As brightly colored flowers grow, so too does the knowledge of the fascinating relationship between flowers and bees. From the many vibrant petals to the hidden but powerful aromas, the interaction between the two is a testament to nature’s great beauty and diversity. But as intriguing as it is, there’s something many people don’t know: there are certain scents that bees just can’t stand. Read on to discover the secret scents bees absolutely loathe.
1. Nothing Sweet About These Scents
Are you someone who finds sweet scents nauseating? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are plenty of room fragrances that won’t make your stomach turn. Here’s a look at some of the more unique and unusual aromas that you might want to try out when it’s time to freshen up your home:
- Sandalwood: Sandalwood is a warm, subtly sweet, and woody scent with a slightly pungent finish that stays in the air for quite a while. It’s known for its calming and soothing properties, relaxing the mind and creating a tranquil space.
- Cedarwood: Cedarwood has the unique ability to be both stimulating and calming. It has a woody, earthy, and slightly sweet aroma that many people find to be comforting and uplifting.
- Vetiver: Vetiver is a thick, musky scent with an earthy and smoky aroma that often smells a little bit spicy. It’s excellent for relaxation and can help to improve your mood.
- Palo Santo: This distinctive scent has notes of sweet citrus and wood, making it an excellent choice in the living room or bedroom. It’s known for its cleansing properties and could help to create a relaxing atmosphere.
These four fragrances are great alternatives to overly sweet scents that are liable to offend your nose. The calmer aromas might even help you to feel more at ease when it’s time to snuggle up on the couch after a long day. So why not give them a try and experience something a bit outside of the ordinary for a change.
If you want something a little different, you could also try mixing these scents together. Unique combinations can be created that can evoke all kinds of emotions and feelings. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can go wild and mix up many different odors to create a truly unique space.
2. A Noseful of Aromas Bees Don’t Like
When it comes to keeping bees safe and healthy, one of the first things you need to be aware of is the smells that might be off-putting and even harmful to them. Here are a couple aromas bees might want to steer clear of.
Pungent Chemical Smells - Pots of pesticide, insecticide, or other chemical-based solutions shouldn’t be around the hive. Chemicals can be toxic or used as a repellent, and having them close to the hive can upset the bees.
Strong Flowers – A single flower with a strong smell can make beekeeping a little complicated. Depending on their volatile perfume, some flowers can chase out bees rather than attract them. Marigolds, four-o’clocks, and petunias are just a few strong-smelling nuisance flowers for bees.
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- Garlic
- Onions
- Cilantro
- Sage
Cheap/Strong Incenses – It’s a rule of thumb that bees don’t like anything artificial or overly fragrant. A cheap incense can have many unpleasant and strong odours that could waft into the hive. If you’re a beekeeper, it’s probably best to stay away from these.
Taking precautions when it comes to smells can help keep your bees safe from these odours that can be off-putting and even disruptive to them. Avoiding strong perfumes, pesticides, and strong-smelling flowers is a good way to help bees live their best lives.
3. Fragrances That Keep Buzzing Pests Away
When it comes to keeping pesky bugs away, fragrances can be your best friend! Here are some of the most effective fragrances for helping keep those critters away:
- Citronella– Citronella is one of the most popular fragrances when it comes to mosquito prevention. When burned or sprayed, citronella essential oils can help repel mosquitoes and other flying insects.
- Lavender– Lavender is often used to help fight off sleep or create a peaceful atmosphere, but it can also be effective for deterring mosquitoes, flies and other bugs.
- Rosemary– Rosemary is another great natural scent to use for repelling insects. When burned, it will help keep those pesky bugs away.
- Eucalyptus– Eucalyptus is a very common insect repellent, especially for mosquitos, ticks and fleas. The strong smell of eucalyptus can help keep pests away for a long time.
If you’re looking for a natural and effective way to keep bugs away, you can’t go wrong with any of these fragrances. All you have to do is find a way to burn or spray them around your home and you’ll be set for a pest-free summer!
Plus, burning or spraying these fragrances around your home can be fun and relaxing. There’s nothing like the smell of citronella, lavender, rosemary or eucalyptus to help fill your home with a pleasant and bug-free aroma.
4. How to Deter Bees with Aromas
When honeybees become a nuisance, there are some aromas you can use to deter their presence. Though the same is true of many animals, however, some aromas have proven to repel bees more effectively than they do other animals.
- Lemon – bees aren’t particularly fond of the scent of lemons, as it’s not the natural scent of flowers or anything that could attract them. Place half of a lemon in areas where you’d like to deter bees, such as on windowsills or doorsteps.
- Mint – this refreshing fragrance may be pleasing to you, but it does not have the same effect on the bee population. Put fresh leaves or an oil-based diffuser with a minty essential oil in areas where you’d like to prevent bees from entering.
- Garlic – the heinous smell of garlic is a strong deterrent for bees and other pests. You may not want to attract your guests with this smell, but you could try it if you don’t have other alternatives. Blocks of garlic cloves work best.
