Ah the sweet smell of flowers… for many of us, it’s part of what makes summer feel like summer. But for our beloved buzz-buddies, not so much. Let’s dive in and find out what smells bees really can’t stand so we can keep their natural humming chatter alive and buzzing!
1. Uncovering the Aromas Bees Dread
A bee’s survival often depends on its ability to identify and seek out the sweet and fragrant nectar of its favourite flowers. However, not all flowers have the same aroma. In fact, many strong or unknown aromas may seem overwhelming or even repellent to these fuzzy little creatures. This begs the question: what aromas do bees dread?
Research on the Aromas Bees Prefer to Avoid
Bees may be small, but they know a lot more than you think; they’re well aware of the aromas they should try to stay away from. Recent studies have discovered some of the smells that bees don’t like and surprisingly, some of the smells are all around us.
- Citrus fruit: While the scent of citrus is pleasing to humans, it can be overpowering for bees. They tend to avoid strong citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, lemons, and grapefruit.
- Mint and eucalyptus: These fragrances are especially bad for bees. Bees may be drawn to them initially but will fly away quickly when they catch a whiff.
- Chemicals: Bees may also be repelled by the smell of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides.
The Impact of Bees Avoiding Aromas
As bees avoid these and other strong aromas, they are likely to avoid visiting the flowers that produce those scents. This could have a major impact on honey production, as bees bring pollen and nectar back to their hives and work diligently to produce honey. Without the right mix of scents, honey production could decrease significantly.
2. A Buzzworthy Guide to Bee-Free Blooms
Don’t be fooled by the idea that vibrant blooms can only be found via honey-bees! You’d be surprised to know that you can stock up your garden with gorgeous flower varieties without having to think about the infamous insect.
Here’s a handy guide to some notable bee-free blooms:
- Blue Lily of the Nile: This water-loving flower can survive an aquatic setting and still blossom magnificently.
- Gerbera Daisy: Brighten up your garden with daisy varieties boasting colors ranging from soft pinks to yellows.
- Hibiscus: Appreciate the sheer novelty of its giant blossoms, with the most popular type fitting right in with any tropical-themed space.
- Fuchsia: Get ready to be surprised by the eye-catching purple and pink hues of this gigantic bloom.
Bee-free blooms are practically everywhere! All you need to do is a bit of research on what particular species are the perfect fit for your garden. Learn what kind of soil and sun exposure your flowers need, and you’ll be the proud owner of a beautiful and apiary-free hideaway in no time!
3. Scents that Chase Away the Honey Seekers
With so many people flocking around the world seeking out something sweet and satisfying, everyone needs to know about the unique scents that will come to your rescue.
Make sure you always have these three scents on standby to keep the honey seekers away:
- Cinnamon: Just a few drops of cinnamon-scented oil will give your home a cozy, inviting aroma. It’s a powerful scent with notes of sweetness, offering a pleasant contrast to the cloying taste of honey.
- Clove: This comforting scent is warm and inviting, with the subtle spice of cloves. A few drops of clove-scented oil can be enough to fill your home with a pleasant, inviting aroma.
- Lavender: This subtly sweet scent can be soothing and calming, offering a welcome relief from the intense sweetness of honey seekers. A few drops of lavender-scented oil can provide just the right touch of luxury.
These scents can be found in a variety of forms, such as candles, bubble baths, diffusers, and more. With a few drops, you can easily reduce the presence of honey seekers in your home. Soon you’ll find a more peaceful atmosphere that will be enjoyed by all.
4. Keep Bees Away–A Fragrant Facade
Sometimes the smell of flowers is not enough to keep bees away. You can easily create fragrant defense with a few easy ingredients.
- Gather:
- rosemary, one large sprig
- lavender flowers, 5-6 sprigs
- lemon grass, one large stalk
- eucalyptus leaves, 5 large leaves
- apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons
- boiling water, 2 cups
These ingredients will make a fragrant concoction to keep away pesky bees. Start by adding the dry ingredients to the boiling water. Allow the mixture to sit for 15 minutes and then stir in the apple cider vinegar. After the mixture cools, pour it into a spray bottle.
To complete the bee-deterring fragrant facade, spray the concoction around any areas of concern. This mixture not only smells delightful, the scent will help keep pesky bees away.
5. Is Citronella All It’s Buzzed Up to Be?
Citronellal, the active ingredient found in many natural insect repellants, has become increasingly popular in recent years. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?
