Commercial pesticides, insecticides and repellents mostly have harsh chemicals that you may not want to use in your house, garden, yard, and near pets or children. These chemicals usually end up killing the bees instead of repelling them. While you would not want bees in your house, they are vital in the growth cycle of many plants and pollination of flowers. A natural bee repellent will allow you to work in your garden peacefully and keep the bees away, but alive.

Homemade Natural Bee Repellent

Outdoor Sprays

1. Soap and water solution

Mix a few teaspoons of liquid dish washing soap with water and put in a spray bottle. This should make a sticky solution. Depending on the brand of soap you are using, you might want to reduce or increase the amount of soap. You should also consider where you want to spray the solution. If you are using it outdoors, use more soap than water so that it does not wash off easily when it rains or because of the natural moisture.

2. Add peppermint oil

Many insects do not like the smell of peppermint essential oil. Buy some from your local store and add to your soap solution. Ensure to add enough so that you can smell it when you spray the solution. You can also spray the peppermint oil on rags, or soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them strategically on windowsills and doorways.

3. Add spices

To keep the bees away for good, add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon to your minty soapy solution. Hornets do not like the smell of spice and cinnamon, so this spray will make your mixture keep the bees away.You can also add other oils like eucalyptus and citrus, citronella and lemongrass.

4. Garlic spray

If you want the bees gone for good, sprinkle garlic tea or garlic powder in your yard or garden. To make garlic tea, place a head of garlic in 16 ounces of water and let it boil for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool, then remove the garlic and pour the tea in a spray bottle. Spray it around the areas you want the bees to keep off. The smell of garlic will overpower the sweet scent of flowers that attracts bees. If you wish, you can add white vinegar to make it stronger.

5. Advice for proper use 

Your main goal is to keep the bees away from your house first. If the problem is the outside, use surfaces that will not be made unusable or damaged by the mixture. You can spray under the tables, on the sidewalks and underneath the lawn chairs. Make sure you are not spraying the bees but the surfaces. Spraying the bee directly might get you stung. The mixture is a natural bee repellent so it does not kill the bees.

Getting Bees Out of Your House

If you have plants around the porch steps, on the deck or hanging near doorways or windows, honeybees will probably end up in your house. Mix equal measures of thyme, fennel and hyssop essential oils. Soak cotton balls in the mixture and put them around doorways and windowsills where honeybees might find their way in. Bees also like the nectar in hummingbird feeders and will try to get in the bird houses or any other feeder in the house. Use the essential oils mixture or undiluted white distilled vinegar to wipe the houses and feeders. Make sure not contaminate the inside of the feeder.

Other Natural Bee Repellents You Can Use Outdoors

1. Smoke

If you are outdoors, you can light a campfire or a smoky candle like citronella candles. This will make the bees flee or less aggressive and dazed if they inhale too much smoke.

2. Mothballs

Mothballs can work as effective pesticides that drive away insects. They are a good option for storage places and attics. If you are out camping, you can put them in old stockings or bags and hang them on trees. Make sure you stay away from the smell they produce as it is also harmful to humans.

3. Bitter almond oil

Bitter almond oil or benzaldehyde (the active ingredient) works as a bee repellent. Pour some on a blanket and keep it in a breezy, warm place outside where it can easily evaporate. If used in large quantities it might cause harm, though some studies do not agree. To be safe, ensure the blanket is far from children and pets.

Watch this video for more tips on how to drive bees away: