What Smell Do Cockroaches Hate?
Man, there is just nothing good about cockroaches. Regardless of the specific type of cockroach, they’re gross, reproduce quickly, and they can be hard to get rid of. Folks who want to take a more natural approach to getting rid of these nasty critters might be wondering, “what smell do cockroaches hate?”
This guide on which smells repel cockroaches should help.
Can Cockroaches Smell?
Yes, cockroaches have a very strong sense of smell. They use their two long antennae to search for smells, and once they find a scent they like, they lock into the scent’s location and find a way to get to it. They use this sense of smell to find food and to communicate with other cockroaches.
While this can make it hard to repel cockroaches (they find food everywhere), you can also use their sense of smell to your advantage. Using smells that cockroaches hate can chase them from your home sooner rather than later. And for folks who want to use natural roach repellents, scents are some of the safest ways to get rid of cockroaches.
What Smells Repel Roaches? Essential oils and other options
The following is a breakdown of some scents cockroaches hate. Careful use of these scents can deter these cockroaches, while others can actually kill them.
Lavender Oil
Repels: Yes
Kills: Unknown
Lavender and lavender oil rank among the top of the most hated scents by cockroaches. You can use lavender oil mixed in a spray bottle to treat the home, or you can plant lavender plants around the foundation to keep roaches away from the home. Some folks prefer to use lavender sachets and place them in cabinets and other areas to repel cockroaches and other bugs.
Citrus Smells
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
Citrus can repel cockroaches naturally. The peels from oranges, lemons, and limes can be placed around the home, or you can purchase essential oils and mix them in a spray bottle for easy application. Just keep in mind that peels will lose their effectiveness after a few days, so be sure to replace the peels often to maintain the strong smell.
Just keep in mind that fresh citrus fruits are likely to attract other insects, so it’s not a great idea to leave them hanging around. Our suggestion is to use oils rather than fresh juices. Orange oil can kill cockroaches, while lemon oil simply repels them.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
Eucalyptus essential oil is one of the most effective scents for repelling cockroaches. Eucalyptus oil not only repels cockroaches, but it can also kill roaches if they’re sprayed with it. Like most oils, the best use is to mix it into a spray bottle and treat the home with the spray. If you see any cockroaches, it might be a good idea to spray them with the bottle.
Oregano
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
Cockroaches find oregano to be an absolute turnoff. However, oregano essential oils are so effective at repelling roaches that they continue working for up to 1 week after application. It can also kill roaches, nymphs, and cockroach eggs, making it one of the best natural cockroach-repellent options.
Rosemary
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
Don’t sleep on rosemary’s role in the battle against cockroaches. This is one scent that is likely to deter roaches right away. It’s also effective for killing roaches, making it one of the best essential oils to repel cockroaches naturally.
Peppermint Oil
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
Peppermint oil is one of the scents roaches hate most. And it doesn’t just repel roaches, it can also kill German and American cockroach infestations. And because it has such a strong smell, peppermint essential oils don’t require many drops. A little goes a long way in a spray bottle.
Cedarwood Oil
Repels: Yes
Kills: No
Cedarwood oil hinders a cockroach’s ability to detect pheromones, which they use to communicate, breathe, and navigate. This is another oil, so mixing it in water to spray is a wise move for folks looking to get rid of a cockroach infestation. Remember you probably don’t need a lot, go with a small bottle.
Cypress Oil
Repels: Yes
Kills: Unknown
Cypress trees are naturally insect repellent, and their ability to ward off cockroaches isn’t a secret. In fact, landscapers often suggest that homes in bug-laden areas use cypress mulch around the foundation to keep bugs away. In terms of the oil, though, all it takes is a few drops in a spray bottle of water to take advantage of a natural scent that cockroaches hate.
Bay Leaves
Repels: Yes
Kills: No
Bay leaves are a very effective insect repellent, chasing silverfish, roaches, and even pantry moths away from places they don’t belong. Some folks take to placing whole bay leaves around their homes. However, bay leaf oil is available, and since it’s more concentrated, it’s even more effective at repelling roaches and other bugs from their homes. Just keep in mind that bay leaves won’t kill cockroaches, but they will irritate them enough to make them steer clear.
Coffee Grounds
Repels: Maybe
Kills: No
The jury is out on cockroaches’ hate for coffee grounds, but many believe them to be effective. The concept revolves around the acidity of the coffee. Supposedly, when sprinkled on the floor, on window sills, and anywhere else roaches might travel, the scent will deter cockroaches. Some folks have had luck with it while others haven’t, but we thought it was worth suggesting.
