This year there is talk of a wasp plague. Due to the dry spring, the stinging insects can be found everywhere and can ruin our stay outdoors, whether on the balcony, terrace or in the city. While there are many ways to get rid of wasps, one of the most effective and harmless is with scent. But which scent keeps wasps away? We will show you the best variants and how to use them correctly below.
Why do scents work against wasps?
Wasps have a keen sense of smell, which they use toFind food sources. You can take advantage of this ability by using scents that the insects don't like.
What keeps wasps away? They can't tolerate these smells at all
What scents can you use to deter wasps and keep them at bay? We have listed the most famous of them below. Please note that just using these scents cannot permanently get rid of wasps. The best and safest way to keep the insects away is toto find and remove their nest.
Use peppermint oil to drive away insects
Wasps especially hate the smell of peppermint. Peppermint oil does not harm wasps, but rather can scare them away so that they stay away. As convenient as it is, the scent doesn't last very long and you have to apply it regularly to keep the prickly insects away.
To use peppermint oil as an insect repellent, you should spray the solution on entrances and areas where wasps could potentially fly in and enter your home.
For example, if you are sitting on your balcony, you can spray the solution along the railing. The scent is pungent (but pleasant for you unless you don't like peppermint) and will hopefully deter wasps.
Wasps have a strong aversion to anything that has to do with mint - which could be due to the menthol contained in peppermint oil, which gives it an aromatic minty smell. So can that tooPlant in a potserve well against insects.
Which essential oils against wasps?
In addition to peppermint oil, you can also use other essential oils to fight wasps. Research has shown that a combination of clove, geranium and lemongrass oils are effective at repelling wasps. To make this natural wasp repellent yourself, you can mix a few drops of each oil in soapy water and then add it to a spray bottle. Then spray the solution on all areas of your property where the critters are likely to build a nest, such as: E.g. roofs, eaves, sheds, ledges,Roller shutter boxesand all other cracks and crevices around your home.
You can also try the oils individually. Well-suited variants whose scent drives away wasps include lavender oil, basil oil,Lemongrass oil (citronella)and clove oil.
How to use essential oils?
Depending on where the insects bother you, you can use the scented oils against the pests in different ways. You can use an aroma lamp in the house or on the terrace to let the oils evaporate. You can also dissolve a few drops of your chosen oil in water and pour it into a spray bottle. With this homemade anti-wasp spray you can drive away the insects when they come.
You can also rub essential oils on yourself or the furniture in the seating area. When used on the skin, the oil must be diluted so that it does not cause skin irritation.
Vinegar keeps wasps away
There are also some home remedies whose scent can be used to repel wasps. One of them is good old vinegar.
Wasps are easily distracted by the strong sour smell of vinegar. Spraying a mixture of vinegar and water around the house or on the patio is an effective way to combat the stinging insects. Not only does it irritate their sense of smell, but it also masks other smells that wasps love due to their intensity. Inour article about using vinegar against waspsdiscover some ways you can use home remedies to repel wasps.
Important: Make sure you use white vinegar and not apple or wine vinegar. Otherwise you can do exactly the opposite and attract the wasps.
How cucumbers help against wasps
Another scent you can rely on to deter wasps is the acidity that cucumbers produce. The scent is sour in nature so it could eliminate any stings nearby. But be careful: This scent keeps wasps away, but can attract other insects such as flies and bees.
If you use this home remedy, there is no need to make cucumber mixes and sprays. Simply slice the cucumber and spread it around your garden or specific areas of your home. Indoors, for best results, place the cucumber in an aluminum pan or dish. When combined with aluminum, the vegetable creates a chemical reaction that is undesirable to wasps and is delicious to us.
The scent of bay leaves keeps wasps away
Bay leaves contain the essential oil eugenol, which can also deter wasps. To use this home remedy against the pests, chop up dried bay leaves and sprinkle them on any areas where wasps are commonly found near your home.
It is important to chop the bay leaves. This releases eugenol oil, which causes the pungent smell. In addition, the dried leaves must be applied regularly to last longer.
You can also mix the ground bay leaves with cinnamon or chili powder to create an even stronger scent.
