Discover 10 Smells That Roaches Absolutely Hate

Quick Take

• One common kitchen herb doubles as a roach repellent so powerful it disrupts their senses entirely, and the best part is that you likely already have it at home. See the kitchen herb →
• Lemon-scented cleaners seem like the obvious citrus solution, but they won't keep roaches away. What actually works might surprise you. Why fresh peels work →
• One flower in this list goes beyond being a pretty repellent. It is actually the natural source of an ingredient found in commercial pesticides. Meet the pesticide flower →
• One repellent on this list works great outdoors but comes with a trade-off inside your home you'll want to know about before trying it. Check the indoor trade-off →

Cockroaches belong to the order Blattodea and comprise about 4,600 living species, though only about 30 species are associated with human habitats. They are distributed globally, although they are most abundant and diverse in warm, humid climates. Cockroaches are significant mechanical vectors of disease. Because they forage in sewers, garbage, and decaying matter, they accumulate bacteria, viruses, and fungi on their legs and bodies. Despite their reputation for living in dirty homes, cockroaches can infest any home. These insects find their way inside your home through every little nook and cranny, and once you have them, they can be very difficult to eradicate. Thankfully, cockroaches can be deterred by a variety of smells. Discover the 10 smells that roaches absolutely hate, including how to use them around your home.

Lavender

For many humans, the scent of lavender is calming. But roaches despise it. The best way to utilize this scent is to plant lavender around the outside of your home. This will deter roaches and other bugs from coming near. You can also mix lavender oil with water and spray it around your home.

Mint

Mint, such as peppermint oil, can repel cockroaches thanks to its pungent scent. And since menthol is what gives the oil its characteristic smell, its powerful menthol aroma disrupts roaches’ senses, making it work great as a deterrent. For best results, mix mint oil and water in a spray bottle and spritz anywhere bugs can enter your home. You can also grow fresh mint indoors and outdoors, which will keep roaches away.

Citronella

Citronella not only works great for repelling mosquitoes but also cockroaches. While the candles don’t work well against roaches, you can use citronella oil as a deterrent. You can mix it with water and use it as a spray or simply wipe down areas with the diluted mixture.

Oregano

Oregano has a pungent odor that cockroaches abhor. Since it’s a safe oil to use around the kitchen, you can spray a mixture of oregano oil and water on countertops and any nooks and crannies where they like to hide.

Bay Leaves

Bay leaves work similarly to oregano. You can crush bay leaves and place them in problem areas or keep them in a bowl on the counter. You can also leave fresh whole leaves around the kitchen.

Citrus

The strong smell of citrus is pleasant to humans but not to bugs. And while lemon-scented cleaners may not be enough to keep them away, fresh citrus peels placed around the house can do the trick. 

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are known repellents of roaches and other common household pests. They are most effective when sliced or diced. But you must place them around your home for it to work. While this method may not be the most practical, it can come in handy for picnics.

Pine

The fresh scent of pine contains beta-pinene, which is also found in rosemary and basil, and is known for repelling and even killing cockroaches. Simply mix a few drops of pine essential oil with some water and spray it around the house.

Chrysanthemums

Mums are beautiful, vibrant flowers that produce a smell that roaches absolutely hate. In fact, chrysanthemums are the natural source of pyrethrins, powerful insecticidal compounds that are widely used in pesticides to control infestations. The scent is also available as an essential oil, which is formulated to spray around the house. Planting chrysanthemums outside your house and using essential oil spray inside is an excellent way to keep roaches out.

Garlic

Garlic has a strong smell that repels cockroaches. If you don’t mind your house smelling of garlic, you can place whole cloves around the kitchen or sprinkle garlic powder in corners.