Essential Oils To Repel Bees and Wasps: A Guide To What Works

Summer is easily one of the best times of the year.

As the temperature gets hotter and the sun shines longer each day, it is easy to feel happier and more joyful in the summer.

Essential Oils to Repel Bees and Wasps A Guide to What Works

There is only one bad thing about the summer months, and that is the insects. 

As the weather gets warmer, more and more insects begin to buzz around outside.

Some of the insects that can be the most problematic in the summer are bees and wasps.

As these insects can sting, a lot of people are fearful of them. So it would be good if there were some sort of essential oil that repels bees and wasps. 

Well, luckily for you, there are lots of essential oils that can be used to repel bees and wasps.

In this guide, we’re looking at some of the best options that actually work. 

Read on to find out more. 

What Is The Purpose Of Using Essential Oils To Repel Bees And Wasps?

First things first, let’s take a look at the purpose of using essential oils to repel bees and wasps.

As you would expect, the main purpose of using these essential oils is that they will encourage bees and wasps to stay away from you.

These essential oils contain natural ingredients that will deter bees and wasps from coming in contact with the person using the essential oils (see also “Best Essential Oils For Fleas: Natural Ways To Keep Pets Pest Free“). 

The main reason why people would consider using essential oils to repel bees and wasps is if they are afraid of bees or wasps, or if they are allergic to bees and wasps.

A lot of people are allergic to the sting of a bee or a wasp. So, being stung by these creatures can result in a pretty severe allergic reaction.

For these individuals, using essential oils to repel bees and wasps will help bring them peace of mind during the summer months. 

Using essential oils to repel bees and wasps is also a better option than using most of the bee and wasp repellents on the market as essential oils do not contain chemicals.

A lot of bee/wasp repellents contain chemicals that can be very harmful to the insects, as well as the environment.

In contrast, essential oils are totally chemical-free. So, they will repel the bees and wasps without doing any damage. 

Which Essential Oils Are Best For Repelling Bees And Wasps?

If you are looking for essential oils to repel bees and wasps (see also “The Best Essential Oils For Dryer Balls“), then it can be difficult to know where to start.

There are lots of essential oils that are incredibly effective at repelling bees and wasps, including the following… 

  • Cedarwood essential oils. 
  • Orange essential oils.
  • Citronella essential oils.
  • Peppermint essential oils. 
  • Eucalyptus essential oils.
  • Tea tree essential oils. 

Some of the most effective essential oils for repelling bees and wasps will be a combination of the different oils we have listed above.

For safety reasons, most of the essential oils that you should use to repel bees and wasps will need to be diluted with a carrier oil before they are used to repel bees and wasps. 

Recipes For Bees And Wasp Essential Oils

There are lots of different recipes that you can use to create essential oil repellents to discourage bees and wasps from coming close to you. 

Some of these recipes can be used to keep bees and wasps out of your home, others can be used to keep wasps and bees away from you.

All these recipes are very effective as they contain ingredients that bees and wasps dislike.

Below are some of the best recipes for bees and wasp essential oils. 

Keeping Bees Away From You

Some of the most effective ways to keep bees and wasps away from you will not require you to mix any essential oils (see also “Essential Oil To Repel Mosquitoes“).

Instead, you will simply be able to use a small amount of a single essential oil to keep the bees and wasps away. 

If you are working out in the garden, consider using a small amount of tea tree oil and dabbing it onto your clothing.

Do not put it directly onto your skin, instead, make sure that you simply apply it to your clothing.

Dab it around the edges of your pants, around the wrist area of your clothing, on the collar of your shirt, and your gloves if you are wearing any. 

Should you want to go a step further, you can also keep bees away from you by adding tea tree oil to your shampoo.

Wash your hair with the tea tree oil shampoo the night before you plan on going out in the yard, and it should help keep the bees away from you. 

Keeping Bees Out Of The House

Essential Oils to Repel Bees and Wasps A Guide to What Works (1)

If you find that you have bees or wasps entering your home fairly often, then there are some combinations of essential oils that you can use to keep these insects out of your home.

Some of the best combinations for this will include eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree oil. If you are looking for a recipe, try out one of the following. 

Eucalyptus Bee Repellent

Eucalyptus essential oils are excellent at deterring bees and wasps. To make eucalyptus bee repellent, you will need the following ingredients:

  • 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
  • 3–4 drops of cedarwood essential oil. 
  • 500ml distilled water. 

Simply mix the essential oils with the distilled water in a glass spray bottle and give it a shake.

Then spray the mixture around all the entryways to your home (doors/windows/vents/etc.) to keep the bees out of your home. 

Peppermint Bee Repellent

A lot of people believe that simply planting peppermint near your home will keep the bees away, but for added safety, we’d recommend making your very own peppermint bee repellent.

To do this, you will need the following ingredients: 

  • 10–12 drops of peppermint essential oil. 
  • 1 cup of water. 
  • 5 tablespoons of liquid soap. 

Add the water to a spray bottle, then add the liquid soap. Combine the two together, then add the peppermint essential oil.

Stir or shake the mixture until it is fully dissolved and blended together, then it is ready to use.

Spray it around your yard, or onto rags around your home to deter bees from entering your house. 

Keeping Wasps Away From Your Home

Wasps are very different from bees, and that is why you should use a different recipe to make a repellent that will keep wasps away from you and your home.

Wasps can be a lot more of a nuisance than bees, so it is understandable that you may be searching for ways to keep wasps away from your house. 

The recipe below is amazing at keeping wasps away from your home. To make it you will need:

  • A spray bottle. 
  • 4 ounces of distilled water. 
  • 10 drops of rosemary essential oil.
  • 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil.
  • 10 drops of geranium essential oil. 
  • 10 drops of clove essential oil. 
  • 3 ounces witch hazel.
  • Half a teaspoon of glycerin. 

Fill the spray bottle with water (it should reach about halfway), then add the witch hazel until the liquid is almost at the top of the bottle.

Add the glycerin, then the essential oils, and your spray will be ready to use.

If it doesn’t seem to be doing the job, simply increase the drops of essential oils to make a stronger mixture. 

Precautions To Take When Using Essential Oils To Repel Bees And Wasps

Before you use essential oils to repel bees and wasps, you should take the following precautions.

These will keep you and the insects safe. 

  • Don’t use essential oils near food. 
  • Don’t spray essential oils on your face. 
  • Never use raw essential oils directly on your skin. 
  • Never spray essential oils directly onto bees or their hives. 
  • Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil
  • Never use essential oils for babies without consulting with your doctor. 

Summary

In short, there are lots of essential oils out there that you can use to repel bees and wasps.

Bees and wasps can be somewhat of a nuisance in the summer months, so it is good to know that there are essential oils that you can use to keep these insects away. 

We hope you find the information in this guide helpful. 

Thanks for reading!

Mia Greene
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