$100 Luxury Dog Perfume From Dolce & Gabbana Sparks Outage From Animal Rights Groups

In a move that has ignited concerns from multiple animal welfare organizations, the Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has launched a luxury perfume for dogs, priced at over $100.

The alcohol-free fragrance mist, dubbed “Fefé” after the brand-owner Domenico Dolce’s pet dog, is inspired by the scent of Ylang Ylang, Musk and Sandalwood. The product, which retails for £83 ($105) on the company’s U.K. website, is packaged in a green lacquered glass bottle with a 24-carat gold-plated paw emblem.

Dolce and Gabbana claim the fragrance has been certified as suitable for animal use by the Safe Pet Cosmetics program. However, experts and organizations have raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of such strong-scented products on dogs.

The RSPCA, a leading animal welfare charity in the United Kingdom, warned against the anthropomorphization of dogs. “Dogs rely on their sense of smell to communicate and interact with their environment as well as the people and other animals within it,” RSPCA Senior Scientific Officer Alice Potter said in a statement. “Therefore we advise that strong-scented products such as perfumes or sprays are avoided, especially as some smells can be really unpleasant for dogs.”

While some sweet-smelling oils, such as lavender or ylang ylang (which is included in the Fefé fragrance), can have a calming effect on dogs when used for short periods, the professor noted that the presence of such strong scents for more than a few minutes could be detrimental to the animal’s well-being.

Potter suggested that owners who want to treat their dogs should instead opt for “fun and enriching” gifts, such as new toys or tasty treats, rather than strong-scented products that could interfere with the animal’s natural senses.

Dolce and Gabbana have declined to comment on the concerns raised by animal experts about their luxury dog perfume.