Though these aromas can help deter bees from entering, it’s important to remember that they’re not a long-term solution. If you have chronic problems with bees entering your space, it’s best to contact an extermination service as soon as possible.
5. Sprawled Out Scents Bees Don’t Enjoy
The diverse array of smells that bees have the capacity to detect is also accompanied by some aromas that they actively try to avoid. As you attempt to attract honeybees to your garden, here are five sprawled out scents bees aren’t fond of.
1. Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals usually found in garden and household sprays that are used to exterminate an array of pests. Unfortunately, these same sprays contain toxins that have been known to cause severe damage to honeybees. To ensure that honeybees are drawn towards your garden instead of being deterred, always opt for natural pesticide options or simply avoid them altogether.
2. Highly Fragrant Plants
While the attractive odor of certain plants have been known to seduce bees, certain strong smelling plants have the opposite effect. Plants such as lavender and peppermint have been known to repel bees, so it’s best to check that the fragrant plants you choose don’t coincide with bees’ no-go aromas.
3. Fleabane
Freebane, a member of the daisy family, is believed to be a bee powerhouse unaware of its own strength. While most of the time this beneficial plant allows bees to reap its substantial rewards, certain times its aroma has also been known to turn away many a helpful honeybee.
4. Human Odors
Some bees have been found to have aversions to certain human odors. People that regularly use colognes or fragrances may unknowingly be driving away certain bees from making their way to their gardens. It’s best to keep yourself and your fragrance choices in check to avoid deterring winged visitors from joining in the fun.
5. Toxin-Filled Scents
Not only do honeybees have a sharp sense of smell, but their noses have the unique ability to detect toxins in a matter of minutes. Scents that may be the cause of certain toxins, such as chemicals from paint and gasoline, are especially detested by honeybees who are repelled by their unmistakable smell.
6. Learning to Love the Un-Bees-lovables
It’s been said that some of the most intelligent creatures on this earth cannot be seen by the human eye. That’s right – the un-bees-lovables, or as they’re more commonly known, insects. These small creatures often get a bad reputation, but there is more than meets the eye.
- Many insects make up many important species of diverse ecosystems – gardens, forests, deserts and wetlands.
- Some insects provide food for other animals, like the beloved bees that pollinate to provide us with fruit, vegetables and much more.
- More than that, the important roles and relationships between insects is something to admire and appreciate.
The idea of getting up close and personal with precious bugs can be something of a nightmare, but trust us – the rewards for doing so are well worth it. If you can override your natural fear, you’ll be rewarded with a window into a world that you may never have suspected existed!
Studying these mini-beasts can improve knowledge about their ecology and add to the understanding of how to best look after habitats for our fragile insect acquaintances.
7. Keeping a Bee-Free Environment with Scented Defenses
No one likes to have bees buzzing around, especially when they’re in your own backyard. But, luckily, there are ways to keep bees away from your outdoor areas without having to use harsh chemicals or traps. The key is to find the right methods that work for your particular bee problem. One of the most effortless and successful ways to keep bees away is to use scented defenses.
Simple scents that emit certain smells that bees don’t like can help deter them from your outdoor area. Certain flowers, for example, have strong smells that are unpleasant to bees. Planting a variety of these flowers around your garden and other areas can help keep them away without doing any harm. Lavender plants, in particular, have a strong fragrance that repels bees. Other flowers known to be effective include coneflowers, mint, and chrysanthemums.
Creating a perimeter of these scented plants will also help keep bees away. Planting them along the edges of fencing or walls will keep them from entering. And remember, if you want to keep bees away from a specific area, make sure that the smells reach that spot.
The use of scented defenses can be a great alternative to harsh pesticides or traps to keep bees away. However, it should be noted that this method may not stop all bee visits. To help keep your outdoor area bee-free, try using a few different methods together. For example, mix scented defenses with other bee deterrents such as scare devices and insecticides.
8. The Aromas Bees Dislike Most
When you think of bees you generally think of sweet smelling flowers with delicious aromas, but what beekeepers need to be aware of is that not all plants have a lovely scent. Some of the worst aromas and smells for bees to be around are ones such as:
- Strong cloves
- Pungent minty smells
- Disagreeable onion odor
- Foul garlic scents
It’s best to avoid these aromatic smells when around your hive as it can have a very negative effect on the bee population. Not only are they unpleasant for bees, it can even cause the entire hive to uproot and move away to a more suitable location.
In addition to the offensive smells mentioned above, bees also dislike certain essential oils that are used in a variety of products. Although derived from plants, essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint create an overwhelming aroma that can be a bit too strong for these delicate creatures. Oftentimes, these smells can be mistaken for a food source and attract more bees than you’re ready to deal with.
So, use caution and moderation when you decide to use any of these aromas or essential oils. Keep their reactions in mind and experiment with different fragrances so that you can make sure your bees are always happy and healthy.
The next time you find yourself in a swarm of bees, it’s worth keeping in mind the scent of peppermint or cinnamon. When it comes to protecting yourself from these buzzing creatures, embracing the aromas of nature may be just what you need!