Flies are one of the most annoying insects to have around the house. They buzz in your face and land on your food. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a scent that keeps them away?
Luckily, there are many smelly household items, most found in your spice drawer, that flies hate. Some handy scents against fly instrusions are eucalyptus, lemon, basil, rosemary, lavender, vinegar, bay leaf, peppermint, and pine.
Also, if you want to take a more active role in getting rid of houseflies, check out my article here. To learn more about the scents that will keep flies away, read on! See also my related article: “How to Get Rid of Drain Flies“
Striking Eucalyptus Scent
Eucalyptus is an excellent natural fly repellent due to its strong and distinct scent that flies find unattractive. To harness the power of eucalyptus for fly control, consider using eucalyptus essential oil in a DIY spray by following these steps:
- Mix a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil with one cup of water.
- Put the mixture in a spray bottle.
- Spray it on areas where flies gather, such as doorways, windows, and outdoor sitting spaces.
- Repeat spraying daily or when you see flies return.
Also, place eucalyptus branches or leaves in vases near doors and windows. Or, hang dried eucalyptus bundles in fly-prone areas to decorate and keep flies at bay.
Eucalyptus-scented candles, air fresheners, or oil diffusers can be used indoors to deter flies and create a pleasant and refreshing ambiance. Finally, you might try keeping live eucalyptus in your garden to help scare off flies.
The Secret Mexican Fly Repelling Scent
I’ve had a few occasions in Mexican restaurants plagued by flies when the waitstaff has brought out a strange concoction to ward the annoying insects off. They set an orange peel with cloves on top of a dish, then light the peel on fire until it smolders.
The smoke from the smoldering peel and cloves has an odor that flies can’t stand. This method clears the insect problem and allows patrons to enjoy their meals peacefully.
You can try this method at home if you have an orange and cloves on hand. It works and makes a pleasant incense-like smell. Of course, be careful with fire, and don’t burn anything down!
Bay Leaf Scent Keeps Flies Away
You can do more than pull bay leaves out of your mouth when eating soup; use their scent as a fly deterrent by grinding them into a fine powder and then scattering them in areas that attract flies. This approach is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Bay leaves release a pungent oil when chopped that flies won’t come near. The scent could fade fast, so you may need to add new bay leaves every few days to keep flies away.
It’s best to enclose your ground bay leaves in a mesh bag that keeps the particles together but lets the scent out. This will prevent the wind, people, or pets from carrying them away.
Pine Tree Scent
Pine oil and pine-scented products can effectively repel flies due to their strong, natural aroma. One way to utilize pine oil is to mix it with water in a spray bottle and then spritz it where flies congregate, such as around windows, doors, and outdoor sitting areas.
Pine-scented candles and air fresheners are convenient indoor options, releasing a pleasant pine fragrance that keeps flies at bay. Also, pine-scented cleaning products help prevent flies from lingering on surfaces. Pine cleaning products are a double deterrent because flies avoid clean places.
Pine-scented sachets or essential oil diffusers can protect stored food from fly infestations in cabinets and pantry areas. Finally, incorporating whole pine boughs or branches in your decor, particularly during the warmer months, can contribute to a fly-resistant environment.
Calming Lavender Smell
Lavender is a natural and fragrant fly repellent due to its refreshing odor. Flies find the scent of lavender unappealing, making it an effective deterrent.
One way to use lavender for fly control is to plant lavender bushes near windows and outdoor seating areas because these plants release plenty of scents that flies hate. Alternatively, make lavender sachets by placing dried flowers in small pouches to hang around your home.
Lavender essential oil can be mixed with water in a spray bottle and applied to surfaces or rooms where flies are a nuisance. Lastly, lavender-scented candles, incense, or air fresheners are options for indoor fly prevention, creating a soothing atmosphere while keeping flies away.
Basil: Easy To Grow & Keeps Flies Away
Basil, a popular herb in cooking, can also serve as a natural fly deterrent due to its aromatic scent. To use this herb for fly control, plant it in your garden or keep potted plants on your windowsills and outdoor seating areas.
Another method involves making a homemade basil spray by steeping fresh leaves in hot water. After it cools, spray it around doorways and windows where flies enter.
Hanging bundles of fresh basil in doorways or near outdoor dining areas can help keep flies at bay and provide a decorative touch to your space. Also, basil-infused essential oils or homemade oil diffusers offer indoor fly deterrence while filling your home with a delightful smell.
Sharp Peppermint Oil Scent
Peppermint oil is a potent and natural fly repellent due to its refreshing scent that flies find unpleasant. To harness the power of peppermint oil for fly control, mix a few drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it to entryways, windows, and other fly-prone areas.
Alternatively, soak cotton balls or cloth strips in peppermint oil and strategically place them around your home. These should be resoaked every few days for maximum effectiveness.
Peppermint-scented candles, air fresheners, or diffusers with peppermint oil can be used indoors. They’ll create a fly-repelling environment and give your home a fresh and inviting scent.
Flies Don’t Like Rosemary Scent
Rosemary, a fragrant herb, can be a natural and effective fly deterrent due to its scent that flies find unappealing. Consider planting rosemary in your garden or keeping potted plants near windows and outdoor areas where flies gather.
Another method is to make a DIY rosemary spray by steeping fresh rosemary leaves in hot water and allowing it to cool. Then, create a barrier that discourages flies from entering by spraying it near windows and doors.
Hanging fresh rosemary bundles in doorways or outdoor dining spaces can keep flies at bay. As a bonus, the bundles add a decorative element to your surroundings.
Do Flies Hate The Smell Of Lemon?
Yes, flies are generally repelled by the scent of lemon. Its strong and citrusy aroma deters flies and other insects. You can use lemon scent to keep flies away in several ways, such as:
- Lemon-scented cleaning products: Using cleaning products that have a lemon scent, like lemon-scented sprays or wipes, can help keep your living spaces less appealing to flies. This is particularly effective for kitchen and dining areas where flies are attracted to food residues.
- Lemon essential oil: You can create a homemade fly-repellent spray by mixing a few drops of lemon essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Spritz this solution around doors, windows, and other entry points to deter flies from entering your home.
- Lemon peels: Place lemon peels in areas where flies are a problem, such as near windows and outdoor seating areas. The citrus scent from the lemon peels will help repel flies.
- Lemon-scented candles or air fresheners: Use lemon-scented candles or air fresheners indoors to create an environment that flies find unappealing. This can help keep flies at bay while providing a fresh and pleasant scent in your living spaces.
By incorporating lemon scent into your cleaning routine and home decor, you can effectively use it to repel flies and maintain a fly-free environment.
Do Flies Hate The Smell Of Vinegar?
Yes, flies hate the smell of vinegar, including white and apple cider vinegar. You can use its scent to deter flies in several ways, such as:
- Vinegar fly traps: Create a simple fly trap by filling a small container with apple cider vinegar and adding a few drops of dish soap. Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke small holes in it. Flies will be attracted to the vinegar, but the soap reduces the surface tension, causing them to drown in the liquid.
- Vinegar spray: Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray this solution around areas where flies are a problem, such as near windows, doors, or outdoor seating areas. Be careful because the acid could damage marble or other surfaces.
- Vinegar-soaked cloths or sponge: Soak an absorbent material in apple cider vinegar and place it in a dish near fly-prone areas. The vinegar scent will help keep flies away.
- Vinegar as a cleaning agent: Using vinegar as a natural cleaning agent can help eliminate food residue and odors that attract flies. Regularly cleaning kitchen surfaces and trash bins with vinegar solution can discourage flies from gathering.