Use This Spicy Scent To Help Deter Wasps From Your Yard

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Wasps are useful pollinators, and there are many friendly species that you might find in your yard, but you really don't want to have them hanging around when you're entertaining friends or having a picnic with the kids. These flying insects are often attracted by sweet drinks and foods that are commonly served at outdoor gatherings during the summer, so you can't just expect them to leave you alone. This is also the time of year that wasps are most active, so finding something that can help to deter them from your garden is paramount. Luckily, there's an essential oil with a spicy scent you probably already have in your bathroom cabinet: clove oil. This unassuming product can prove to be very useful in keeping the wasps away because they can't stand the smell.

Clove oil contains a compound known as eugenol, which is used as a contact insecticide on lots of different species, including wasps. Besides that, wasps find the fragrance extremely unpleasant, even unbearable, because it can overload their sensory system. Rick Young, owner of Youngs Pest Control, told Martha Stewart, "Wasps appear highly sensitive to this smell, making clove oil a valuable ingredient in homemade repellent sprays. It's often most effective when combined with other oils such as peppermint and geranium, creating a more comprehensive scent barrier."

First, you want to make sure that you're buying and using clove essential oil and not just a fragranced product that may not even contain eugenol. Once you're sure, the easiest way you can use clove oil is to mix around 5 to 15 drops of the oil with around half a cup of water in a spray bottle. You can then spray this around the yard where you're going to be spending time with family and friends — patio furniture is always a good bet. Make sure you shake the liquid well before spraying each time. The aroma of clove oil does tend to linger, but you'll probably have to spray the mixture a few times during the day.

You could also use a simple cotton ball trick (that will also keep mice away from your home). All you need to do is grab some cotton balls and soak them in the clove oil and water mixture. Place these in bowls around your outdoor entertaining area. You may want to take this even further and invest in an essential oil diffuser, like this Essenca waterless and wireless model, and place this on your patio or porch table. Plus, you can put an end to ants in your home using this versatile clove essential oil, too.