Is there an essential oil to keep wasps away
David Edwards
Updated on April 26, 2026
Research published in the Journal of Pest Management Science found that a combination of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils successfully repelled wasps.
What scent do wasps hate?
Wasps have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find food sources. You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as peppermint, lemongrass, clove, and geranium essential oils, vinegar, sliced cucumber, bay leaves, scented herbs, and geranium flowers.
How do you keep wasps away naturally?
Mix together a few drops of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils to naturally repel wasps. You can add this essential oil blend to a spray bottle along with a few tablespoons of dish soap, fill the rest of the water bottle up with water, and shake.
What essential oil do wasps hate?
Peppermint oil on its own has been shown to keep wasps and bees at bay, or you can use a combination of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils as a natural pest control method.What smells do bees and wasps not like?
Simply incorporate scents that humans find pleasant and bees find repulsive. Some of these off-putting fragrances are peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and thyme.
Do wasps like peppermint oil?
Use peppermint essential oil Not only do wasps stay away from spearmint, they don’t seem to like any type of mint, which is why peppermint oil can be so effective at repelling them. A study published in the Journal of Pest Management Science in 2013, reported outstanding results with peppermint oil.
How often do you need to spray peppermint oil to keep wasps away?
You should spray the peppermint oil mixture every few days. Once you see a reduction in wasp activity, you can probably get away with just spraying once a week. The oil and soap help the peppermint oil spray mixture stick to plant leaves.
Do wasps hate lavender?
Lavender and Eucalyptus Oil Lavender oil and eucalyptus oil are effective as repellents to get rid of wasps. Lavender oil can be applied on skin/clothing or can be sprayed on areas frequented by these insects.Do wasps like eucalyptus oil?
Wasps hate the smell of eucalyptus. This is not an oil to be underestimated. Its actions are very powerful and best not used with those people who are sensitive of skin, body or mind. For most, it is not an aesthetically pleasing oil.
Does tea tree oil keep wasps away?Tea tree oil: Said to be one of the best natural ways to repel bees and wasps, you can dab a bit of tea tree oil on yourself or on any area you would like the bees avoid. Baby powder: While not the most natural of substances, baby powder is better than the chemicals in sprays that are marketed to keep away insects.
Article first time published onWhat is the best wasp repellent?
- Wondercide Natural Products.
- Waspinator Waspinator.
- AIRCROW Wasp Out Fake Hornet’s Nest Decoy Wasp Deterrent.
- Outward Creations Wasp Nest Decoy.
How do I keep wasps away from my porch?
Spray soapy water at the nest to kill existing wasps, then spray essential oils around your porch to keep them from coming back. Warm, soapy water kills wasps. Fill a backpack hose (the bigger the better) with a dish-soap-slash-water mixture and spray it at the nest.
Does peppermint plant repel wasps?
Essential oils of spearmint, peppermint, and ginger mint (Mentha arvensis) have been shown scientifically to repel yellow jackets and paper wasps. As have those of the plants mentioned above. In peppermint oil, this may be due to the presence of the chemical menthone, which also repels yellow jackets and paper wasps.
How do you get rid of wasps permanently?
Use soap and water Mix two tablespoons of dish soap into a spray bottle of water and spray it on the nests. The mixture will clog the wasps’ breathing pores and kill them instantly.
Do dryer sheets repel wasps?
Dryer Sheets – Bees and wasps dislike the scent of dryer sheets. Spread them around the picnic area, give them to guests to put in their pockets or rub the scent on skin and clothing. … Hanging them around the picnic area will warn bees and wasps to keep away from the site.
Is peppermint extract the same as peppermint oil?
Peppermint oil and peppermint extract are two very different ingredients. Peppermint oil is the pure essential oil derived from peppermint leaves. Peppermint extract is a mixture of peppermint essential oils and alcohol. … The oil is about four times as strong as the extract.
Can you rub peppermint oil on your skin?
