One day I was reading my news feed and came across an article that talked about how to keep bees out of your yard with peppermint. Peppermint? They were kidding, right?.
But no. When I searched for “how to keep bees away from me” and “how to repel bees,” I found dozens, if not hundreds, of articles that said peppermint plants or peppermint oil could keep bees away. A lot of articles say that spearmint, which is related to peppermint, works just as well because they are both “natural bee deterrents.” ” Several authors suggested dabbing the oil on yourself like perfume.
Keep Bees at Bay with These Smelly Repellents
Bees play an important role in pollinating plants and crops, but sometimes they can become a real nuisance. Their sting can be painful and for some people even life-threatening. When bees start buzzing around your outdoor living space, nothing ruins a picnic or barbecue faster. Luckily, there are some simple smells that act as natural bee repellents. In this article, we will explore 11 scents that will help keep bees away so you can enjoy bee-free time outside.
#1 – Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is a go-to natural scent for relaxation but bees hate it. The strong floral and herbal notes create an overpowering fragrance that bees find unpleasant. Lavender oil is easy to use – mix a few drops into water in a spray bottle and mist around outdoor seating areas gardens, and doorways. The lingering lavender scent will discourage bees from approaching.
Frequency: 3
#2 – Citronella Oil
Famous for repelling mosquitoes, citronella oil is also an effective bee repellent. Citronella has a strong, lemon-lime fragrance that overpowers bees’ senses. Like lavender oil, mix citronella with water in a spray bottle and apply it liberally around your yard or patio. Reapply after rain to maintain the repellent barriers.
Frequency: 2
#3 – Lemon and Lime Juice
Citrus fruits contain acids that give them their tart, zesty aroma. Bees find the citrusy smell from lemon and lime juice extremely unpleasant. Squeeze some lemons and limes into a spray bottle filled with water and mist it around your outdoor space. For a longer-lasting repellent, rub lemon and lime wedges directly onto surfaces.
Frequency: 2
#4 – Peppermint Oil
The strong menthol odor of peppermint oil is well-known for repelling spiders, ants, and bees. Mix 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil into a water-filled spray bottle. Mist it around door and window frames, garden edges, and anywhere else bees are unwanted. The brisk minty aroma overwhelms bees’ senses and causes them to avoid the area.
Frequency: 5
#5 – Cinnamon
Ground cinnamon has a spicy, earthy fragrance that bees detest. Sprinkle cinnamon powder along window sills, doorway entrances, and picnic table edges. Bees will be discouraged by the overpowering cinnamon smell. Reapply the cinnamon after heavy rain to keep bees away.
Frequency: 3
#6 – Cloves
Cloves have an intensely pungent, floral aroma that bees avoid. Place whole cloves or tie sachets filled with cloves near doors, windows, or in outdoor seating areas. You can also rub clove oil around door and window frames. The lasting clove fragrance will repel bees for up to a week.
Frequency: 2
#7 – Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil has a very strong, medicinal scent that bees find offensive. Add 1-2 teaspoons of eucalyptus oil to a spray bottle filled with water and shake well. Mist it around doorways, garden edges, patios, and any other areas where you don’t want bees lingering. The intense eucalyptus fragrance will overwhelm bees and deter them.
Frequency: 2
#8 – Garlic
Garlic’s pungent aroma can repel all kinds of insects, including bees. Plant garlic cloves around flower beds and gardens to repel bees or rub cut garlic cloves onto surfaces near doors and windows. You can also steep crushed garlic in cooking oil for a few days then wipe the oil onto surfaces. The lingering garlic odor will drive bees away.
Frequency: 2
#9 – Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds have a rich, roasted smell that bees avoid. Spread spent coffee grounds around gardens and flower beds or place small dishes of grounds near doors, patios, and windows. The strong coffee aroma will discourage bees from congregating too close to your home. Replace the used grounds weekly for an ongoing repellent.
Frequency: 1
#10 – Vanilla Extract
Though humans enjoy vanilla’s sweet, fragrant aroma, bees find it overpowering. Soak strips of cloth or cotton balls in vanilla extract and hang or place them around doorways and other bee access points. You can also mix a few tablespoons of vanilla into water to create a spray repellent. The vanilla will mask other attractive scents to bees.
Frequency: 1
#11 – Almond Extract
Similar to vanilla, almond extract has an intense nutty fragrance that bees dislike. Soak cloth strips or cotton balls in almond extract and hang them near potential bee entry points. Bring some soaked cloths along to use as repellents at picnics or outdoor events. The almond fragrance will help keep bees at bay so you can enjoy your time outdoors.