The answer, as it turns out, can depend on who you’re trying to repel. Citronellal has long been known to be effective against mosquitoes and ticks – two of the most common and persistent backyard pests. In fact, studies have found that it can be just as effective as DEET, the popular chemical ingredient found in many conventional insect repellants. When it comes to good old-fashioned mosquito abatement, citronella is definitely your friend.
But its performance starts to suffer when it comes to bees, wasps, and other stinging insects. While some anecdotal evidence suggests that citronella has some potential to deter these stinging creatures, many experts recommend avoiding citronella-based repellants if your goal is to keep these bugs at bay. There simply isn’t sufficient scientific evidence that it works as well as advertised. Instead, you may want to consider opting for conventional insect repellents which are specifically designed to repel stinging insects.
The bottom line is that citronella is a natural, effective insect repellant for some bugs. But if you’re dealing with stinging insects, it’s best to use conventional repellents to ensure that your family stays safe.
6. Popular Perfumes that Keep the Pollinators at Bay
Our skin loves perfumes, but our planet’s pollinators don’t. While many fragrances put off a strong aroma, some of them have the added bonus of deterring bugs. That means you can stay smelling your best without worrying about being surrounded by buzzing bugs.
- Smugglepunk by Tokyo Milk: This sweet, smoky blend of floral bamboo, sandalwood, and patchouli is long-lasting and won’t attract any unwanted guests.
- Dirty by Commodity: This captivating concoction of bergamot, sandalwood, and orange blossom has an aroma strong enough to repel mosquitoes, while delivering compliments from passers-by.
- Elsa Schiaparelli by Schiaparelli: This classic scent of floral, citrus, and wood will keep pollinators at a safe distance, and its mix of ingredients will make you feel Mediterranean-chic.
Best of all, these perfumes come in a variety of forms. Whether you prefer decadent solid perfumes, delightful rollerballs, modern spray-on bottles, or luxurious liquid washes, these popular items allow you to scent yourself with ease.
By incorporating these wonderful fragrances into your routine, you can upgrade your scent-game without fear of pollinators. Enjoy!
7. Inside an Insect-Repelling Garden
Adding a few key plants to your garden can help keep many of the more pesky varieties of insects away. Planting lemongrass or citronella strategically around flower beds can provide a nice scent, as well as act as a natural insect repellent.
For a fun way to repel happy-hoppers, set up a few shallow saucers of beer around the garden perimeter. You’re sure to draw in the uninvited party-goers, who instead fishtail into the beer and become trapped in the bottoms.
Insect-repellent flowers, such as feverfew and lavender, make great additions to the garden. They’ll fill the air with a scent to keep bugs away in an attractive, pleasing way.
Beneficial Insects
Be mindful of the fact that beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, don’t thrive in the presence of certain types of plants. The following plants are toxic to beneficial insects and should be avoided:
- Monkshood
- Heliotrope
- Yew
- Clematis
- Tobacco
Good air circulation and some strategic planting help keep pests away, so don’t skimp on the pruning. Deadhead flowers and dispose of infected plants to reduce the spread of unwanted critter populations and microbes.
8. Scent-Sational Ways to Discourage Bees
If you’ve got bees in your backyard and can’t seem to get rid of them, there are some creative ways to avoid them. The trick is in the scents! Try these eight ideas for tricky, scent-sational ways to manage bees in your yard:
- Boil citrus peels. Boil orange and lemon peels and let the mixture cool. The potent citrus scents can help repel bees.
- Set salty water out. Soak salt in water and set it out around your garden. Bees won’t bother to move too near the salty scent.
- Plant bee repellent plants. Gardeners can try planting options like marigolds, basil, and lavender to help naturally repel bees.
- Spread an essential oil blend. Essential oil blends with scents like lemongrass, peppermint, cedarwood, or citronella can help ward off bees. A mixture on all four will offer the best coverage.
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Keep these creative tricks in mind when it comes to battling bees in the garden. Try a mix of these eight scents to create an effective, bee-free backyard!
For an extra boost, use bug zappers or blend insect repelling plants with the essential oils. It’ll help keep a variety of bugs out of your garden without any extra effort. For a natural bug repellant that won’t harm nearby pollinators, give these methods a go.
So there you have it – an insight into the fascinating and intricate world of what smells bees hate. We hope you now feel empowered to make smarter decisions about the smells you use to help keep bees away!