Dolce & Gabbana Dog Fragrance Is Causing a Buzz

Mary Simpson
by Mary Simpson

Vets not keen yet thousands of pet owners still opt to spritz away those stinky dog smells.

Photo Credit: Rihards Baumanis / Shutterstock.com

I don’t know about you, but I love that freshy-fresh scent my dogs have when they’re strutting their stuff after a visit to the groomer. Maybe it’s because, after weeks between clips, they arrive looking and smelling like total ragamuffins after all those treks to my local leash-free. Yes, when I pick them up - for a few days at least - my pooches resemble show dogs worthy of Crufts.


But it seems some veterinarians have their proverbial knickers in a knot with the introduction of a designer fragrance specifically intended for use on dogs. It’s called “Fefé” in honor of the poodle that shares quarters with the Dolce half of famed fashion house Dolce and Gabbana.


Now, the designer duo hasn’t simply rebranded an over-stock of their existing D&G logo’d perfumes and Eau de toilettes. This particular scent was crafted specifically for animals and was certified as suitable by the Italian “Safe Pet Cosmetics” gurus.


So, why the pushback? Some vets are concerned that using fragrances on animals may mask the smelly symptoms of various health issues – thinking dental problems, ear infections, or tummy troubles. Also, spritzing a dog with a fragrant scent could compromise the animal’s natural sense of smell. As per Rome-based vet Federico Coccia, “Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by a smell”. He feels that a dog’s ability to sniff out other animals (and humans) can be hampered if he’s suddenly picking up an unfamiliar scent. Either one that’s been added to his coat or suddenly appeared on a dog he thought he knew.


Now, when you visit a site such as Amazon or Chewy, pet fragrance options are plenty. From those stating they can help gloss up the coat, to those that claim to be deodorizers, to others that suggest they help condition the dog’s fur. The scents are equally plentiful including essential oils such as chamomile, vanilla, and lavender as well as more fun and funky fragrances of kiwi or coconut… to name just a few. And collectively, these offerings have thousands of ratings and positive comments from pet owners.


All this makes one wonder why, in a market that dog owners are clearly buying into, is there such a resistance to this newest designer scent. It may simply come down to a comment shared by an individual walking their dog through the streets of Rome. When a well-known manufacturer of designer perfumes suddenly gravitates toward the canine market, it feels a little too much like trying to humanize our pets.


Sour grapes? Perhaps. Because with the Dolce & Gabbana offering priced at upwards of $100 for a 3.4-ounce bottle, and a similarly sized scent offered on Amazon at just $17.50, with 22,000-plus positive reviews, it’s evident there’s a market for a mainstream fragrance for the budget- conscious. And for those of us with stinky dogs, that’s a good thing!


Mary Simpson
Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and a feline who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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