Frequency: 1
The bottom line is there are many smelly substances that can act as natural bee repellents. Strong aromas from essential oils, citrus fruits, spices, and extracts overwhelm bees’ senses and cause them to avoid an area. Test out different smells to find the best bee repellents for your needs. With these fragrant repellents, you can take back your outdoor living space and keep unwanted bees away humanely.
My way-back peppermint experiment
I did an experiment one fall when I was young and didn’t know much about these kinds of things to see which essential oils would make the best bee draw. Something to draw honey bees to their sugar syrup feeders because it looked like they were having trouble finding them at times.
At the time, I had a lot of hives, so I put four buckets filled with sugar syrup fifty feet apart. Each bucket received a few drops of a different essential oil: peppermint, anise, tea tree, and wintergreen. Then I just waited. We were in the midst of a nectar death, so I figured it wouldn’t take long. It didn’t. By the end of the day, all the buckets were empty.
The hands-down winner was anise oil. It looked like all the bees went there first and scraped the bottom clean before moving on to—wait for it—peppermint! Once the peppermint was gone, the bees split up and went to tea tree and wintergreen about equally.
Since then, I’ve used a drop of anise oil for sugar feeders if I have some. If not, I use peppermint and it seems to work just as well. Does that sound like a “natural bee repellent”?.
The product Honey-B-Healthy is designed as a feeding stimulant for honey bee colonies. It is a safe and effective mixture that many beekeepers wouldn’t be without. It’s based on two essential oils: lemongrass and spearmint.
Many other beekeepers and I have used Honey-B-Healthy because it seems to help bees find their syrup and store it. My question is, “Why would it work for thousands of beekeepers if spearmint is a ‘natural bee repellent’”?.
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Where does the nonsense come from?
From reading all this crap on the internet, I’ve learned that most beekeepers know that peppermint and spearmint are great for honey bees. People who don’t know anything about bees are happy to tell you what they think bees like and don’t like. They say you should plant it in your garden or put it on your neck to keep bees away. Not everyone who says they are a beekeeper says the same thing about peppermint, though, so be careful who you listen to.
I did some digging and learned that some insects do, indeed, dislike mint-family plants. These may include ants, spiders, aphids, beetles, caterpillars, flies, and fleas. But I’m not going to check any of this because the University of California lists aphids, leafhoppers, spider mites, some caterpillars, root borers, and thrips as peppermint pests.
Another possible reason for the false information about peppermint is the belief that plants with strong smells, like citronella, keep bugs away. In any case, the advice to use peppermint to keep bees away seems to have come from someone writing about something they don’t understand and then everyone else copying it. Then, after dozens of bloggers have repeated it, you think, “Everybody says it, so it must be right. ”.
From the archives: A rare case of honey intoxication in Seattle.
What smells do bees hate?
FAQ
What smell do bees hate the most?
Do bees hate the smell of vinegar?
Do dryer sheets keep bees away?
What scents keep bees away?
Whether your reason for staying bee-free is for your personal safety, or for the safety of your home and garden, these scents can help you achieve your desired result. Essential Oils – Essential oils such as Lemongrass, Grapefruit, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Citronella are safe and natural options for keeping bees away.
What kind of natural medication works for a bee sting?
Bee stings cause swelling and pain as local symptoms. Anaphylaxis can also occur as a systemic symptom, causing a generalized skin rash, a feeling of dyspnea, hypotension, and disorientation. Topical antihistamines and steroids are used to treat local symptoms. Systemic symptoms may be treated with systemic antihistamines or steroids, and if shock is present, intramuscular adrenaline may be administered.
What plants repel bees naturally?
Citronella, eucalyptus, and marigolds are just a few options that will repel bees naturally and subtly. Bees play an essential role in the pollination of plants, so it’s important to consider how your aromas can help or hurt them.
What smells attract bees?
However, each species of bees might be drawn to different aromas. Here are some of the scents that often attract bees: Sweet aromas – Every species of bees is drawn to sweet-smelling aromas, particularly floral scents such as lavender and rose. They are also fascinated by fruity scents such as passionfruit, pineapple, and honeydew melon.
Are there natural bee repellents?
Not necessarily. There are plenty of natural bee repellents out there that work just as well—with unexpected results. Herbs are a great way to naturally repel bees. Pungent and fragrant herbs like peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, and lavender are especially attractive to bees.
Does citrus repel bees?
Citrus scents are known to repel bees due to their strong and pungent aroma. Bees find these scents overpowering and unpleasant, causing them to stay away. The acidic nature of citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges, contributes to the repellent effect.