The topical application of peppermint oil is generally safe, although it is necessary to dilute with a carrier oil like almond or jojoba oil. It is advised that some people may experience a burning sensation or allergic rash, especially with sensitive skin.
Is smelling peppermint oil safe?
While some of the proposed benefits of peppermint oil come from anecdotal evidence, research suggests peppermint oil may be beneficial for IBS and other digestive conditions, as well as pain relief. Peppermint oil is generally safe, but it can be toxic when taken in very large doses.
Are wasps attracted to orange oil?
Word of warning: You don’t want to use the orange essential oils on your body to repel wasps – it will ATTRACT them since it smells sweet (wasps are attracted to sweet smells), and it can trigger photosensitivity (potentially causing some nasty burns) if you plan to remain outdoors.
Does eucalyptus get rid of wasps?
Fragrant herbs, such as Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood), Mentha spicata (Spearmint) and Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) are all good wasp deterrents and great for cooking too! Ever smelt the scent of bright and refreshing Eucalyptus leaves? You can see why Koalas love them… Wasps, on the other hand, hate them.
Is there an essential oil that repels bees?
The use of essential oils to keep bees away has been a practice for decades. Peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus oils, etc. are effective in deterring bees. You can apply them directly on your skin, or dip pieces of cotton balls and place them in specific locations to keep bees away.
What colors do wasp hate?
Wear light-colored clothing. Bees and wasps instinctively perceive dark colors as a threat. Wear white, tan, cream, or gray clothing as much as possible and avoid black, brown, or red clothes. Bees and wasps see the color red as black, so they perceive it as a threat.
How do you keep wasps from coming back?
- Remove sources of food from around your porch. …
- Keep doors and windows shut. …
- Place wasp-repelling plants around your home and porch. …
- Check for nests. …
- Seal garbage cans and cover compost piles. …
- Pick up trash. …
- Cover any holes on the ground.
What can I spray on my deck to keep wasps away?
Make a Natural Repellent Spray Peppermint, clove, lemongrass, and geranium oils deter wasps. The same goes for white vinegar. If you want to keep wasps away or discourage them from building nests in specific areas, natural repellent sprays are a great choice.
Does hanging a brown paper bag deter wasps?
Our ruling: False. We rate the claim that paper bags resembling wasp nests can act as deterrents against the insect as FALSE because it was not supported by our research. Wasps do not perceive objects like paper bags as nests and instead may use the bags as construction material for nest building.
Do wasps hate cinnamon?
Just as with bay, cinnamon contains eugenol essential oil, which wasps do not like. If you can sprinkle cinnamon around areas where wasps have been seen, it will repel them. You’ll need to refresh your cinnamon repellent on a weekly basis to keep wasps away.
Does lemongrass keep wasps away?
Research published in the Journal of Pest Management Science found that a combination of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils successfully repelled wasps.
Do wasps like Wormwood?
Wormwood is one of the plants that wasps do not like. … These plants produce a lot of aromatics which are unpleasant for wasps as well as other insects. If you plant mint, you will get the added bonus of adding a bit of minty smell to your yard. Citronella is great because it helps reduce the number of mosquitoes too.
Does lavender keep bees away?
Avoid Violet, Blue And Yellow Flowers Bees’ favorite colors are blue, violet and yellow, so planting these hues in your garden is like putting out a all-you-can-eat buffet sign. Avoid planting bee-favorites like sunflowers, violets, lavender, foxglove and crocuses.
Why are there so many wasps around my house?
One or more wasp nests are built either inside or near openings that lead inside the house. … One of the more frequent causes of this occurrence is when a homeowner sees wasps going into and out of a void. The homeowner may seal up that entry and exit before all of the wasps in that nest are dead.
Does killing a wasp attract more?
All in all, killing a wasp won’t necessarily attract more but will make nearby wasps more aggressive. As a result, you should avoid confronting wasps head on, especially if you are near one of their nests.