Christmas tree

[IntermittentSygnal]

Pretty sure I’ve seen this question before, but went through pages of results and found nill.

Are the terpenes (VOC’s) released by pine trees a problem in the same room with the T’s? In other words, should the tree and the T’s be in different rooms?

 

[Arachnopets]

Maybe @HooahArmy will have an idea?

 

[HooahArmy]

Completely knows which animal Duran Duran is hungry like... it's HooahArmy!

Good day ladies and gents! Thank you very much for another hail! This is a question I get a lot during the holidays, especially for folks who have cats and dogs.
For those who are new to this, with a standard cut tree, terpenes aka 'volatile oils' aka 'the cozy smelly stuff', are released from the tree needles and the bark. All trees naturally release terpines whether alive or dead, but do so much more robustly when weather is warmer. Max terpene release will occur when a tree is in the sun, meaning around 80+ degrees on a good toasty summer. They are still being released during cooler temperatures, but not as much. So what does this mean for a tree at home and pet Ts?
1. How Toasty is your Home?
If you are ready to roast like a chestnut while sitting on your couch, your tree is likely releasing quite a bit of terpenes. You may mitigate this by turning down your temperature, or keeping the tree away from lit fireplaces to lower terpene release.
2. How Big is the Room and Where Are Your Ts?
If the tree is in an open living room with plenty of ventilation, and the Ts are a distance away, odds are, you're okay. However, if the tree is in a smaller room that contains the Ts or is very close to the Ts, perhaps it may be best to move your buddies for safety.
3. What's on the Tree?
Trees that are flocked release less terpenes because they are covered. Trees that are enrobed with toasty hot little non LED bulbs can get hotter and release more terpenes.
4. What's that Smell?
If you enter your home and are slapped in the face by the aroma of pine, those are terpenes--volatile oils you can smell. If it smells too strong for you, there are quite a bit of terpenes in the air. Your loved ones, especially your pets are a good measure of this. Some animals are sensitive to the smell of evergreen terpenes and will avoid the tree. If your critters don't feel comfortable around it, neither might your Ts. Look at your gramps or grammy, maybe a baby in the area. These are sensitive populations more in-tune with strong smells. If they find the tree cloying, a sensitive little sling might do so as well.
5. Keep an Eye on Your Pal
Terpenes are oils, meaning that they have staying power on surfaces. As 'volatile' (means can go airborne) oils, they can also drift around and stick to T bodies if the animals are too close. Do surfaces or enclosures around your T area feel grimy? The terpenes can travel, but not as far as a few rooms over or though closed doors if your home is large enough to separate your pals. Check out your Ts and other critters. If they look lethargic or 'off' or are constantly grooming, move them or boot the tree.
6. Wait. What Else is There?
Most people don't just have a tree or wreath, they light candles, burn logs, and spray/plug in fun scents all around during the holiday. The terpenes on a tree can't compete with the toxicity of other airborne particles that might be hanging around. Keep scented burning or airborne things away from your pals, please.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

@HooahArmy, as always, you are the absolute Best! Thank you for once again, dropping your knowledge. I think I’ll just keep the tree in another (and cooler) room to be safe.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Another reason to hate Christmas trees. That's a plus for me, not to have them that is.

If one must have one go artificial.

 

[HooahArmy]

I'm so broke, last year, I literally just taped a little tree air freshener onto my wall and put presents beneath them.
The Ts in the next room were fine with this...

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I'm so broke, last year, I literally just taped a little tree air freshener onto my wall and put presents beneath them.
The Ts in the next room were fine with this...

This is awesome and so punk rock!

 

[HooahArmy]

This is awesome and so punk rock!

This reminds me of one year when my team and I were conducting excercises out in the field and this soldier in our group would duct tape chem lights (glowsticks) to a piece of wood every night. I thought he put them there so the group could see their way back using the woods as a latrine at night. Yes, it served that purpose, and it was also his official field exercise menorah.