From the fragrant aroma of a blooming garden to a freshly cut lemon, smells are something that can transport us into another world just with a single whiff. But did you know that bees don’t have such a pleasant relationship with the scents that the rest of us enjoy? Read on to uncover the smells that bees definitely don’t like!
1. Sweet, Sour & Spicy: Bee-Repelling Scents
Nothing is quite as sweet as fresh flowers, and the same is true for unwanted bees! These buzzing stowaways are drawn to sweet and floral scents, but you can use a few fragrances to keep them away.
- Citrus: Reach for lemon, lime, tangerine, and grapefruit to ward off bees. The sweet, yet sour aroma will confuse them and keep them away.
- Mint: Sap and oils like menthol, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and wintergreen are excellent for deterring bees.
- Spicy: You won’t be able to make a spicy-scented bee repellent yourself, but many commercial products include cayenne pepper, rosemary, or other high-heat ingredients to repel bees.
The trick is to choose a few scents that won’t attract bees and combine them into a homemade repellent blend. Experiment with different combinations and find what works best for you. When you have your combination, there are several ways to spread the scent.
- Make a spray by adding your preferred essential oils to water and mist your outdoor areas.
- Simmer the fresh herbs on the stove for a soothing, bee-repelling scent.
- Boil water with chopped-up citrus peels for a zesty fragrance.
You can also help bees find a new home by planting bee-friendly flowers and herbs in your garden. Keeping the pesky buzzing away can be a challenge, but with the right combination of sweet, sour, and spicy scents, you can be sure the bees won’t be bothering you anytime soon!
2. Aromas that Send Bees Buzzing Away
It’s no secret that bees are enticed by some aromas. But what are the aromas that send them buzzing away?
Essential oils have been studied closely in the hope of understanding the bee’s behavior better. Here’s what has been found so far:
- Orange oil – This essential oil has been credited with keeping bees away from its presence.
- Eucalyptus oil – This essential oil has also been known to be able to keep bees away. It has been used in various methods to treat various illnesses.
Other essential oils used to deter bees from areas include citronella, rosemary and lavender.
By understanding what kind of aromas can help keep bees away, it’s possible to create an environment that is less hospitable to them. This can be of great use to people who may not be able to keep the bees away manually.
3. What Flowers Bloom with Fragrances Bees Despise?
Not all flowers are equal in the bee’s eyes; some are happily visited while others are bitingly rebuffed. To create an idyllic outdoor space, then, one should take these preferences into account.
Fortunately for bee-averse gardeners there is a plethora of flowers which lack appeal to the often-pesky insect, but which still pack a powerful punch in terms of vibrant colors and potent fragrances. These include:
- Azaleas: These vividly-hued blossoms are renowned for their surprisingly strong scent, which subtly lingers on the evening breeze.
- Frangipani: These vivid blooms are a rarity, but make up for it in their enchanting scent. Not to bees, however!
- Carnations: Splashes of color and a strong odor, these hardy plants are as appealing to gardeners as they are repellent to bees.
In addition to these beloved plants, there are also a few herbs and grass varieties which daub a meadow with color and also prove unpalatable to bees. These include lavender, catmint, and Meadow Foam.
Why not explore your local garden store and find the flowers and herbs which harmonize with your outdoor space requirements, all while keeping bee numbers down? It’s a win-win for everyone!
4. The A-B-C’s of Bee-Deterring Smells
When it comes to keeping the bees at bay, you can use different smells to deter them away. Here are :
- Aromatic herbs – Aromatic herbs like lavender, basil, and chamomile work great as natural bee-repellants. When these herbs are burned, they give off a strong scent that repels the bees away from the vicinity.
- Citrus scents – Citrus scents can also help repel the bees. Whether it is lemon or orange peels, the sour smell of these fruits keeps the bees away from certain areas. Try spraying some of the scent on outdoor umbrellas or near your garden.
- Essential oils – Essential oils can be potent and effective in repelling bees. Some of the most recommended oils include peppermint, clove, and cinnamon oil. You can use an essential oil diffuser to spread the scent around your backyard.
Although these scents are beneficial against bees, it is important to note that not all bees will be deterred. This means that you should still use other methods, such as mesh screening or chemical sprays, in order to have the most successful bee control. If you combine these methods with the bee-repelling smells, you should have much better success in keeping the bees away.
By knowing the ABC’s of bee-deterring smells, you can enjoy a peaceful day outside without worrying about pesky buzzing insects.
5. The Science of Foul-Smelling Florae
When ruminating over the potential wonders of science, it’s difficult to imagine anything more unpleasant than foul-smelling flowers. The truth is, these peculiar florae are a fascinating result of intricate biological evolution, making them a subject of great scientific interest. Here are just five of the interesting scientific facts surrounding these peculiar plants.
