Every morning we enjoy the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the house. But did you know that the alluring aroma of coffee grounds can also help repel one particular type of unwelcome guest – bees! Learn how to use scent to keep bees away and make sure your outdoor activities remain peaceful and bee-free.
1. Buzzing Off: Exploring Scent-Based Ways to Deter Bees
Springtime means it’s time to enjoy picnics and lounging in the sun, but it also heralds a new batch of unwanted guests – bees! Bees are essential for their role in pollination and maintaining biodiversity, but no one wants them buzzing around their head. Luckily, there are many ways to deter bees without directly harming them.
One effective way to make your area less appealing to bees is to use scent-based products. This can include an assortment of things from fragrant plants to scented candles. Lavender, mint, and eucalyptus are all known to be effective deterrents to bees. In addition to planting these around your yard, you can also burn them in the form of candles to keep bees away from your outdoor spaces.
Here are some other scent-based products you can use to repel bees:
- Essential oil infusions: Use natural essential oils in a water-based solution to spray around the area. Popular scent choices include lavender and eucalyptus.
- Citronella torches: Citronella torches will provide scent and keep bugs away. Best done in an outdoor area with some form of light source.
- Herbal sachets: Tuck herbal sachets into drawers, closets, and anywhere else to naturally deter bees.
With so many options for using scents to deter bees, you can keep your outdoor spaces safe and attractive to you, not the bees. Enjoy your summer picnic without all the buzzing with these natural insect repellants!
2. Why Do Bees Stay Away From Certain Scents?
Bees have an incredible sense of smell, allowing them to detect nectar from several metres away. But bee’s sensitive noses also make them highly sensitive to certain smells.
Flowers and other plants don’t need to worry about smelling too strongly for bees, as these fragrant scents are always a welcome sign. But some smells bees can find off-putting and can in fact drive them away.
- Strong Fragrances: Not only can strong scents like perfumes deter bees, but strong plant-based smells can drive them away as well. Lavender is particularly distasteful to bees, possibly because it doesn’t contain any nectar.
- Acidic Smells: Citrus and vinegar-based smells aren’t attractive to bees either. Sweet smells are attractive to bees, however acidic smells are simply seen as unpleasant.
- Pesticides: A few pesticides can have a severe effect on bees, drying out their wax-covered wings or damaging them internally. This makes them steer clear of any potential contact and so they should never be used in bee-friendly gardens.
In the end, bee anatomy is so complex that their individual preferences can be quite surprising and nuanced. As such, it’s always worth double-checking whether a particular scent might turn out to be unappealing. This way, honeybees and other pollinators can be kept safe and happy.
3. Scents That Repel – Types & Styles
Insect Repellents
Insect repellents come in a variety of forms and types, including sprays, shampoos and scented soaps. DEET is one of the most popular chemical-based insect repellents and is found in most repellent sprays. Other chemical-based products usually include Citronella, geraniol, and chemical mixtures containing these ingredients.
For a more natural option, plants and herbs such as lavender, citronella, and peppermint can frequently be used to ward off insects. As a bonus, they smell wonderful too. Here are some other natural scents that may help keep the pests away:
- Lemon
- Basil
- Garlic
- Sage
- Thyme
These natural insect repellents can be used in many ways, such as:
- Burning natural scented candles
- Sprinkling the essential oils of herbs around outdoor areas
- Planting herb gardens to keep insects from entering the area
Essential oils can also be added to lotions, sprays and soaps to create custom repellents that smell great and work against different types of bugs. For example, if you’re only dealing with mosquitoes, create a blend that contains lavender and eucalyptus essential oils.
4. Benefits of Wearing or Displaying Bee Deterrents
If you’ve had enough of buzzing bees in your property, it’s time to stoop to their level–literally! Wearing or displaying bee deterrents can be an effective way to ward them off and protect yourself and your outdoor area. Here are four key benefits of using a bee control solution:
- Protection from Stings: Bee deterrents offer an important layer of protection from being stung. Many deterrents are designed with bright colors that mimic the appearance of a predator and scare away even the most stubborn of bees.
- Cost-Effective Solution: Unlike chemical-based solutions, a deterrent is a low-cost and sustainable solution. Most deterrents also require little to no maintenance and last for many seasons.
- Safe for Plants and Pollinators: Many bee deterrents are designed to be harmless and safe to the environment and other pollinators. They come with no synthetic chemicals or toxins, so you can be sure that your garden and other eco-systems will stay healthy and vibrant.
- Easy to Install: Most deterrents are easy to install and use, and some can even be set up in no time. Depending on the product, you may even be able to adjust the settings to suit your specific needs.
Wearing or displaying bee deterrents can help keep pests away while still allowing other pollinators, like butterflies, to thrive in your outdoor space–making it a win-win situation. With the right deterrent, you can enjoy your outdoor area without fear of stings and swarms of bees.
