Bees are essential for plant pollination but bee stings hurt or can be dangerous to anyone who is allergic. Balancing the needs of nature with not getting stung can be accomplished with natural products that don’t kill bees.

7 Natural Ways To Repel Bees

Bees come into yards because they are searching for pollen. Here are a few natural ways to allow them to gather food but keep them away from you. All of these suggestions are ecologically friendly, inexpensive, and easy to obtain.

Cucumber Peels

The acid in cucumbers scares bees and wasps away. You can place peels on window sills, around patios, picnic tables, towels, and blankets. Create bee-free zones in your garden or yard with cucumber peels. Deter bees for longer by planting or potting cucumbers near the deck or patio.

Cucumber peels are more effective when placed on aluminum foil or pie plates. The chemical reaction between cucumber acid and aluminum intensifies the bee repellent qualities.

Cinnamon

Spread cinnamon around areas you want to keep bee-free. You may have to do it daily for a week because wind and rain blow or wash away the powder. After a week of constantly running into cinnamon, bees will stay away. You may need occasional additional applications to keep different bees away. Cinnamon sticks work as well as powder and they won’t get blown away or washed away.

Peppermint

Bees avoid peppermint smell. Growing plants in pots close to–or on–your patio keeps them away. If you plant peppermint in areas of the yard such as gardens and play areas, bees will stay away.

Garlic

Chop up a garlic clove and soak it in water for a few days. Set the open jars around patios and decks to keep bees away. It works well but make sure that the odor doesn’t repel you and your guests.

Baby Powder

Sprinkle baby powder any place you sprinkle cinnamon powder. Make sure you use organic baby powder if it might soak into the soil. Non-organic powder can cause soil damage. A fine coating on window and door sills keeps bees out of houses without screens.

Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets contain fragrances to make clothes smell fresh. The very same fragrances deter bees. Hang a few sheets around your patio deck to keep bees away. Carrying a dryer sheet in your breast pocket helps keep them away from your body.

Vanilla

Vanilla keeps bees from landing on you–even when working in flower beds. Mix a tablespoon of vanilla in water and dab it on exposed areas to keep bees away. Cotton balls soaked in vanilla placed close to doors and windows keep bees out of the house.

Other Bee Deterrents

A few other bee deterrents to consider include:

• Marigolds. Bees avoid marigolds. Grow them in pots so you can move them to areas you want to keep bee-free.
• Distilled Vinegar. Pour full-strength into small open containers that can be placed wherever you want to get rid of bees.
• Mothballs. Hanging mothballs in cheesecloth near bee nests convinces them to move on.
• Cayenne Pepper. Substitute cayenne pepper for cinnamon or baby powder.
• Essential Oils. Many essential oils repel bees. Mix a few drops with water and use as a spray or dab it on your skin like vanilla. Peppermint oil, clove oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, and geranium oil all work well.

How To Keep From Attracting Bees

Bees are curious and always hunting for pollen. Certain types of clothing, food, and scents entice them closer to you.

• Perfumes – Bees are attracted to scents. Perfume, aftershave, scented hair spray, sunscreen lotion, and cologne all attract bees. Especially when used in large amounts. When planning to be outside for long periods, use unscented products and no cologne or perfume.
• Clothing – Bees are attracted to bright colors and floral patterned clothing, tablecloths, blankets, and towels. They mistake the red, purple, and yellow for flowers. Wear single-colored clothing that is not bright.
• Food – Bees will investigate sweet and intense odors like barbecues (especially when using sweet-smelling sauce), fried chicken, bottled pop, pies, and other sweets. They are attracted to food smells. Ensure that all food is tightly sealed before eating outside and that garbage is sealed and moved away from the eating area.

Do not rely on commercial insect repellents to keep bees away–from you or your patio. Unlike mosquitos, gnats, and flies, bees are not deterred by most insect repellants used on your person or by insect repellant candles such as citronella.

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