Having cockroaches scurrying around your house is one of the most annoying experiences. It might make you wonder, “What scents do cockroaches hate that could keep them away?”
Cockroaches have a strong sense of smell, meaning if you find a smell they hate, they will probably stay away from it. Furthermore, the scents they hate are likely from threats like toxins or poisons. Many cockroaches hate smells from plants with anti-insect oils, such as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, thyme, and pine. Also, they hate the smell of vinegar, bay leaves, and freshly sliced cucumbers.
While these scents might bring out hatred in cockroaches, they aren’t a practical solution if you’re dealing with an infestation. To learn how to eliminate cockroaches, check out my professional tips here. For more information about the scents cockroaches hate, keep reading this article. Please see also my article: “How Long Do Mosquito Bites Last?“
Do Cockroaches Have a Good Sense Of Smell?
Cockroaches possess an excellent sense of smell, which they use for communication, locating food, or detecting if something is poisonous. Scientists studying how the human brain interprets scents discovered many intriguing facts about the olfactory abilities of American cockroaches.
They have two advanced antennae that meticulously sample their surroundings for odors. Subsequently, their antennae generate mental representations in the roach’s brain, letting them see the physical location and structure of the detected scent source. This innate ability enables roaches to precisely navigate and access crevices and cracks when seeking safety, warmth, sustenance, and hydration.
Moreover, this heightened sensitivity to smells explains why odors can effectively repellent against cockroaches. Although professional pest control might be necessary for severe infestations, it’s valuable to understand scent strategies that might prevent cockroaches from being attracted to your property.
Why Do Cockroaches Hate Certain Scents?
Natural fragrances could repel cockroaches because they take in so much information with their noses. When they detect a scent signaling potential danger, they instinctively steer clear to keep themselves safe.
The smells they hate could be toxic, poisonous, or from predators. Furthermore, they will avoid any scent that signals danger.
When a smell of cockroaches, hate, or fear comes from your property, they’ll go somewhere they feel more comfortable and safer. Next, the challenge is to ensure the preferred areas they seek out aren’t within your property.
What Scents Do Cockroaches Hate To Smell?
The scents cockroaches hate most come from things that could be poisonous or toxic to the insects. Roaches recognize smells from chemicals that could be harmful or lethal and stay away from the odor.
Luckily, clean smells and others that smell fresh or good to humans are despised by cockroaches. To look at it differently, odors that we might think are disgusting, like rotting garbage, attract cockroaches.
Also, many plants contain insecticidal compounds to protect themselves, and cockroaches could hate their scent. Some specific scents cockroaches might hate are:
Do Cockroaches Hate Lavender Smell?
Yes, lavender plants contain strong-smelling oils that many insects, including cockroaches, hate. As a bonus, this scent is calming and enjoyed by most people.
Use lavender oil within your home to repel existing cockroaches and prevent new ones from entering. Lavender essential oils are particularly effective for this task. Dilute the oil and transfer it into a spray bottle, then apply it to surfaces where you’ve seen cockroaches.
Planting lavender around your home might also make it less appealing to cockroaches. Keeping bundles of dried lavender flowers under your sink, in the bathroom, or near your bed could also make cockroaches hate going there.
Citronella, Not Just For Mosquitos
Unfortunately, citronella candles aren’t very effective in repelling cockroaches. The reason behind this is cockroaches, despite having wings, seldom fly. Citronella candles target flying insects such as mosquitoes and gnats.
However, cockroaches hate citronella oil, making it a potent deterrent. You can create a spray by adding 10-15 drops of the oil to every cup of water.
Alternatively, dilute the oil using the same method and soak a cloth or paper towel in the mixture. Placing these scented items near cockroach hideouts will help keep them at bay.
Clean Eucalyptus Scent
Cockroaches hate the eucalyptus smell. If you’ve been searching for a reason to cultivate a eucalyptus bush in your front yard or infuse your living space with the fresh aroma of eucalyptus oil, this is the perfect opportunity.
You can employ the eucalyptus fragrance in various ways, from diluted eucalyptus essential oils used as a protective perimeter around your home to planting eucalyptus in your front yard and garden. Let your creativity flow and harness the cockroach’s heightened sense of smell as a weapon in your battle against these pests.
