When summer rolls around, we all know to expect the buzzing of the bees in the air. From outdoor picnics to enjoying some sun in the yard, bees do play a role in bringing warm weather joy. But when they become a bit too prevalent, it’s important to know what smells will turn them away. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can keep the bees at bay and still enjoy the summer season. Read on to find out how to create an environment that will keep bees away without even trying!
1. Buzz Off! Aromas Bees Avoid
Bees have a powerful sense of smell. They use it to identify potential food sources, pollinators and even the health of their home hive. But, some smells are like no-go zones for the winged pollinators -aromas they absolutely cannot stand!
- From floral to spicy or even just plain leftover food, here are the top aromas bees will try their best to avoid:
1. Citrus Scents
Citrus aromas such as lemon, orange, lime and grapefruit work to effectively mask any kind of sweet scent that draws bees nearby, making it an ideal insect repellent for households and gardens. So, if you’re hosting an outdoor event and don’t want to deal with the hassle of having bees buzzing about, some lemon, lime or grapefruit-scented candles should do the trick.
2. Minty Aromas
Mint works wonderfully as a natural bug repellent, including bees. It’s a potent, menthol-like scent that bees have difficulty dealing with. Aromas of peppermint, spearmint, or eucalyptus can work to give your home or garden an added layer of protection from any kind of unwanted guests.
3. Cloves and Cinnamon
Cloves and cinnamon are two powerful spices that have a long-lasting, unpleasant smell that has enough potency to ward off even the most determined of bees. They can serve as natural alternatives to chemical-based insect-repellents and other man-made products.
2. Sweet Scent-ations: Put Those Pest-Repelling Scents to Work
Combine Different Scents: You don’t need to stick to any one pest-repelling scent. Mix them up depending on what you like, even if its out of the ordinary. Try combining lavender and lemon for its refreshing floral-citrus scent. Or, add some peppermint for a cool, clean punch. You’ll be surprised at the unique aroma you can make.
Go with What Works: Once you find a combination that works for you, stick with it. If certain bugs still linger after a few days, try a different mix. The key is to keep experimenting until you find what drives those pesky pests away.
Try Them Out: Here’s a list of simple experiments you can do to see what works in your own home:
- Burn a scented candle in different areas of the house.
- Place a few drops of scent onto small pieces of cotton and set them on a plate or bowl in corners of the house.
- Try massaging a scented oil into furniture or place it on your window sills.
- Dab a bit of essential oil onto your curtains, furniture, and carpets.
Stay Away: Test out the repellency of a scent by placing a few drops of it on a plate and leaving it near the area where pests are entering or gathering. If the critters don’t gather near it, the scent is working! Give it a few days and watch to see if the pests stay away. If they do, use that scent regularly and smell the sweet victory of keeping those pests away.
3. The Smell of Success: Setting Up Your Defense Against Bees
The best defense against bees, both honey and all other varieties, is prevention. Though they can sting sharp and hurt quite a bit, bees don’t always need to be seen as unwanted pests. There are multiple steps you can take to construct a lush, bee-friendly perimeter around your home.
- Carefully choose your plants so that the environment looks and smells amazing to bees but not so charming to other intrusive insects.
- Place bee boxes and bee houses around the area to provide a safe spot for our pollinating friends to rest and feed.
- Minimize the use of pesticides in your garden, as many can be harmful to bee populations.
These careful steps will create a rose-scented wall of defense around your home, setting you and your bee friends up for success. When it comes to setting up your outdoor space, pick plants that emit calming scents like lavender, mint, and chamomile to ensure a scent that’s as sweet as the honey they produce.
Creating a smell of success takes time and effort, but the right combination of fragrances around your home can provide an inviting aroma to bees and other pollinators, as well as providing a natural form of defense. Keep your garden clean and in order, and fill it with these warm, nectar-like scents for a happily buzzing atmosphere.
4. Plant Power: Natural Ways to Keep Bees at Bay
Spiders, ants, and bee tend to attack our homes when they swarm in search of food. But you don’t always have to resort to pesticides and chemical sprays to keep them away. Here’s a few tried and true methods of using plant power to keep bees at bay:
Plant Pollen-Rich Flowers: Planting pollen-rich flowers and herbs can help draw bees away from your home. Perennial favorites like lavender, sunflowers, and rosemary, as well as colorful annuals like salvia, can provide bees an alternative source of sustenance.
Create a Barrier: Planting basil, citronella, and thyme around your yard’s perimeter can act as natural insect repellent. And to really add a punch, intermingle with flowering plants to attract pollinators.
Say No To Pesticides: Pesticides are toxic not just for bees, but for humans and other beneficial insects as well. So, no matter the temptation, do not use any chemical sprays on your plants or garden.
Create a Bee Hotel: Bee hotels don’t just eliminate bees from your property, they help protect bees from extinction as well. Invite them to create a home away from your house, by creating a bee-friendly environment for them. Install a bee box away from flowers and let them inhabit the space.