- Flowers Evolve to Smell Bad to Appease Predators – Nature is an incredibly impressive feedback system, with creatures evolving over time to fit the world around them. Many flowers evolved to produce unpleasant odors with the intention of thwarting predators, such as elephants. While the smell of the flower might be distasteful, many flowers also contain beneficial enzymes and proteins which actually make them attractive to pollinators.
- The Nastiest Flowers Get the Most Attention – Like moths to a flame, many pollinators are most attracted to the putrid scent of some flowers. A recent study conducted by a top American university found that a large percentage of the saliva produced by these petrichor-loving pollinators had traces of foul-smelling flora in it.
- Different Cultures View Unpleasant Scented Flowers Differently – Different cultures and regions view flowers with foul odors a bit differently. In some countries, it’s seen as an indicator of good luck, while in others, it’s seen as an omen. In Japan, chrysanthemums with the strongest odours are seen as symbols of purity and strength.
So there you have it; a showcase of just five of the interesting scientific facts surrounding the fascinating world of foul-smelling flowers. It’s a strange and intriguing subject, and one that science is still researching to this day. Who knows what else we might discover about these weird and wonderful plants?
6. Understanding Bees’ Nasal Reactions to Aroma
Bees are incredibly specialized when it comes to smell. Their specialized receptors enable them to detect different aromas and sense their subtleties in ways humans can’t even imagine. They can even be trained to recognize different kinds of odors with just a few instances of exposure.
So what happens when they encounter certain aromas? Well, bees’ noses, like their eyes, act like a key and lock mechanism. When they smell a certain scent, their nasal receptors bind to the aroma, and this interaction forms an electrical signal that is interpreted as a smell within the bee’s brain.
There are two distinct types of reactions that bees have to scents:
- the first type of response is a positive reaction: this is when the bee is attracted to the scent and is motivated to seek out more of it
- the second type is a negative reaction: when bees have an avoidance to the aroma or it frightens them into fleeing the scene
For bees, the reactions to scents depend on the species, as different bees may have different thresholds for odors. In most cases, strong odors or unfamiliar scents can cause bees to become defensive or to flee. On the other hand, certain aromas are attractive to bees, and they may linger around the source for an extended period of time. This helps them to learn about the scent so that they can return to it in the future.
7. Crafting Aromatic Area Deterrents to Ward off Bees
Natural Elements You Can Utilize for Your DIY Bee Repellent
To make a DIY bee repellent to drive away incoming bees, all you need are a few simple ingredients. Here are some natural items you can choose from:
- Citrus peel – citrus not only has a strong scent, but the acidity also irritates bees.
- Mint – mint has a strong smell and has a cooling effect on the bees.
- Camphor – as a natural insect repellent, camphor works to ward off pesky bees.
- Garlic and Onion – these common household ingredients also serve as natural bee deterrents.
Firstly, collect whichever ingredients you want to use in your repellent and combine them all into a small container. You can also add some water to help the mixture diffuse into the air. Once your DIY bee repellent is ready, you just need to place it in the vicinity of your area. You can tie it to a tree branch, place it on a high shelf, or probably set it up on a balcony. You choose however you deem fit to create an aroma and hopefully, ward off any incoming bees.
If things don’t seem to be going in the way you want, you can give a few of these ideas a try. A simple mix of detergent, alcohol, and water in a spray bottle can help bring the unwelcome bees in your area to a standstill. Applying a mixture of cornstarch and water to areas can also work as a bee repellent. You can even mix honey and garlic together and spray it into areas prone to bee attacks.
8. Gardening with Scents that Bee’s Hate
If you have ever tried to maintain a beautiful garden, you know how important it is to keep pesky bugs away. While there are a variety of ways to ward off critters, one of the most effective methods is to choose plants with fragrances that bee’s and other insects don’t like. Below are a few of the best plants that will keep your garden clear of unwelcome visitors.
Marigolds
- Native to Central and South America
- Strong scent deters insects
- Colorful and decorative
Tansy
- An aromatic herb, that’s been widely used since ancient times
- Gorgeous yellow flowers
- Tansy’s pungent herbal fragrance is strongly disliked by the majority of bugs
Lavender
- Beautiful purple flowers
- Highly fragrant, recognizable aroma
- Studies have found that Lavender is particularly unappealing to bee’s and other bugs
By surrounding your garden with these scented plants, you’ll be keeping your land bug-free in a natural and attractive way. Planting fragrant plants to deter bugs is just one of the many tricks you can employ to maintain a flourishing and peaceful garden.
Bees may be thought of as gentle creatures, but underneath their fuzzy exteriors is an aversion to certain smells that they can’t help but flee from. With this knowledge, you can now create a safe and friendly environment for bees without making them feel threatened. It’s a small but significant way to appreciate and protect an important part of nature.