Citronella
Repels: Yes
Kills: No
As is the case with most other insects, citronella is a scent roaches hate to be around. While a candle might not be as effective for deterring roaches (after all, even the cockroach varieties that can fly prefer to be on the ground), citronella oil can be sprayed or rubbed on surfaces cockroaches might travel along. It does require a higher concentration, and the oil’s effectiveness doesn’t last long, but regular application may work to prevent a roach infestation.
Thyme
Repels: Yes
Kills: No
Thyme is one of the garden herbs, like bay leaves and basil, which have natural scents that cockroaches simply hate. And it’s actually a member of the mint family, so its bug-repelling properties are a no-brainer. However, in the plant form, thyme’s natural scent might not be concentrated enough, so it’s better to use a thyme oil than the plants or leaves themselves.
Basil
Repels: Yes
Kills: No
While some of our favorite meals contain basil, it’s a scent that most insects hate (including roaches). Basil oil mixed in water creates a perfect fresh scent that keeps roaches away, serving as a natural pest control option when avoiding chemical pesticides. Simply spray it in infested areas in regular intervals to keep the roach problem at bay.
Tea Tree Oil
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
There are some critics of tea tree oil that don’t believe it’s an effective option, but the truth is that tea tree oil does repel cockroaches and it can also kill them when sprayed directly on the speedy little buggers. Worst case, this oil effectively repels insects like mosquitoes, dust mites, bed bugs, lice, ticks, bees, ants, and spiders, helping to minimize a potential pest problem.
Garlic Powder
Repels: Yes
Kills: No
In general, cockroaches dislike the smell of garlic powder. This strong-smelling herb’s pungent aroma is too intense for them, making roaches hide when they catch the scent. Garlic oil and regular crushed garlic cloves can also be effective options for keeping roaches away.
Bleach
Repels: Yes
Kills: Yes
It makes sense that this strong-smelling disinfectant would offend roaches’ strong sense of smell. While it represents a fresh, clean room, this smell isn’t even particularly attractive to humans. It’s necessary to cut bleach with water, and be careful where you spray as bleach can stain, but it’s seriously effective against cockroaches.
How To Use These Scents to Repel Cockroaches
Most of the scents that cockroaches hate are available in concentrated essential oils. This makes them extremely easy to use. The idea is simply to take an empty water bottle, fill it with water, and add several drops of the essential oil to the bottle before mixing.
It’s also worth noting that you can mix and match these oils to come up with your own custom scent. Adding eucalyptus oil and lemon oil to one bottle combines both oils’ attributes into one spray. Also, adding lavender oil and peppermint oil can also be a great, synergistic combination.
We don’t recommend blending basil with oregano and garlic powder. Unless you’re making dinner.
Scents That Attract Cockroaches
There are some smells that can actually attract cockroaches, and they may surprise you.
- Some folks consider cucumbers to be an effective option to deter cockroaches, but they’re more likely to attract roaches than repel them.
- Dead cockroaches attract more cockroaches. As these bugs die, they release oleic acid. This is a fatty acid that roaches use as a food source if they’re sufficiently hungry, so be sure to clean up any dead roaches right away.
- Dirty dishes and kitchen grease are a standing invitation for cockroaches and other pests (even some that look like cockroaches). Roaches smell these food sources and show up in droves to dine at night, only to scurry before the sun comes up.
- Roaches love left-out pet food, making it the perfect target for roaches to hone in on. These trays of food are replenished every day and provide plenty of proteins and fats for roaches, so it’s best to pick their food up if they haven’t finished their meal.
If you’re dealing with any of these issues, give our guide on The Best Roach Bombs of 2023 a shot to learn more about getting rid of these pests.
FAQs
That’s a lot to unpack about the smells roaches hate, but there might still be some questions lingering. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic.
What smell do roaches hate the most?
Eucalyptus and peppermint are some of the scents cockroaches hate the most. You can mix eucalyptus and peppermint oil to create a super repellent to keep roaches away as well.
What smell do roaches love?
Roaches are attracted to many smells, but they love starch, sugar, grease, meat, and cheese scents. Also, rotting fruits and veggies can attract roaches.
Do roaches like the smell of bleach?
Absolutely not. Bleach’s overpowering smell repels roaches, and it’s one of the most effective DIY pest control options for these bugs.
Does Lysol repel roaches?
It may not repel them, but it can certainly kill them by suffocating their breathing holes. Simply spray the roach with the Lysol to get rid of it.
Are roaches worse in the summer or winter?
Roach infestations usually worsen in the summer because the temperature increases their activity and instinct to reproduce faster.