- Keep flower patches far away from your home
- Plant herbs and trees with fragrant oils in your garden
- Avoid the use of chemical pesticides to control pests
- Set up a bee hotel in an isolated corner of your yard
5. Say No to Synthetics: Avoid These Unwanted Smells to Prevent Bee Invasions
When it comes to protecting our environment, avoiding certain scents is the first step. Bees, which play a vital role in the ecosystem, can be alarmed by synthetic odors, leading them to swarm and even invade our homes. To avoid unwanted and potentially dangerous invasions, stay away from these scents:
- Laundry Detergent: Most commercial laundry detergents contain fragrances and other additives. Even natural laundry detergents often contain beeswax, which may attract bees. Therefore, it’s best to stick to plain and unscented detergents.
- Perfume and Cologne: Perfumes and colognes are made from artificial, synthetic scents that are highly attractive to bees. To protect yourself and the environment, you should avoid over-spraying these scents.
- Household Cleaners: Many household cleaners contain strong artificial smells, like ammonia or bleach. While these are effective cleaning solutions, it may be wise to seek natural cleaners to protect yourself and the environment from synthetic scents.
Avoiding these scents is not only important for preventing bee invasions, it is also important for our environment. Bees are essential for maintaining the fragile balance of nature and provide us with essential pollination, so it is in our best interest to keep them safe by reducing the amount of synthetic scents that they may encounter.
Therefore, if you’re looking to protect your home and the planet, it’s important to ensure you are using natural, unscented products that won’t attract these beautiful and vital creatures.
6. Spritz & Shake: Tactics to Insure a Bee-Free Zone
When you need to keep bees off your property, there are a few recommended tactics you can use to increase your chances for success.
Spritz: Bees hate the smell of certain fragrances, like mint. You can use this to your advantage by spraying a mixture of mint water around your property. To make this concoction, steep some mint leaves in a pot of hot water for about 10 minutes. Once it cools, pour it into a spray bottle and spritz it around your home as often as you like. This will act as a natural insect repellent and should keep bees away.
Shake: Another way to deter bees is to shake them away with vibrations. Place a humming object such as a vibrating fan or a wind-chime near the area where bees tend to hang around. The vibrations should make them uncomfortable enough to fly away.
These methods are easy to do and cost very little, so be sure to give them a try if you hope to create a bee-free zone in your home:
- Spray a mint water mixture around the house.
- Place vibrating objects near areas where bees tend to linger.
7. Keeping It Clean: The Importance of Removing Unwanted Odors
Unwelcome odors can take over a room and turn even the happiest environment into something less than pleasant. It’s important to know the right steps to eliminate stubborn smells and keep the air fresh and clean.
When it comes to getting rid of bad odors, there are a few tried-and-true methods. For one, opening a window to allow fresh air to enter the space is a great way to clear the air. To go even further, it helps to do a deep clean of the area to eliminate the source of the smell. Vacuuming carpets and furniture, along with wiping down any surfaces, can help to reduce any existing odors.
Another way to eliminate odors is to use special scented and air freshening products. These can help to mask any lingering smells that may be sticking around. To make it even more effective, look for special odor eliminating sprays that neutralize existing odors instead of just covering them up. Some products come in handy convenient sizes, so you can travel with them and stay smelling fresh no matter where you go.
Finally, it helps to keep the space well ventilated. Airing it out can help to refresh and renew the air, while a humidifier can help to keep moisture levels balanced. With these steps, you’ll be able to keep unwanted odors at bay and always have a fresh and pleasant smelling room.
8. Put Out the Welcome Mat: Blends to Attract Beneficial Pollinators
It could be argued that flowers are nature’s most vivacious musicians – they create a harmonious symphony to welcome beneficial pollinators. To make sure your garden is ready to hit the right notes, stirring up your soil with a healthy blend of trees, shrubs and flowers is the best way to go. Here are the best plant combinations for success:
- Mix Sweet and Savory: By including a combination of sweet-smelling blossoms like lavender and strong-scented herbs like rosemary, you’ll attract a diverse range of pollinators.
- Structure it Right: From trees, shrubs, and perennials, to flower beds and garden paths, structure your garden to offer a wide range of flowers. This allows different pollinators to rest, escape from the wind and sip on nectar.
- Know the Seasons: The secret to a colorful and long-lasting garden lies in succession planting – choose flowering plants that will bloom in succession throughout the year. This way you’ll have something in bloom all season long and attract different varieties of pollinators – in all shapes, sizes, and ages.
Combining native plants with alternative ones, making sure they grow in the appropriate soil, and spacing them correctly guarantees a garden to be proud of. As the season goes on, you will be able to listen to their pollinator-attracting symphony throughout summer and watch your garden reach even greater heights!
From odorous food to overbearing fragrances, steer clear of these smells to keep your buzzing friends away. Whether you’re a beekeeper, aspiring bee advocate, or an individual simply looking to do your part in protecting our precious bees, avoid the scents they just can’t stand and remember to stay away!