5. How to Use Scents to Keep Bees Away
There are a few scents you can use to keep pesky bees away from you. 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. You can either diffuse them around the outside of your home with a diffuser, or make an outdoor spray for your plants or outdoor furniture. Only use small amounts and spray once it has cooled.
Vinegar – A mixture of vinegar, water and a few drops of dish soap is a greatbee deterrent. This solution can be sprayed directly onto the affected areas. The vinegar and soap combination creates an effective yet safe barrier that bees won’t cross. Re-apply periodically, especially after rain.
Natural predators – Having creatures such as praying mantis, centipedes, spiders, and dragonflies around your outdoor space can help you keep the pesky bees at bay. These predators feed on bees and will naturally take care of the problem for you!
Using scents to keep bees away is an effective and safe solution to keep you, your home and your garden free of pesky bees. Consider some of the above options and see which works best for you!
6. Natural & Man-Made Ingredients That Repel Bees
When it comes to defending your outdoor fun from pesky bees, it’s important to know what natural and man-made ingredients can help you safely get rid of them. Here are 6 of the most common and effective ingredients that could help you remove bees from your outdoor areas.
Essential Oils – Essential oils have been used for centuries to deter bees. Examples of essential oils include peppermint, spearmint, lemongrass and eucalyptus. Not only do these oils work well at repelling bees, they also have insect control benefits along with aromatherapy.
Organic Vinegar – Organic vinegar is quite popular among those who are wanting to create a pest-free backyard. All you have to do is mix some organic vinegar and water into a spray bottle then spray it around doors, windows, and other areas where bees congregate.
Cayenne Pepper – Another natural and effective way to keep bees at bay is with cayenne pepper. You can mix up a concoction of equal parts water and cayenne pepper, then spray it around the areas you want to protect. The spice will irritate the bees and make them fly away.
Garlic Spray – Garlic is one of the most popular ingredients for making a natural bug repellent. To make a garlic spray, mix some minced garlic with water and a few drops of dish soap. Then simply, spray the mixture around your backyard to deter bees.
Paraffin Wax – Paraffin wax is a man-made method of getting rid of bees. The wax can be sprayed around doors, windows, and other areas that bees are attracted to. This wax will keep the bees away and prevent them from entering your outdoor spaces.
Horticultural Oil – Horticulture oil can be a great way to keep bees away, as it can form a physical barrier to keep them from entering your outdoor space. You can mix the oil with water and spray it around the areas that you want to protect from bee activity.
7. Creating Your Own Repel Mixture w/ Essential Oils
Making your own repel mixture with essential oils is a great, eco-friendly way to protect yourself from pests naturally. It takes only a few minutes to make your own repellent with just a few simple ingredients. Read on to find out how you can easily create your own safe and effective repellent with essential oils.
First, you’ll need to collect the ingredients. Choose a combination of two or three of the following: Citral, geraniol, eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, clove, lavender, or thyme.
Once you have your ingredients, mix them all together with some witch hazel and distilled water. Select a roll-on bottle or an aerosol spray bottle for applying your mixture. Fill the bottle with the blend of oils, witch hazel and distilled water, and shake well to combine.
- You can experiment with different concentrations and combinations of essential oils for different results.
- Be sure to store the mixture in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
Finally, when you’re ready to use your mixture, apply it liberally to your skin or clothing, making sure to cover all exposed areas. Spray it around your house, camp site, or wherever you want protection from pests. You should reapply your repellent every few hours to ensure full coverage and protection.
8. Keeping Bees Away – Long-Term Solutions
- Plant Basil or Mint – Both of these herbs naturally repel bees. Grow them in flower pots or your garden to reduce the attraction of those pesky little bugs to your outdoor living space.
- Build a Bee Hotel – Make a homemade bee hotel out of bamboo tubes, wood blocks, reed nesting tubes, and paper straws. Attach them to a wooden board and locate them in an area away from your home, but easily reachable by bees.
- Attract Natural Predators – These predators, like birds, spiders and wasps, can help reduce the bee population while keeping your home clear of them. Plant certain flowers and shrubs that these predators find attractive and they’ll do the rest.
Next, you’ll want to invest in exclusion techniques. Install screens on your windows and doors to keep bees away, as well as limiting possible entry points by sealing cracks and crevices. In addition, you can build bee-proof screens that add more obstacle for bees trying to enter your home.
Keep in mind, bees can still find a way in if there’s food available. Thus, you should make sure to always dispose of garbage properly and store your food in sealed containers to limit their access.
Finally, to enjoy an outdoor space without the buzz of bees try using an ultrasonic device. This device emits high frequency sound waves that repel bees and other insects from outdoors. Ready to enjoy the buzz-less bliss of your own gardens? Incorporating scents to repel bees is an easy, natural way to keep them buzzin’ off elsewhere. No more irritating swarms and no more struggling to find the right way out of their way. As long as you have the right scents, you’ll have the perfect bee-free haven for the summer!
