Wasps are creepy and the thought of them flying around with a chance of stinging makes me shudder. They are mean creatures and it doesn’t take much to set them off. This amazingly effective homemade wasp repellent was proven to work in a Pest Management Science study through the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Try these Natural Wasp Repellent Tips to keep them away.
Amazingly Effective Homemade Wasp Repellent
When the warmer weather arrives, the bugs come out full-force. Most of the wasp repellents in the stores are made with chemicals and very harmful ingredients that can be very dangerous to have around pets and children.
The wasp’s body includes a sac of venom attached to a smooth stinger. When a bee or wasp stings, the sac contracts, pumping venom into the flesh.
Why do wasps sting?
Wasps sting to defend themselves. If a female wasp feels her home is under attack or threatened she will protect the wasp nest and sting. Wasps also simply get annoyed. The constant waving of arms and newspapers while trying to get rid of a wasp can make it very annoyed and feel threatened.
So when I found this study showing how effective essential oils are for repelling wasps, I felt like I was Charlie Bucket with the golden ticket! This is just amazing information to have to keep wasps away. I really don’t want to have to kill the wasps, because they actually are beneficial. Yup, seriously folks! Read about this here: How to Get Rid of Wasps.
According to a Pest Management Science Study, all of these oils specifically repel wasps and hornets:
- clove
- pennyroyal
- lemongrass
- ylang ylang
- spearmint
- wintergreen
- sage
- rosemary
- lavender
- geranium
- patchouli
- citronella
- roman chamomile
- thyme
- fennel seed
- anise
- peppermint
These repellent essential oils and their active compositions have great potential for efficient, environmentally sound semiochemical-based(1) IPM (Integrated Pest Management) of pestiferous vespid wasps.
The Golden Ticket
Two essential oil mixtures TOTALLY blocked the attraction of vespid workers. Did you know that’s another term for wasps? I love that the oils merely block the attraction, rather than hurting them. You can just keep them away from you and your family and the wasps can go off and do what they need to do in nature.
These TWO oil mixtures are shown to completely block wasps and hornets:
clove, geranium and lemongrass AND clove, geranium, lemongrass and rosemary.
Essential Oil Homemade Wasp Repellent Recipe
Ingredients
8oz spray bottle
4oz Distilled water
3oz Witch Hazel1/2 tsp Glycerin (helps hold mixture together)
10-15 drops clove oil
10-15 drops geranium oil
10-15 drops lemongrass oil
10 drops rosemary oil (optional)
Directions
- Fill 8oz spray bottle halfway with distilled water
- Add witch hazel (to fill almost to the top)
- Add 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin
- Add essential oils. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be.
How to Get Rid of Wasps without Chemicals
(1) Semiochemical Definition: A pheromone or other chemical that conveys a signal from one organism to another so as to modify the behavior of the recipient organism.
I am a New England mama of 3 kids, 3 kitties and 2 puppies! I grew up in the great state of NH and blog about all things healthy and natural near Nashua and Boston.
I had no idea you could repel wasps! I’m terrified of any type of bee. I actually have rosemary plants on my deck to help keep the mosquitoes away. I’ll have to make up this repellent too. My daughter is as afraid of wasps as I am. #ThriftyThursday
Oh my goodness Julie my daughter is a mess when the wasps are out! Rosemary – yum!
Thank you for sharing this!! This is a keeper.
I recently discovered that spearment also repels spiders and cloves do too.
Yes Lea you are right they do! I clean with peppermint and/or lavender and I have seen less bugs in the house.
Vicki, this is amazing information! I pinned it to the Over the Moon Link Party Board as well as my personal oily living board. I have chosen you as my Featured Blogger at this week’s Over the Moon Link Party. Come back from Sunday evening through Thursday evening and grab your Featured Blogger badge and share some new posts with us. Congratulations!
Wow thanks Sandy! That’s awesome.
I like the idea of a natural repellent. I can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing on Happiness is Homemade link party. Shared and pinned.
Good information to know! It hasn’t been too bad this year so far, but our back yard has been a real attraction for wasps for the last several years. It makes it hard to enjoy it when all you do is try to stay away from the wasps!
We have citronella candles which we use if we are out in the garden in the summer which work fairly well at keeping all type of flying pests at bay but some can be a little persistent! I’ll give this s try. thanks. Pinning.
We have citronella candles which we use if we are out in the garden in the summer which work fairly well at keeping all type of flying pests at bay but some can be a little persistent! I’ll give this s try. thanks. Pinning.
Do you spray into the air? On surfaces? I would like to try this with more information.
So sorry Denise! You spray it on yourself.
Do you need to spray all exposed skin or just a few spots here and there?
I would spray exposed skin like you would any bug spray. If no skin is exposed, then spray some on your clothing.
Vicki this is wonderful information. My grandchildren are afraid of wasps and so am I. I spray their nests when I find them, but this repellant would add an extra form of protection. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
The kids are not the one’s who freak out! The grown ups are and then the kids. No one wants to be stung so it’s understandable. Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday Party. Hope to see you again next week.
They’ve been out in force this past week – this looks like a great way to deal with them safely. Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
This is awesome. We get wasps sometimes as it’s really dry and hot where we live. Last year we had to have a nest taken down. Those things freak me out. lol Pinned & sharing. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party @DearCreatives See you again soon.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
I needed this just recently Vicki, so I’m thrilled that you shared your recipe for wasp repellent at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring your recipe at tomorrow nights party and pinning too!
Hello! What a great post! I am featuring you today at TFT! I hope you will link up with us again! Have a great weekend ahead!
https://followtheyellowbrickhome.com/ten-things-i-love-at-thursday-favorite-things/
Was wondering I want to keep them away from my humming bird feeders will this bother the humming birds or my Yorkies,or could I just put out citronella oil with out burning it to keep them away
Great idea for a natural wasp repellent.
I’ve been stung by a wasp one too many times! I definitely need this spray! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
My office has an infestation and I’m terrified-for real. I wanted to use this around the light fixtures that they are coming in, hoping that this solution will repel them from this entry point. What’s your take on this?
If you can spray it so that it isn’t near the electrical I think it would be fine. Spray it as close as you can get!