The Irish Spring Soap is one of the soaps that has had mixed reviews – some people tend to find it to have a refreshing aroma, while others find it cliched and prefer other fragrances over the mixed tones of the Irish Spring Soap.
But regardless of which side of the argument you are on – whether you like or dislike the fragrances of the Irish Spring Soap – one thing that may unite both sides are the fact that Irish Spring Soaps have an aroma that is disliked by cats.
So, if you want to keep the neighboring cats away from your premises or if you want your pet cats to not access some places like the stove, you may consider using Irish Spring Soap to make a DIY cat repellent.
However, how effective is this soap? Read along as we find out if it is worth buying an Irish Spring Soap for the sole purpose of keeping cats away.
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What Makes Up The Distinguished Aroma Of The Irish Spring Soap?
Before we start to judge whether or not to use the Irish Spring Soap to make a DIY cat repellent, it may help to know what actually constitutes the ingredients that give it the signature aroma.
There are three notes in the aroma of any soap or essential oil – the top notes, the bottom notes, and the middle notes.
When it comes to the Irish Spring Soap, its aroma consists of the following constituents in each of these three notes:
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange, Lemon
- Middle Notes: Spring Blossoms, Lavender, Fresh Basil, Rose, Pine
- Bottom Notes: Cedar, Musk, Woody, Patchouli
Overall, the aroma of the Irish Spring Soap comes across as a combination of citrus, lavender, greens, and woods. It is indeed a heavenly aroma for those who prefer the smells of nature and the great green outdoors.
However, for those who prefer to have minimalistic tastes, the smell of the Irish Spring Soap can become a little too overwhelming.
How Does The Irish Spring Soap Repel Cats?
Now that we have understood the depths of the aroma of the Irish Spring Soap, we can clearly see why cats tend to dislike this particular smell. Cats absolutely hate the smell of any citrus fruits.
In fact, you can even make a DIY cat repellent using orange peels or lemons, or other citrus fruits or essential oils. Similarly, cats also have a distaste for the smell of lavender.
Go back to the notes of the aroma of the Irish Spring Soap and look at the top and the middle notes – what do you see? Eureka, indeed!
The top and the middle notes of the Irish Spring Soap consist of oranges, lemons, and lavender – 3 of the smells that seem to be in the bad books of cats.
The overall smell that emanates from the Irish Spring Soap has notes of citrus and lavender, along with other pungent and strong smells.
This makes cats dislike the aroma of the Irish Spring Soap. Thus, it can possibly be a potential candidate for making a DIY cat repellent.
But exactly how effective will a cat repellent made from Irish Spring Soap be?
Find Out: Does Black Pepper Keep Cats Away?
Does The Irish Spring Soap Make For A Good Ingredient To Create An Effective Cat Repellent?
Well, it depends. There is no simplistic yes or no answer to this – it depends on where you want to use the cat repellent made with the Irish Spring Soap.
If you plan on using this cat repellent indoors near sinks or stoves to keep your pet cats away from these places, then chances are that this might actually work well.
However, the effectiveness will reduce drastically if you plan on using this cat repellent outdoors. This is simply because the smell of soap or an essential oil diluted in water may not be as strong.
Moreover, the smell will also not last long. It may even get overpowered and overlapped by the smell of other flowers, fruits, and plants in your garden. So, for the outdoors, the Irish Spring Soap may not be an ideal choice.
How Can You Make A Cat Repellent With Irish Spring Soap?
The simplest way of making a DIY cat repellent is to simply make an aqueous solution of the soap. Just take an Irish Spring Soap and grate it to make some soap shavings.
Dissolve the soap shavings in water to make a dilute aqueous solution. Pour the solution into a bottle with a spray nozzle and spray the solution over the surfaces where you want to cut access to your cat.
Never keep shavings of the Irish Spring Soap directly as a source of the aroma to repel the cats as any accidental ingestion of the soap by the cats can be fatal and toxic to their health.
Must Read: Will Cayenne Pepper Keep Cats Away?
The Pros And Cons Of Using Irish Spring Soap For Making A DIY Cat Repellent Spray
The Advantage Of Using Irish Spring Soap For Making A DIY Cat Repellent Spray
The main advantage of using the Irish Spring Soap to make a DIY cat repellent spray is that since it is just a spray on a surface that dries up quickly, it is virtually harmless to the cats when compared to other ingredients like eucalyptus or bleach.
A secondary advantage, if you like the smell of the Irish Spring Soap, is that your house will have the pleasant aroma of the soap.
The Disadvantages Of Using Irish Spring Soap For Making A DIY Cat Repellent Spray
- First and foremost, the smell of the spray made with Irish Spring Soap is mild when compared to the other equally harmless ingredients like vinegar and coffee, whose smells tend to linger for a longer time.
- The smell of the Irish Spring Soap will get overlapped in the outdoors and make it virtually useless in keeping the neighboring intruding cats away.
- If you don’t use the Irish Spring Soap, then buying it specifically to keep cats away will become an additional unnecessary expense, especially because there are better, much more effective, and much safer alternatives available at lower costs – usually present in the cabinets or your kitchen or in the fridge. These ingredients include vinegar, oranges, lemons, other citrus fruits, coffee grounds, and tea bags.
Alternatives To The Irish Spring Soap For Making A Cat Repellent
- Orange peels
- Lemon juice
- Orange juice
- Lavender
- Vinegar
All these are some of the more effective and cheaper alternatives available when compared to the Irish Spring Soap for making a DIY cat repellent spray.
Interesting Read: Does Bleach Keep Cats Away?
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes cats dislike the smell of the Irish Spring Soap?
The notes of citrus smells and lavender make cats dislike the overall aroma of the Irish Spring Soap. This dislike can also be attributed to the overall intensity or pungent nature of the soap.
Can I use the Irish Spring Soap to clean or bathe my cat?
No. You should never use any soaps or other cosmetic products meant for humans on your pets – be it cats or dogs. Using this soap, or any other human cosmetic product for that matter, on your cat will dry its skin and may even lead to skin irritation.
Final Words
The Irish Spring Soap is an unconventional choice when it comes to picking ingredients to make a DIY cat repellent. Its disadvantages seem to clearly outweigh its singular advantage.
However, if you do have the Irish Spring Soap stocked up at your home and want to use it indoors to keep your cat from going to certain places, it could be a good enough choice for you.
Must Read: 5 Natural & Safe DIY Home Remedies to Keep Cats Away
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