Wondercide and Cedarcide are both cedarwood oil-based pest control brands marketed as natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides. They target similar pests (fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, ants, and more) and both qualify for the EPA’s minimum risk pesticide exemption. But they differ meaningfully in formulation, product format, application style, and price. Here’s how they compare across the categories that matter most.
Active Ingredients and Formulation
Both brands rely on cedarwood oil as their primary active ingredient, but they build their formulas differently. Wondercide’s flagship Flea & Tick Spray for Pets + Home contains 4.2% to 5.7% cedarwood oil (depending on the scent), 2.2% sodium lauryl sulfate (a coconut-derived surfactant), and 0.1% sesame oil. The cedarwood scent version has the highest cedar concentration at 5.7%, while the lemongrass, peppermint, and rosemary versions use 4.2% cedarwood oil plus 1.5% of the secondary essential oil. The inactive ingredients are water-based: deionized water, ethyl lactate, sodium chloride, glycerin, citric acid, and vitamin E.
Cedarcide Original takes a different approach. Its active ingredients are cedarwood oil at 8.4% and soybean oil at 8.4%, making it a noticeably more oil-heavy formula. The inert ingredients are mineral oil, hydrated silica, and isopropyl myristate. There’s no water base. This oil-forward composition means Cedarcide Original clings to surfaces and pet fur longer than a water-based spray, but it also means a different texture on application. Cedarcide does not publish exact percentages for its inert ingredients on its website, though the active ingredient percentages are listed on its fogging kit product page.
The practical difference: Wondercide feels lighter and more like a typical spray. Cedarcide Original is thicker and more adherent, which the company says extends its repelling timeline.
Product Lines and Application Methods
This is where the two brands diverge most. Wondercide focuses on ready-to-use sprays. Its pet and home spray comes in a trigger bottle you apply directly to your pet’s coat or around indoor surfaces. For outdoor use, Wondercide sells a yard spray concentrate that attaches to a garden hose. You mix 8 oz of concentrate into the ready-to-use sprayer, fill it with water, and walk your yard in a sweeping motion. One bottle treats up to 5,000 square feet for fleas and mosquitoes, or 2,500 square feet for ticks. The hose-end system makes yard treatment straightforward, with no extra equipment needed.
Cedarcide offers a broader range of application formats, including a dedicated indoor fogging system. The fogging kit pairs a non-thermal fogger with gallons of Cedarcide Original, and one gallon covers roughly 1,800 square feet. Cedarcide recommends a minimum of two fogging treatments spaced 5 to 7 days apart for effective results, so a 1,800-square-foot home would need at least two gallons. The fogger is reusable and compatible with other non-thermal fogging products. For outdoor use, Cedarcide sells a concentrate called Outdoor Bug Control (also branded as PCO Choice) that you dilute with water. They also offer Tickshield, an extra-strength personal and pet spray.
If you’re dealing with an active indoor infestation, Cedarcide’s fogging system delivers more thorough coverage than a trigger spray can. For routine prevention on pets and around the house, Wondercide’s simpler spray-and-go approach requires less setup.
Yard Treatment Compared
For outdoor pest control, both brands sell concentrates designed to cover large areas, but the experience differs. Wondercide’s hose-end system is essentially point-and-walk. You attach the sprayer to your hose, turn it on, and sweep across the yard. The company recommends applying every few days initially until pest pressure drops, then every 30 to 45 days for maintenance. Heavy rain calls for reapplication.
Cedarcide’s Outdoor Bug Control concentrate also dilutes with water for yard use, and a 32-ounce bottle of their YardSafe product retails for about $30 (around $0.94 per ounce). However, Cedarcide notes that when diluted to water-based concentrations for outdoor spraying, the formula becomes very watery and won’t adhere to surfaces as long as the oil-based Original formula. This may reduce how long the repellent effect lasts outdoors compared to the thicker indoor product.
Wondercide’s yard spray system is more streamlined for the average homeowner. Cedarcide’s outdoor products work, but the company is more clearly oriented toward its indoor fogging and direct-application sprays as its strengths.
Safety for Pets
Both products fall under the EPA’s Section 25(b) minimum risk pesticide exemption, meaning they contain only ingredients the EPA considers low-risk enough to exempt from full pesticide registration. Cedarwood oil is explicitly listed as an approved active ingredient under this exemption. Neither product requires an EPA registration number, which is standard for 25(b) products.
Cedarwood oil from Virginia and Texas cedar (the types both brands use) is generally considered one of the safer essential oils for dogs. For cats, more caution is warranted. Cats are exceptionally sensitive to essential oils because they lack certain liver enzymes that break down these compounds. Cedarwood oil is listed among oils considered safer for cats compared to many alternatives, but the concentration matters, and cats should never ingest essential oil products. Wondercide’s lower cedarwood concentration (4.2% to 5.7%) may offer a slight margin compared to Cedarcide Original’s 8.4%, though both brands market their products as pet-safe.
One ingredient distinction worth noting: Cedarcide Original contains soybean oil and mineral oil, which some pet owners with allergy-prone dogs may want to be aware of. Wondercide uses coconut-derived sodium lauryl sulfate as its surfactant and sesame oil as a minor active, plus a water base that rinses or evaporates more readily.
Price and Value
Direct price comparison is tricky because the products come in different sizes and concentrations. Cedarcide Original is an oil-based concentrate that goes further per ounce when fogging but costs more upfront, especially when you factor in the fogger equipment. The YardSafe outdoor spray runs about $30 for 32 ounces at retail, with a subscription discount bringing it to $25.50.
Wondercide’s pet and home spray is typically sold in 4-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce bottles, with the 32-ounce size generally priced in the $30 to $35 range at retail. The yard concentrate starter kit, which includes the hose-end sprayer and a refill pouch, tends to run higher but covers large outdoor areas without additional equipment purchases.
For indoor pest control on a budget, Wondercide’s trigger sprays have a lower barrier to entry. For serious infestations requiring fogging, Cedarcide’s system costs more initially but treats large square footage efficiently. Over time, the ongoing cost depends on how frequently you reapply and how large your treatment area is.
Which One Fits Your Situation
Choose Wondercide if you want a simple, water-based spray you can use on pets and around the house without extra equipment, and if a hose-end yard sprayer appeals to your outdoor routine. It comes in multiple scents, dries lighter, and works well for prevention and light pest pressure. The lower oil content makes it less likely to leave residue on furniture or pet bedding.
Choose Cedarcide if you’re battling a significant indoor infestation and want the fogging option, or if you prefer a longer-lasting oil-based formula that adheres to pet fur and indoor surfaces. The higher cedarwood oil concentration and oil carrier base are designed for stronger, more sustained contact. The fogging system is particularly useful for treating entire rooms, including hard-to-reach areas behind furniture and along baseboards, where fleas and ticks tend to hide.
Both brands are legitimate natural pest control options built around the same core ingredient. The real difference is in how they deliver it and what level of pest problem you’re trying to solve.