Sesame oil
Fats and Glyceridic oils, sesame
Sesame oil is a pressed seed oil, not an essential oil, and there is no good evidence it repels insects on its own. In repellent products it works as a carrier that slows the evaporation of the actives it is mixed with.
Safety around dogs & cats
A fixed seed oil with no meaningful toxicity to dogs or cats; a lick is unlikely to do more than loosen the stool. It carries none of the phenol or terpene load that makes essential oils risky for cats.
Moderate confidence. Ratings from ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the Pet Poison Helpline, and published veterinary toxicology. This is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is exposed, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
The evidence
Controlled screens are blunt about it: researchers group sesame with the fixed oils that do not repel mosquitoes or ticks. Where it earns a place is as a base, and as a larvicidal synergist in the lab. The one product here that lists it (Wondercide) relies on its other botanicals for any repellency.
Products using it
Regulatory notes
EPA minimum risk (FIFRA 25(b)) approved active ingredient; matched to SRS registry entry.
Safety notes
A culinary oil with low toxicity to pets and generally mild on skin, though it is a recognized contact allergen and worth avoiding for anyone with a sesame allergy.