Natural Scents & Quick Tricks to Repel Ants

Spring has officially sprung and with it comes lots of things we love — like sunshine and flowers and lots of picnics. But let’s be honest — even Spring has a downside, ant season. And for many of you, that means ants in your yard, at your outdoor events, and even in your homes.

Here at EarthKind, we’re all about naturally smarter solutions — so much so, we even created a product that’s made with essential oils — guaranteed to send ants marching in a different direction. In this article, we’re covering natural scents that ants simply can’t stand so you can avoid a potential ant infestation. 

Note: We won’t be covering pest control methods used to harm ants such as ant traps, boric acid, or pouring boiling water!

6 Household Scents That Ants Hate

• Spices: Cinnamon, Cayenne, and Black Pepper

Cinnamon adds a sweet kick to just about everything, from breakfast rolls to apple pie. It has another surprising use, it can help nudge the ants out of your kitchen. Ants don’t like the smell of cinnamon because cinnamaldehyde disrupts their pheromone trails and irritates them. Sprinkle cinnamon on surfaces where you’ve seen ants congregate in your home. Other spices including black pepper and cayenne pepper also act as a dermal irritant to the tiny insects, sending them searching for sweeter surroundings.

• Citrus Peels

Lemons, limes, and oranges may add zip to your favorite drinks, but ants see them as the enemy. Ants dislike the smell of lemon and other citrus because the d-limonene and acidity mask their pheromone trails, making it hard for them to navigate. Fresh citrus peels are also toxic to the fungi that ants feed on. Spread them around the areas where you see pests gathering, and they’ll be looking for a new place to congregate.

• Vinegar 

There are few things an ant dislikes more than the strong smell of white vinegar. Ants hate vinegar because it erases their pheromone trails and confuses their sense of direction. If you’ve spotted ants in your kitchen, spray down your countertops, window sills, and flat surfaces with vinegar. This natural ant-repellent spray will clear the scent trail they use to get around and convince them to find a sweeter-smelling home.

• Coffee 

You may love your morning coffee, but ants could do without it. They don’t like the strong aroma that coffee produces because again, it can disrupt their scent trail. Another natural way to deter ants, sprinkle coffee grounds outside and around your garden. The smell repels them, sending ants in search of a less caffeinated place to hang out, though they may regroup and find another route, so it works best as a short-term fix.

• Laundry Detergent 

Want to keep your home clean and clear of ants? Put a thin line of dry laundry soap around baseboards, windows, and other areas where you see ants beginning to gather. The scent of detergent will turn them away because it’s too overwhelming for their tiny bodies. You can also make a mix of equal parts laundry detergent and water inside a spray bottle. Spray any entry points you notice ants using to enter your home.

• Lemon Juice 

The scent of lemon makes your house smell fresh and clean, but there’s an added bonus you may not be aware of. The strong scent of this citrus will throw ants off their scent course. Wipe your countertops down with a mixture of water and lemon juice and their scent trail will be compromised. They’ll be on their way to greener pastures.

Each of these natural scent solutions can help deter ants, but they are short-term fixes that require reapplication, and effectiveness may vary. For a longer-lasting option, consider Stay Away® Ants, a botanical deterrent that uses essential oil smells in a convenient pouch that works for up to 30 days.

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