Also, a dried eucalyptus bundle in your shower releases oil each time the steam from your bath hits it. This delivers a clean, refreshing scent to your nostrils and keeps cockroaches out of your water closet.
Pine Smell
Picture yourself strolling through a fragrant pine forest, the earth beneath your feet covered in pine needles, and as you inhale deeply, a refreshing aroma fills the air. That scent comes from pinene, an oil the trees use for defense against insects, and it’s something cockroaches hate.
A few drops of pinene in a cup of water are all you need to create a cockroach-repelling spray. You can mist areas where you’ve seen cockroaches or where they might enter your home, like under doors or cracks.
Cockroaches Have No Time For Thyme
Thyme boasts a compound known as carvacrol, which cockroaches appear to hate. Like several other scents in our lineup, thyme is an essential oil that can be diluted and used in a spray. For a quick remedy, scatter dried and crushed thyme in areas where roaches congregate, discouraging them from those specific spots.
Alternatively, employ thyme as a cockroach deterrent by planting the herb. Plus, pick some sprigs to enhance the flavor of your meals!
Cucumbers? Cockroaches Can’t Stand ‘Em
Cucumbers contain compounds that repel roaches. In 1982, researchers conducted a study confirming that cockroaches steer clear of the scent of freshly sliced cucumbers. Cutting them into smaller pieces enhances their effectiveness.
However, there is a catch with using cucumbers to invoke hatred in roaches – they must be left out freshly sliced or diced. You might find that impractical for routine use in your home or business.
Also, if you forget about the cucumbers, they could start to rot and attract insects, including cockroaches. Nonetheless, sliced cucumbers are worth considering to deter cockroaches while enjoying outdoor picnics or during special events over short periods.
Bay Leaves Leave Cockroaches Hateful
Bay leaves are one of the oldest and most effective natural cockroach repellents. Their potent aroma is hated by roaches, making them a valuable tool for deterring these pests from specific areas.
Try crushing bay leaves and sprinkling the bits in your cupboards, under sinks, and around your garbage cans. However, it’s important to note that while bay leaves can discourage cockroaches from entering a designated space, they won’t chase established infestations away.
Do Cockroaches Like The Smell Of Vinegar?
You might think cockroaches like the smell of vinegar because it comes from rotting fruit. In reality, cockroaches hate the smell of vinegar, which can repel them.
Vinegar is an excellent natural cleaning product and will stop germs from growing, hopefully helping to keep cockroaches away. Unfortunately, vinegar’s smell doesn’t linger long, and it’s not as pleasant as some other scents that cockroaches hate.
Also, vinegar is unlikely to kill cockroaches. While it’s one of the best cleaners to keep your home spotless and less appealing to cockroaches, it’s probably not the most effective repellant.
Popular Essential Oils That Cockroaches Hate
There are many essential oils you can try to bring out hatred in cockroaches in hopes they’ll stay away. To help quickly decide which is best for you, I’ve created this handy chart with the most popular oils:
| Essential Oil | Active Ingredients | Hatred Level | Dosage | How To Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender Oil | S-Linolool | High | 10-15 drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |
| Eucalyptus Oil | Cineol, pinene and limonene | High | 10-15 drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |
| Pine Oil | Pinene | High | 10- 15 drops per cup of water | Spray or soaked cloth |
| Cedar Oil | Cedrol and cedrine | Moderate | A few drops on cloth or in a diffuser | Soak cloth or use in a diffuser |
| Thyme Oil | Thymol | Moderate | A few drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |
| Tea Tree Oil | Terpinen-4-ol | Moderate | 10-15 drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |
| Bergamot Oil | Linalyl acetate, limonene and linalool | Low to Moderate | 10-15 drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |
| Cypress Oil | α-pinene and δ-3 carene | Low to Moderate | A few drops on cloth or in a diffuser | Soak cloth or use in a diffuser |
| Lemon Oil | Limonene | Low to Moderate | 10-15 drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |
| Citronella Oil | Citronellol, citronellal, and geraniol | Low to Moderate | 10-15 drops per cup of water | Spray or use in a diffuser |